1. A system for capturing spatially-varying layered facial reflectance parameters from a small number of photographs of a subject taken under different illumination conditions, the system comprising: a plurality of light sources having light output intensities that are controllable so as to generate one or more spherical gradient illumination patterns; a plurality of polarizing filters configured and arranged adjacent to the plurality of light sources so as to polarize light from the light sources in a desired orientation; wherein the plurality of light sources and the plurality of polarizing filters are arranged to illuminate subject's s face with one or more polarized spherical gradient illumination patterns; two cameras configured to receive light that is reflected from the illuminated face, and to generate from the reflected light photographic data of the face, wherein the cameras have a desired polarization; and a light projector configured and arranged to illuminate the location for the subject's face with a desired light projection.