lighting

I’m no lighting expert. Nor do I aspire to become one. I’m sure if I studied hard enough, I could come up with some logarithmic equation to help determine the optimal amount of light to capture an image. But I’d rather spend my time photoshopping myself into other people’s photos and chuckling. And now that you know I’m slightly more mature than a seventh grader, let’s look at some lighting.

Lighting is an important component for creating mood in a photograph. I love natural lighting, so I try to keep my flash use to a minimal. Too much light can cause harsh shadows and squinting. Not enough light can cause blurry images and dull colors. Slightly overcast days, although may look undesirable, are actually perfect days to have pictures taken. The clouds act as natural light diffusers minimizing harsh shadows and squinting.

But what can you do if you’re taking pictures on a beautiful sunny day such as the ones below? If the photos are outside, I like to schedule sessions either really early, like 6:30 am (which no one is a fan of), or in the evening when the sun is low. I like to put my subjects underneath a tree to help diffuse the harsh lighting.

 This is Amy under a tree.

This is Amy with the sun directly in front of her

This is Amy with the sun behind her.

This is Amy moments after the sun has set.