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Best prompts for ChatGPT Portrait for lighting setups using Split lighting

12 copy-ready prompts to instruct an AI to generate practical, studio- and location-ready split-lighting portrait setups. Each entry includes a clear title, concise explanation, a realistic example output (camera settings, modifier choices, distances, power ratios), and recommended AI models that handle technical photography guidance well.

Claude Opus 4
Claude Sonnet 4
Gemini 2.5 Pro
GPT-5
Gemini 2.5 Flash
You've probably been there: you fire up ChatGPT with excitement about creating the perfect split lighting setup, only to get vague advice like "place your light to the side" that leaves you more confused than when you started. It's frustrating when you know exactly what dramatic look you want but the AI seems to speak in photography riddles instead of giving you actionable steps. What you really need are 12 prompts that make AI think like your personal lighting mentor who actually understands the technical details.
These 12 battle-tested prompts transform your AI into a knowledgeable lighting assistant that delivers specific camera settings, modifier recommendations, and step-by-step positioning guides for every split lighting scenario you'll encounter. From classic studio setups to challenging outdoor conditions and specialized situations like photographing subjects with glasses, each prompt is designed to give you copy-ready instructions that work in the real world. Instead of wrestling with generic responses, you'll get detailed technical guidance that helps you nail that perfect 50/50 split every single time.
1
Classic studio split lighting — single strobe (soft/hard options)
You are a professional portrait photographer. Create a step-by-step studio recipe for classic split lighting using a single strobe at 90 degrees to the subject (camera at 0°). Provide: exact light placement (height/angle/distance), modifier options for hard and soft looks (snoot/grid vs 36" softbox), recommended flash power or stop adjustments, camera settings for 3 lighting scenarios (low-key, neutral, high-key), subject pose/tilt and focus point, how to meter (spot/TTL) and a short pre-shoot checklist. Keep instructions concise and copy-ready.
Step-by-step studio setup using one key strobe positioned at 90° to create a perfect 50/50 split; include modifier, distance, camera settings, subject pose, and quick checklist.
2
High-contrast hard split for dramatic portraits
Act as a lighting technician for dramatic portraits. Provide a concise setup for high-contrast split lighting using a small hard light (bare strobe, snoot, or 10° grid). Include: distance to subject, height and tilt to achieve sharp 50% division, recommended power and light-to-subject distance for strong contrast, negative-fill/flag placement to deepen shadows, suggested lens/aperture for texture, and three quick tips to emphasize facial texture (beard, wrinkles).
Hard, small light to create crisp shadow line with deep side shadow and texture emphasis; includes grid/snoot usage and negative fill tips.
3
Soft split with feathered large modifier
You are designing a soft split-light portrait. Give a practical setup using a large modifier (60x40 softbox or 5' octa) feathered so the lit half is soft with a gentle falloff. Include precise distances, how to feather the box relative to subject's face, recommended fill reflector placement (if any) with stops of fill, camera settings for shallow and moderate depth of field, and a 5-step test routine to dial exposure and feather.
Use a big softbox feathered to keep a soft split transition; guidance on distance/feathering and subtle fill to retain split effect.
4
Split lighting with rim/hair light for separation
Act as a senior portrait photographer. Provide a compact setup combining split lighting as the main and a rim/hair light to separate subject from background. Specify: exact rim light placement (height, angle, distance), modifier choice (strip, grid, small softbox), recommended power ratio vs main (in stops), flags/gaffer tape to control spill, and sample camera settings for low-key backgrounds.
Add a small rim/hair light to classic split to keep subject separate from dark backgrounds; include placement, power ratio and flagging to avoid spill on face.
5
Color-gelled split lighting for creative portraits
You are a creative lighting director. Provide a step-by-step split-lighting setup that uses one gel on the key and an optional complementary gel on a rim or background. Include recommended gel colors and strength, how to set custom white balance (or use Kelvin), power ratios so skin tones stay natural on the lit side, camera settings, and guidance for avoiding color bleed into the shadow side.
Use colored gels on either main or background light to create mood while preserving the split; include white balance and power recommendations.
6
Split lighting for subjects who wear glasses
You are a headshot specialist. Provide a concise guide to shooting split lighting portraits of subjects with glasses. Include: exact key placement (height and yaw), angle and tilt of subject's head or glasses, use of polarizing filter or diffused modifiers, recommended catchlight positioning, camera settings, and a short troubleshooting list for common reflections.
Minimize reflections and maintain split pattern when photographing eyeglasses; cover polarizer, light height, tilt and diffuser solutions.
7
Outdoor golden-hour split lighting with reflectors/flags
You are an outdoor portrait pro planning a golden-hour shoot. Give a practical split-light plan using the sun as the key at ~90° to the subject: indicate subject orientation to sun, ideal time window, recommended reflector size/position and stops of fill, use of flags to maintain split, camera settings for warm tones, and quick contingency if the sun moves or clouds appear.
Use the sun as key at golden hour to produce split lighting; include reflector placement for fill and flags to block wraparound light.
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