Tips on shooting portraits outdoor using Natural Light

The most important thing that makes a photograph is Light. 

So why not use natural light to its full advantage.

Natural light outdoor portraits are much easier as compared to the ones shot at a Studio; you don’t have to deal with a lot of lighting it up right stuff, spending a fortune on studio lights or flash guns and light modifiers such as Soft box, beauty dish and so on. Shooting a portrait at a studio is fun, it allows you to create and control your own light but its way difficult then to shoot outdoor using natural light.

For those who plan on going a step ahead in Portraiture, shooting outdoor in natural light isn’t just a good place to start off with, but it will also help you become a better photographer in terms of composing and framing your shot, getting to know your camera and gears better, build up communication skills and posing tips with your model and help you build your self- confidence too.

Charles Joseph checking out the image with Anushka Banerjee
Photographed by : Vinod Yadav

So let’s start with camera gears and setting. 

Nikon D7000 with a 50mm f/1.8G lens displaying camera setting.

Use Manual Mode (M).

Shooting in Manual mode, will allow you to get full control over your camera setting, this way you can be sure of getting the correct exposure all the time. 

Aperture Priority Mode (A / Av).

As I mention above, using Manual mode is always better,  but you can also use Aperture Priority Mode specially if your shooting outdoors under natural light. While shooting outdoors, Light changes frequently and you’ll have to keep changing your camera settings according to it in order to get the exposure right.

So just set the desired aperture and ISO and let the camera decide on the shutter speed.

 Shot at 50mm with ISO 100, 1/200sec at f/2.8

Above image shows the change in light, shot in Manual mode, resulting a Proper Exposed images on the Left and an Over Exposed images on the Right.  

(Personal Tip: While using A / Av mode , set the ISO to 400 to avoid getting a slower shutter speed in poor lighting condition, which would result in a Blurry shots.)

Shutter Speed.

As you may know, A Higher shutter speed is used to freeze action. So when it comes to shooting a Portrait, Ideally 1/100sec and above is a good idea, as it will freeze any motion in the shoot.

Aperture.

A Portrait always looks better with a Blur background. In order to get a soft blur background, you need to use the largest aperture possible on your lens. So if you have a 50mm f/1.8 lens, use the largest aperture that would be F/1.8

If you don’t own a Prime lens, you can still get a good blur background by zooming in as much as possible on your subject and pacing you subject away from the background. (Leaving space between the Subject and the Background).

If you want to show the Subject and the background both in focus then use a smaller aperture.

ISO.

While shooting not only outdoor in natural light but also indoors using studio light, start with your ISO set to 100. Hit it higher to 400 if needed if the light is poor to avoid Blur shots.

But Ideally, shooting outdoors in natural light , using the largest aperture , ISO 100 works fine. 

What Lens to use?

As I mentioned in my previous post, PRIME lenses are always a good option when it comes to shooting a portrait. Ideally 50mm and above is best suited for Portraits. But that doesn’t mean you can’t shoot a portrait at other focal lengths.

As I always say, “Photography is all about using your own creativity to your shot”.

Reflectors.
A simple yet most effective tool for almost any kind of photography. If you ask me personally, I carry at least one reflector with me at all times now matter what I'm shooting.
As the word says, A Reflector is used to reflect light back at the subject. But that's not the only use of it. It can be used to Block Light , Create dramatic Effects to the shot and also to create a Good Diffused light too.
reflectors are available in different shapes and sizes, the most common type found is a 5 in 1 circular reflector. You can buy one Here!

Last but not the least, Shoot RAW.

so now that you know the basic camera gears and settings , let’s move on to the next step.

1. Timing 

 Shooting outdoors in natural light is better when you shoot during the Golden Hours. Golden Hours is a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer than when the Sun is higher in the sky. Don't limit yourself to just be shooting at this time, you can always shot any time of the day as long as you have the natural light available to shoot.  

2. Subject Placement 
Keep the sun in behind you while shooting the model in front always works good as the light will directly light up the models face, resulting in a good lit up shot. move your model around a bit to get good side light or even a creative back lit shot too. 

Moving your model from direct sunlight, sightly to the shade can create lots of difference in your overall shot specially if you are shooting in broad daylight when the sun is over the models head and casts harsh shadows on her face. 

As you can see in the above image on the left , the model was standing in direct sunlight which cast harsh shadows on her face. The image on the right looks much more pleasing with even light on her face and body, just by placing your model in shade. In this case, I asked my model to take a small step to her left. 

Here's another example of the same, the image on the right has even light overall on the model as opposed to the one on the left, just by asking my model to take a small step ahead and stand in the shade. 

3. Blocking The Light
As you know now, placing the subject in shade can make a lots of difference in your shot. There are times when you won't find any shade near by at the place you want to shoot. So that's when you block the direct light and create your own shadow.

Vinod blocking the direct light hitting Anushka with a reflector.

As I mentioned earlier, I always like to carry my Reflectors with my on all my shoots. as you can clearly see in the above image, the reflector was used to block the direct light hitting the models face to create a even lit shot.

The image on the left was shot under direct light, while the one on the right was created by block the direct light using a reflector.

4. Reflecting Light.

Vinod adjusting the reflector right, as Anuskha poses 

Using a reflector to reflect light back at the model can be used to create a dramatic light , Fill shadows and it also leave a good catch light in the models eyes, which looks pleasing to the viewers eyes.

Image A and C are Natural Light shots . As you can see Image B was lit up using a Reflector, to fill in some extra light to make it look more bight and shiny, where as in  Image D a reflector was used to create a slight dramatic effect in the shot.

5. Diffused light.

Shooting outdoors in Natural Light on a over cast day the clouds in the sky act like a huge layer of softbox between the subject and direct light, giving you a soft defused light.

Photographer by : Vinod Yadav

As you see, the light is too harsh out here to have a good shot. does that stop me from shooting?
No, it doesn't.

Vinod holding the Diffuser over Anushka's head

For this shoot , I used a Diffuser , to get a good Soft light. as opposed to blocking direct light and creating a shadow on the model , using a diffuser allow you to get a good soft defused light.

As you see, the image on the left was shot using direct sunlight, resulting in messed up exposure and dark shadows on the models face , where as the image on the right shot using a Diffuser to get a even exposed soft look, by getting the details on the model and the background too.

Here are some final shots out of this shoot.

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/125sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/800sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/800sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/200sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/320sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/160sec at f/2.8

Nikon D7000 + 50mm, ISO 100, 1/800sec at f/2

I hope that gives you some tips for making natural light portraits. Find a friend to pose for you and try it out. 

Stay connected with me for more such Tips and How-To's on Photography. Until then, take care and Keep Shooting.