How to use Natural Light Creatively in Photography

I’ve only been at this photography thing 6 years and while I feel like I still have SO much to learn I’m always happy to help others along the way. I’m often asked by newer photographers “how to take better photos?” It’s a difficult question to answer because there are many different and technical factors to think about when shooting but one of the MOST important things you can do to take a better photo is to become a student of light!

In the most simple terms, photography is simply the capture of light. When you take a photo by releasing your cameras shutter it allows light to enter the camera. That light is reflected onto your camera’s sensor and an image is created based on the information shared by the light. So it makes sense, then, that the amount and quality of light you’re capturing can make or break your photo.

When most people begin to play around with photography they’re typically drawn to (and tend to stick to) a nice even natural light, also known as flat light or open shade. It’s super easy to shoot in and renders an evenly lit, aesthetically pleasing photo like the two below:

While this type of light is pretty well perfect for any type of photography the fun really begins when you start experimenting with light! So, once you’ve mastered the basics and technical sides of photography the easiest way to improve is to get out of your comfort zone and practice with different types of light.

BACKLIGHT

You might want to try back-lighting your subject in high sun, during the day. You do this by placing your subjects backs to the sun. They’ll be right in between you and that big golden source of light. Things to look for to find this light: the shadows falling in front of them and how there is a little sliver of light that outlines their bodies separating them from the background.

You can also back light in low sun as the sun begins to set. The hour or so of light right before sunset is dubbed as the golden hour and is pretty heavily coveted by many portrait photographers for it’s soft light and golden hues. Its the same concept as back light during the day but now the light is lower in the sky and is more softly diffused around your subject.

 DIRECT LIGHT

You might also try your luck shooting in direct light, in which case your subject would face the sun completely. You’ll need to be careful to meter for your subjects skin in this type of photo so you don’t blow it out but the incredible payoff for shooting in direct light is being able to capture these beautiful, vivid and contrasty colors that you don’t otherwise see shooting in other types of light

Direct light images also make some of the most dramatic B&W images, in my humble opinion 😉

And the fun with light doesn’t all have to be outdoors. Natural light is available to us indoors as well! Window light is an amazing thing and can be used to create different types of portraits as well. For example, you can backlight using window light:

You can also use window light to side light your subject creating shadows to add dimension to your photographs. Experiment with moving your subject closer to or farther away from the window to see how the light falls on them:

And you can have fun shooting with dappled light indoors. It can be tricky but the more you play with it the quicker you’ll be able to use dappled light to tell part of the story and to add depth & dimension to your photos.

And to take it full circle, you can still use window light to get nice evenly lit photographs, as well. Such as the one of my kiddos playing super heros a few weeks ago.