Natural Light
For that soft, authentic and natural look
Selecting a lighting method for your headshots is one of the most important decisions to make when planning your shoot. Using natural or ambient lighting is a a great choice if you are going for a look that mimics what the natural eye is accustomed to seeing.
Why would you choose natural lighting over studio strobe lit photos?
- Naturally lit photos are great if you're trying to convey any of the following
- Approachability
- Availability
- Authenticity
- Softness
- Vibrance and positive energy
- Industries that often choose natural light photos:
- Massage Therapy and Bodywork
- Mental Health
- Acting/Performance
- Softness
- Also consider:
- Photos shot at "Golden Hour" (just before and after sunset) have fabulous warmth and presence.
- Natural light photos look stunningly vibrant due to being naturally rich in red light, characterisically vibrant and visually pleasing.
Natural light photos depend to a degree on weather conditions. Luckily, here in Colorado, we're treated to 365 days of weather! Overcast days are actually perfect because they soften the light and you don't have to deal with harsh sunlight. The world is the photographer's oyster on cloudy days!
For those days that are sunny and bright (300 of them per year here in Denver), you can't go wrong with north-facing shade. A shady spot will yield perfect conditons for naturally lit photos in most cases.
Special mention: Window Light! Take a look at our little Mandarin Orange buddy here.
How lovely is that lighting? A large window creates lots of opportunity for beautiful soft lighting that is flattering. Gradual light transitions create lovely shadows and are a lot of fun to photograph, too.