How to use natural light to shoot outdoor portraits

The impact of light at different time periods on photography is as important as the choice of location and model. So how to use natural light to shoot outdoor portraits, let’s learn together!

Sunshine vs. Shadow

Many people think that shooting portraits requires strong light, but this is not the case. Proper shading can make the overall effect look better.

Take the above two photos as an example. For the first shot, I stood the model in the sun, with the light hitting her hair and shoulders. The result was pretty good, but the too direct light also caused a lot of messy highlight areas in the background. For the second shot, I tried to have the model stand in the shadows to avoid unnecessary highlights in the background.

Cloudy days

The light on cloudy days is soft and natural, and there will be no great light contrast, so it is very suitable for taking portraits. All you need to do is find a good background and start shooting.

The use of shadows in sunny days

Shooting portraits in this light environment can produce very good results. When the model stands in the shadow and the sun shines from behind the photographer, the light will act like a huge reflector, reflecting a lot of light onto the model. The color of the model's skin will also become plump and shiny under this kind of light.

This is the same picture as above but magnified so you can see the details clearly:

This kind of light environment can also highlight the brilliance of the eyes very well, I even You can see yourself in the eyes of the model.

Shadow in front of the door

I have already talked about the important impact of shadows on portrait photography, but if the model is standing in front of a door or building, and there is no light in the building, it will It can produce a dim or even completely black background, and the effect will look cool.

Take the following two photos as examples. I asked the model to stand in front of an old house on the beach, and in the first photo I included part of the house in the composition. The second photo is a crop I made from the first one to perhaps create a more interesting composition.

Backlight shooting before sunset

The light before sunset is very beautiful and dramatic, but due to the high contrast of the light, it will be difficult to shoot backlight at this time. Correct exposure should allow the backlight behind the model to be well diffused. There may be some loss of detail around the edges of the model's body, especially the hair.

I often get good results before the sun disappears completely. The light at this time is warm and soft, and the camera can handle the contrast of the light very well.

Sunset

The light of the sunset is very beautiful, especially in spring and summer. Since I live in the mountains, when the sun sets behind the mountains, the light becomes softer and warmer, which is perfect for photography. But it's worth noting that since the light starts to fade, it will be helpful to have a fast lens and a high-sensitivity camera.

Before nightfall

When the sun completely sets, night begins to fall, and the lights in street lamps and buildings become the main light. In this environment, having a high-speed lens and a high-sensitivity camera becomes very important. Shooting in low light becomes more challenging, but if done correctly, the results are often very satisfying. You can see in this image that the light from the streetlight above the model's head bounces off the road, creating a soft, moody effect, especially when combined with the bokeh created by a wide aperture lens.