Natural light can be used to create stunning portraits, providing a softer and brighter look. When shooting indoors, it's important to place the subject's face close to a natural light source, such as a window. A front light will soften any skin imperfections, while a side light will help give dimension to the subject. Avoid taking pictures in bright lighting.
Hold the camera a little higher than the level of your face, which will even out the lighting. Position yourself near a window with diffused lighting for the most flattering results. To get the best results, try taking a selfie during the golden hour, which is the first and last hour of sunlight each day. For example, if you're taking portrait photos, natural midday light will be directed downward on the subject.
Instead, you'll want to take photos closer to sunrise or sunset so that natural light comes in from the side or can be used as a backlight or edge light. To start using natural light, place a table or chair next to a large window and place a cloth (a large white sheet) against the wall. This will provide the perfect combination of good lighting and soft shadows. Remember to avoid direct sunlight, as it will generate dark and unsightly shadows.
If the golden hour is too romantic for you, play with directional light. In the early afternoon or late in the morning, you will see that the sun begins to create stunning shadows. If you can see the full shape of your shadow on the ground, you're standing in direct light. As you can see below, taking pictures with natural lighting can make a big difference in the lights and shadows of the photo.
Natural light also has unique effects on the texture of an image, and can capture motion-like qualities in a still image using only natural light. However, artificial light will constantly emit the same intensity of light so that you can achieve the image you want. It's almost impossible to talk about natural light in photography without talking about the golden hour. If you plan to use strictly natural light for your photographs, it's imperative to invest in a good reflector.
It's useful to have a solid understanding of the basics of lighting to be able to capture incredible photos of products that drive sales. My studio is inside with large openings, so I have a bright space without directional rays, which I consider to be one of the best natural lights for photography. Understanding how weather and time of day affect natural light will allow you to better use it to achieve the images you want. With artificial lights, you can also add more lights if the image is underexposed, instead of increasing your ISO. Mastering manual mode allows you to adapt to your environment, whether outside or in an indoor studio, and take high-quality photos in a variety of lighting conditions.
Once you've taken your images, you can adjust color, exposure, tone, and contrast in Lightroom CC. Even if you can't control the sun, there are many different ways to use natural light to your advantage and find the best natural light for photography no matter what you're shooting.
