CONSIDERTHE LIGHTING USETHE ENVIRONMENTTO YOURADVANTAGE

WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS, LIGHTING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER. IT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR SHOT! HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO CONSIDER THE LIGHTING IN YOUR PORTRAIT:

FIRSTLY, PAY ATTENTION TO NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES SUCH AS WINDOWS AND DOORS. THIS KIND OF LIGHT CAN BE FLATTERING AND CREATE A BEAUTIFUL MOOD FOR YOUR PORTRAIT.

SECONDLY, IF YOU’RE SHOOTING OUTDOORS, TRY TO AVOID THE HARSH MIDDAY SUN AS IT CAN CAST UNFLATTERING SHADOWS ON YOUR SUBJECT’S FACE. INSTEAD, OPT FOR EARLY MORNING OR LATE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SUN IS SOFTER.

THIRDLY, IF YOU’RE SHOOTING INDOORS WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS LIKE LAMPS OR OVERHEAD LIGHTS, MAKE SURE THEY DON’T CREATE TOO MUCH GLARE OR SHADOWS ON YOUR SUBJECT’S FACE.

CONSIDER USING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT LIKE REFLECTORS OR SOFTBOXES TO ENHANCE THE NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. THESE TOOLS CAN HELP FILL IN ANY DARK SPOTS AND ADD DEPTH AND DIMENSIONALITY TO YOUR SHOTS.

REMEMBER THAT EVERY LOCATION WILL OFFER DIFFERENT CHALLENGES REGARDING LIGHTING SO BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING!

THE ENVIRONMENT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SETTING THE MOOD AND TONE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT. THE SURROUNDINGS CAN ALSO PROVIDE CONTEXT TO YOUR SUBJECT’S PERSONALITY OR PROFESSION, SO IT’S ESSENTIAL TO UTILIZE THE ENVIRONMENT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

FIRSTLY, CONSIDER THE COLORS AND TEXTURES THAT EXIST WITHIN THE LOCATION YOU’VE CHOSEN. DO THEY COMPLEMENT OR CLASH WITH YOUR SUBJECT’S OUTFIT? IF THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRACTING ELEMENTS IN THE BACKGROUND, TRY CHANGING ANGLES OR USING A WIDE APERTURE TO BLUR OUT ANY UNWANTED DETAILS.

ADDITIONALLY, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN USE NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES LIKE WINDOWS OR DOORWAYS AS FRAMING DEVICES FOR YOUR SUBJECT. YOU COULD ALSO EXPERIMENT WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING TECHNIQUES LIKE GELS OR REFLECTORS TO CREATE INTERESTING SHADOWS AND HIGHLIGHTS.

WHEN SHOOTING OUTDOORS, TAKE NOTE OF HOW WEATHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS FOG, RAIN, SNOW OR SUNSET LIGHT MIGHT ADD AN EXTRA DIMENSION OF ATMOSPHERE AND DRAMA TO YOUR SHOT SIMILARLY, IF INDOORS LOOK FOR UNIQUE FURNITURE PIECES THAT COULD ACT AS PROPS ADDING DEPTH AND CHARACTER TO EACH FRAME.

IN SUMMARY; UTILIZING DIFFERENT ELEMENTS FROM OUR ENVIRONMENTS ALLOWS US PHOTOGRAPHERS NOT ONLY MORE CREATIVITY BUT ALSO ADDS MORE LAYERS TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDING THEM WITH MUCH-NEEDED DEPTH WHILE STILL ENSURING FOCUS ON OUR SUBJECTS THROUGH LEADING LINES/SHAPES WHEN APPROPRIATELY USED THROUGHOUT COMPOSITIONS.