Natural light is the best source of light. In short – it’s free, it’s abundant, and it doesn’t require any equipment. But how can you become a natural light photography pro at weddings and engagement sessions?! Here are some tips for getting the most out of your natural lighting:
1. What is Natural Light?
Natural light is sunlight that has traveled through our atmosphere and reflected off of objects on Earth. When photographers talk about natural light, they’re referring to the quality of light that allows them to create images with beautiful tones and rich colors.
2. Why Does Direction Matter?
If you’re looking for the best way to use natural light, it’s important to understand how direction impacts your photography. The direction you choose will have a profound effect on the shadows in your photos, so it’s crucial that you choose a flattering position for your subjects.
Indoors:
Shooting into a large source of natural light will produce haze around your subjects and your background will often be overexposed (first image). However, by choosing a side angle (image 2), both the subject and background will be evenly lit.
Outdoors:
If you’re shooting in harsh light, It’s best to have couples face their shadow. That way, they’ll be bathed in natural light without having any harsh shadows across their faces or bodies.
Look how much softer the light is in the first image compared to the second one! The only difference is that the couple is facing their shadow in the first photo (backs towards the sun), while in the second one they are walking away from it (facing the sun).
3. How Do You Use Natural Light Indoors?
If you’re photographing detail shots at weddings, it’s best to shoot near a large source of light – like a window. This will help create depth and dimension in your images, as well as give them an overall warm feel that will make your clients fall in love with their photos.
4. How Can You Use Shadows to Your Advantage?
You can use shadows to create depth and dimension, making your natural light photography look more dramatic and engaging. In order to get shadows in your photos, try moving your subject around and experimenting with different angles.
That wraps up our blog about natural light photography! I hope this helped you learn more about using natural light in your work as you continue to become an even better photographer.
If you’re interested in learning even more about photography, check out these other blogs for photographers, or submit a photography question to be answered in a future blog post.
