outdoor bright sun lighting question!

12 years 1 month ago #205306 by Ms. Amy
I've been really lucky to have a couple families pose for some family shots/playing shots on my only free time.. Sat morning/afternoon so I can get some more practice. the problem that I've been facing and working around is what the best way to have the sun work with me and not against my pictures, (aka squinting eyes, washed out faces, harsh harsh shadows) I don't have too much equipment now but tips would be great!


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12 years 1 month ago #205308 by Darrell
Do you have off camera flash and reflectors?

You will not be judged as a photographer by the pictures you take, but by the pictures you show.
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12 years 1 month ago #205312 by Cyber geek
Unfortunately, there's not much in the way of cheap workarounds, tips or tricks for dealing with bright sunlight. The only answer really is more light; eg to place the subjects with the light behind them, and then use fill light to provide an even exposure. Typically a couple of off-camera strobes are best for this, however, reflectors will help, and even something as simple as a large piece of white or light yellow card stock from Wal-Mart of the stationer's will suffice.

Try looking for locations where there is some natural shade, but not enough to make exposure too tricky.


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12 years 1 month ago #205313 by holdenmonty
I would definately say look into an speedlite flash and a reflector so you can use the reflector to keep the sun out of their eyes and use the flash to even out the lighting on their faces. Also you could see about having them pose under a tree and use a flash to even out the lighting on their face as well so you can use the tree as a natural reflector.

I love landscape photography because it captures the beauty of God's creation
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12 years 1 month ago #205316 by Phil0
Use the sun as rim-lighting. Have them facing the camera with the sun at a 3/4 angle to them--behind them,and off to one side. Have an assistant shield your camera's lens front with a piece of card or fabric, and expose for the "dark side" of them with a close-up, accurate light meter reading. The sunlight will outline them, and will be a slight bit "hot" perhaps...if you can find a place where the sun bounces off of the side of a light-colored building, that might give more fill-in lighting for the shadowed side of them.


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12 years 1 month ago #205317 by Ms. Amy

Darrell wrote: Do you have off camera flash and reflectors?


I only have my onboard flash and no reflector.


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12 years 1 month ago #205318 by Ms. Amy
From the sounds of everyone's replies I should get myself a external flash and a reflector. alright, time to go shopping. I wanted an excuse to buy some toys. Thanks everyone.


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12 years 1 month ago #205339 by chasrich
Find a tree that offers some shade. Play with the exposure mode - I have good luck with spot exposure but even then expose on different spots. It is a hard environment to get perfect exposure every time.

“Amateurs worry about equipment, professionals worry about money, masters worry about light, I just make pictures… ” ~ Vernon Trent
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