Use Natural Outdoor Light To Your Advantage This Spring!

Spring is a wonderful season for outdoor photography. The excitement of Spring Fever is apparent on everyone’s face, and nature’s fresh start sets a lovely stage for outdoor photography. However, natural outdoor light can make or break your spring pictures.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when photographing people:

Avoid forcing your subjects to squint. Kids are notorious for squinting when facing the sun. Always try to keep the sun at their backs. Even though the sun’s light is rich and warm, kids will squint when it’s in their face. Plus, a shot back-lit by the sun creates a beautiful halo effect around a person’s head, and separates the subject from the background to bring out more depth in your shot. Or have the sun come at them from the side if you watch the shadows you can use the light the same way professionals use studio lights.   Adults can usually handle the sunlight in their face a little better than kids, and a photo lit from the front using the sun can be a beautiful shot, especially in the morning or evening. Just don’t let them squint!

Do not let the sun hit your lens and cause flare. Backlighting your shot with the sun can help you avoid squinting and create a gorgeous halo effect, but if the sun hits your lens at the wrong angle, it will cause flare in your shot.  If you are using the sun as a back light you have to look for it, check all four corners of the frame in the camera.  This is a good habit to get into anyways so you all ways see everything in your shot not just the subjected.   To avoid lens flare, shield the lens with your hand, or ask a friend to do it. Just make sure the hand is not actually in the shot!

Use the contrast of tones to your advantage. When used properly, the contrast of tones between your subject and background can help the image jump off the print. A little girl in a white dress on Easter morning will stand out against a darker background. Use a darker color if the background is going to be light.

Shoot during the Golden Hours. Professional photographers know that the best time to shoot outdoors is during the Golden Hours, either early in the morning or later in the evening, when the sun is lower on the horizon. Because of the sun’s location, the quality of the natural light given off by the sun is considered “golden.” The light is warm and complements skin tones beautifully. You can still take pictures at noon; you just have to be more creative and aware of your natural light. Take advantage of the Golden Hours this spring.

Spring is a lovely time of year for outdoor photography – just be sure to use the natural outdoor light to your advantage!