Light. It’s the most essential element of all photography and something many photographers, especially beginners, don’t know enough about. It’s our goal to change that!
In this article, we’ll teach you how to quickly and easily transform your photos with proper photography lighting. We’ll explore topics ranging from the best times to shoot photos and using natural lighting to experimenting with artificial light and avoiding harsh lighting elements like shadows and overexposure.
With that in mind, it’s time to dive in and discover how to use lighting to your advantage as a photographer to create breathtaking images!
Table of Contents
- Golden Hour and Blue Hour Photography for Landscapes
- Using Natural Light to Your Advantage for Portraits
- Experimenting with Artificial Photography Lighting
- Avoiding Harsh Shadows and Overexposure in Photography Lighting
- Final Thoughts on Lighting for Photography
- Recommended Photography Gear
Golden Hour and Blue Hour Photography for Landscapes
Photo by Jon Farmer via iStock
When taking photos outdoors, the two best times of day to shoot are golden hour and blue hour. While this is true for all genres of photography, it’s particularly true for landscape images like mountains and sunsets. Golden hour is the hour right before sunset, and blue hour is the hour directly after sunrise.
Golden hour and blue hour are the best times for landscape photography because of the light's softness and the sun's location. This combination leads to visually appealing images and minimizes overexposed photos. They are also good times to practice creative photography techniques like silhouettes, sun flares, and backlighting.
Using Natural Light to Your Advantage for Portraits
Photo by Ridofranz via iStock
Many photographers prefer shooting portrait photography indoors, where you can control and adjust the light, but our favorite portraits are often those shot outside. The main reason? Natural lighting. It gives portraits a natural look while providing a beautiful glow that illuminates faces and makes smiles pop.
To best use natural light to your advantage in portrait photography, we recommend having your subjects look towards the sun. Natural front light reduces unwanted shadow while highlighting the curvatures and features of the face.
You can also create unique effects like lens flares using backlighting. However, please be aware that backlight is more unpredictable and harder to master.
Learn More:
- 4 Smartphone Photography Accessories to Level Up Your Game in 2024
- What to Look for in a Photography Lighting Kit
Experimenting with Artificial Photography Lighting
In contrast to natural light, you have artificial light. Artificial lighting is ideal for situations with poor or no natural light. Common examples of when photographers use artificial light sources include inside photography studios, at night, or outdoors in the middle of the day to produce desired lighting effects.
Professional photographers usually have professional lighting kits. They produce spectacular results but are also big, heavy, difficult to transport, and expensive. That’s why we prefer a high-quality portable photography light like the one-of-a-kind Avant by Hobolite for beginners and experienced on-the-go photographers instead.
Signature features of the Avant include its compact size, rechargeable battery, exceptional color accuracy, and affordable price. Moreover, it comes with a carrying case and a wide range of accessories that allow you to perfectly customize your lighting to best match any shooting scenario.
If that wasn’t enough, its retro design makes it incredibly classy and will undoubtedly impress your friends and other photographers at your next photo shoot. To learn more about the Hobolite Avant, check out our hands-on review on the PhotographyTalk YouTube Channel after four months of working with it.
Avoiding Harsh Shadows and Overexposure in Photography Lighting
Photo by Midnight Studio via iStock
Finally, two of the biggest problems (and most avoidable) photographers encounter regarding light are harsh shadows and overexposed images. The best way to avoid harsh shadows is to use front lighting. You can do this with natural light (if possible) or by using an artificial light such as the Avant. Overhead lighting also works if utilized correctly.
On the other hand, to avoid capturing overexposed photos, you want to avoid shooting in the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky. That said, we know that sometimes, taking pictures during the middle of the day is inevitable. If that’s your case, you have three options.
The first is to use artificial light to recreate a scene. The second is to use lens filters like ND filters or polarizing filters. And the third is to shoot in manual mode so you can try to change the exposure setting to compensate for the bad lighting.
Final Thoughts on Lighting for Photography
Now that you know how to transform your photos with proper photography lighting, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera and start practicing! And remember, even if you are shooting outside, the light might be subpar, so it’s always a good idea to carry portable photography lighting equipment like the Avant by Hobolite.
For more photography lighting tips and tricks, check out the list below:
- Play around with different types of lighting (indirect, backlight, soft light, etc.).
- Take a photography course to learn more about photography lighting.
- Understand color temperatures and how they affect images.
- Invest in other photography lighting equipment like flashes, shades, and a light meter.
- Shoot in manual mode to get high-quality photos even if the light isn’t perfect.
Recommended Photography Gear
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