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The look and feel of a natural light is perfect for shooting warm, glowing portraits. The golden light of the sun complements skin tones and can be used in a different ways to create different looks. Of course, a lot can go wrong when shooting with natural light, too. Exposure can be tricky, and so can finding the perfect location to shoot from.
Shooting during golden hour is ideal, but it’s not the only way! Here are five tips that you can use to take your natural light portraits to the next level and make you a more versatile photographer who’s ready to tackle whatever kind of lighting situation that’s thrown their way.
1. Window Light
Anna by Oleksii Leonov
One of the best ways to light your subject with natural light when indoors is to them in front of a window. There are a number of ways you can pose your subject in front of the window depending on the quality of light coming through it and what kind of look you are you going for.
For example, in the photo above, the window is producing a soft and balanced light that brightens up the entire face and keeps shadows at bay. However, if you have a smaller window, or the light coming through it is more directional and hard, you can use it to make a more dramatic portrait.
2. Open Shade
Ella Rae by Rose Morelli
If you’re shooting in the the midday sun–when it’s directly overhead–you’ll likely to start noticing less than flattering shadows on your subject’s face. Bright sun can also cause your subject to squint their eyes, which may not look so great in a portrait.
To avoid both of these common setbacks, the easiest thing to do is find yourself some open shade. Open shade can be found in lots of places–some common examples include the large shadows thrown off of the side of a building or wall, under a pavilion, even under an umbrella if you want to introduce props into the mix!
3. Location Of The Sun
Archway by Nadia Martinez
Pay attention to where the sun is! Even when it’s overhead, there’s creative ways you can use it as an accent in your portraits. Nadia Martinez demonstrates one example of doing so in the photography, just above, by catching the sun as is hits the edge of the archway–giving a sunburst like effect.
Shooting into the sun is fun way to add lens flares to your photos, and also provide a bright, back light for your subject. Just remember to use this technique in moderation–not all of your photos will need this trick.
4. Use A Reflector
Lastolite in action! by Peter McConnochie
Sometimes you’ll need a little help fine tuning the light. That’s where a reflector comes in handy. Take a look at the photo above, see how much light one of these reflective powerhouses is capable of throwing off? No electricity required! Just have your model hold it in front of them, or have an assistant hold it up for you if you’re planning on taking full body shots.
The 5-in-1 collapsible types work great, as they are capable of reflecting light in different color temperatures and are super lightweight and portable. But, when in you’re caught without one, you can often come up with a DIY reflector using anything from a white T-shirt to aluminum foil.
5. Working With Dappled Light
Autumn Evening by martinak15
The uneven light that’s commonly cast by leaves and branches can create some truly interesting patterns, but they can also be very distracting and take away from the subject. When using dappled or patterned light, use caution when it’s falling across the subject’s face – sometimes it works better than others, and it will be up to you to decide when it’s a complement or a distraction. That being said, when it’s done tastefully, the results can be fascinating!
Other sources of interesting light patterns could wind window blinds, lace, fabrics, poles, fences, power lines, all sorts of things–once you start looking for the opportunities, they’ll start popping up all over!
