Victorian Lighting

[Dukey]

I have a project in which I need to set up a Victorian style fashion shoot. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best lighting or give a diagram in order to create this type of atmosphere? I am will be shooting it with my Nikon D3100. Thanks

[zona5101]

I am not sure what lighting they used from 1840 to 1900 - gaslight or flash pan I assume. So that seems to make me think of harsher lighting...but in the end I think well exposed period costumes/actors and background & props will evoke the mood better than any lighting style. I'd concentrate on that and light it like you would any studio shot.

[Doug Sundseth]

I'd go for a warm color balance. It's not necessarily period accurate, but with the yellowing of negatives over time, sepia is the way many (probably most) people think of Victorian photos.

If you want period accurate, go for very bright, heavily saturated colors. The Victorian era was the first era of petroleum dyes and bright and contrasty were the order of the day.