CATCHLIGHT EXTREME CLOSE-UP — extreme tight crop on the subject's eyes and upper face. Her eyes fill the center 40% of the frame. A bright light source is clearly REFLECTED in both of her eyes as distinct bright highlights — small crisp bright dots/rectangles visible in each iris. You can literally see the shape of the light source reflected in her pupils. Her eyes look alive, bright, alert. The rest of her face is softly lit but secondary — the reflected catchlights in her eyes are the hero of the image. Macro-lens level of detail on the eyes.
CATCHLIGHT EXTREME CLOSE-UP — extreme tight crop on the subject's eyes and upper face. Her eyes fill the center 40% of the frame. A bright light source is clearly REFLECTED in both of her eyes as distinct bright highlights — small crisp bright dots/rectangles visible in each iris. You can literally see the shape of the light source reflected in her pupils. Her eyes look alive, bright, alert. The rest of her face is softly lit but secondary — the reflected catchlights in her eyes are the hero of the image. Macro-lens level of detail on the eyes.
Catchlight
Bright reflection of the light source visible in the subject's eyes. The hallmark of lively portraits.
When to use
Any close-up portrait where the eyes matter. Catchlights are what make eyes look 'alive' vs 'dead' in photos.
Pro tips
- •Prompt "bright catchlight visible in both eyes, light source reflection in pupils"
- •Extreme close-up framing — "eyes fill center of frame"
- •Specify the shape of the catchlight if it matters: "rectangular softbox", "round ring light"
Related Director's Eye Prompts
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