Every photography student knows that understanding how to work with natural light can make the difference between an ordinary photo and a truly breathtaking one. The good news is that you don’t need expensive studio setups and complicated lighting equipment to create a masterpiece. Natural light offers incredible possibilities for creative expression and we will show you the most exciting ones.

The process of mastering all the photography tools, including natural light, takes a lot of time and requires regular practice. Students often lack time because they need to combine classes with extracurricular activities and work. That is why such alternatives to studying during the nighttime as online writing services are so popular. You can place a “Please, do my homework for me online” request and find an experienced assistant in the blink of an eye. Therefore, if you need more time to dedicate to photography, you can hire a talented writer to help you. Meanwhile, you will find many valuable natural light photography tips in this article.

In This Article:

The Basics of Natural Light

Before we get to the recommendations you can use in your work, let’s consider some theoretical concepts. As you might have already guessed, the main difference between natural and artificial light is that while you can control the latter, the former constantly changes its intensity, color, and direction throughout the day. Even though it might be inconvenient, you can discover numerous characteristics that can dramatically impact the look and feel of your photographs.

Types of Natural Light

What do you need to know about the sunlight in photography? Here are the key lighting conditions that will help you get the desired results:

Direct light

It’s perfect for photos with well-defined shadows, high contrast, and intense highlights. The best time to catch it is during midday, when the sun is high in the sky.

How to work with midday light:

Look for shaded areas to diffuse the harsh light.
Use a reflector to soften shadows.
If shooting in direct sun, adjust your camera settings (lower ISO, faster shutter speed) to avoid overexposure. It is a great way of balancing natural light.

Diffuse light

It creates soft, subtle shadows, even illumination, and a more forgiving look. You can use it on cloudy days, in shaded areas, or when light is filtered through a translucent material.

Tips for using diffuse light:

Use this type of lighting for group photos to ensure even illumination on all subjects.
Try shooting in black and white to emphasize textures and details.
If the lighting is too flat, use a reflector to create subtle highlights.

Golden hour

Catch the perfect natural light photography settings an hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. What you’ll get is long, soft shadows, warm colors, and a unique romantic atmosphere.

Tips for shooting during golden hour:

Position your subject so the light falls on their face for a natural glow.
Experiment with backlighting to create beautiful silhouettes.
Use a reflector to direct light and get a balanced exposure.

Blue hour

Take photos just after sunset and just before sunrise to create atmospheric and moody images.

Tips for shooting during blue hour:

Use a tripod for stability in low light.
Adjust white balance to enhance or correct the blue tones.
Experiment with slow shutter speeds.

How to Use Shadows and Highlights Wisely

These two characteristics will help you shape the mood and overall impact of an image if you know how to use them correctly. Finding the perfect balance is a cornerstone of any photography training.

It is almost always a good idea to use shadows to add drama and mystery by partially concealing a subject. On top of that, you can create patterns and textures, especially when light filters through objects like leaves. Here are some more tips on what you can do:

Experiment with side lighting to create dramatic shadows.
Frame your subject for a more artistic composition.
Adjust exposure settings to retain details in both bright and dark areas.

Highlights can make your photo look vibrant and eye-catching but only if you know when to stop, as overexposure leads to losing all the crucial details. You can control this process by avoiding shooting in harsh midday sunlight, for example.

It may take a while before you finally find the ideal balance between light and shadow. If you want to increase the probability of a positive outcome, use soft light sources (overcast sky or a window) to reduce harsh contrasts. Also, you can try exposure bracketing, where you take multiple shots at different exposures and blend them later.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Now, that you have a general idea and specific tips on what to do to get amazing photos, let’s analyze some things that you don’t want to do.

Ignore the Direction of Light

You should know that front lighting can sometimes result in flat, uninteresting photos. And you definitely don’t want that to happen. Therefore, rely on side lighting to add depth and dimension, and backlighting to create beautiful silhouettes. Additionally, you can experiment with different lighting angles to find the most visually appealing look.

Overlook Reflections

This is something you don’t want to ignore because unwanted reflections can distract from the main subject and ruin your photo. To ensure you don’t get such an image, you can use polarizing filters or change the shooting angle to minimize or eliminate reflections. However, reflections are not always a bad thing in photography if you know how to create interesting compositions and visual effects using them.

Ignore White Balance

One of the crucial things to keep in mind is that different light sources have different color temperatures and can affect the color cast of a photo. For instance, a warm light (from incandescent bulbs or sunsets) has a yellow or orange tint, while cool light (from cloudy skies or fluorescent lights) has a blue tint. Make sure you know how to adjust white balance settings in your camera and post-processing software. If you don’t want to get your head around these features, you can rely on the white balance presets for different lighting conditions.

To Sum Up

That’s the end of the theoretical part. Now it’s time to make the true magic happen and put these principles into practice. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes and keep pushing your creative boundaries!