Isa Battaglin Shares Her Insights On Natural Light Photography

Natural light is the best light for shooting. However, there are times when your photos come out too bright, too dark, or with a mix of very bright and very dark areas. A good photo is one that is evenly-lit since this looks better on the eyes and is easier to edit if you prefer to touch up your photos before you print or post. If you have been struggling with finding the right light when taking pictures, there are a few easy steps you can take to improve your work. As a seasoned professional who owns and operates LillyK Photography, based in Los Angeles, I’ve mastered my trade over the years and utilize natural light as well as editing techniques to create headshots that are enigmatically alive.

Isa Battaglin’s 5 Insights About Natural Light Photography:

1. Be at the right place at the right time.

This just means timing your shoots to coincide with the hours that have the best light. This usually happens in the early morning or the Golden Hour, that time in the afternoon when the sun is just about to set and is casting a faint, warm glow on everything you see. You get soft, even and magical lighting which looks absolutely amazing on pictures, even the ones you take with your phone!

2. Look for open shade.

Open shade is the best place to shoot especially if you are shooting on a really bright, sunny day. This is an area that is removed from the direct glare of the sun, such as the side of a building, under a canopy of tall trees and anywhere that a shadow is cast. However, make sure that your shade is large enough to accommodate the frame you want to take, or else you risk getting splotches of lights and darks in your photo.

3. Shoot on overcast or cloudy days.

Overcast or cloudy days are generally lovely for shooting outdoors because you can shoot to your heart's content without worrying about highlights and shadows. Clouds are a natural diffuser, and you can avoid squinting expressions which are very common when subjects are shot when the sun is shining its strongest. Cloudy days are also the best days for you to get really vibrant colors straight out of your camera, which can look even better after minimal post-processing.

4. Move your subjects to the right place.

Sometimes, getting a good photo with no shadows or highlights is as easy as moving your subject an inch or feet away. This is common if you are shooting in very bright areas with shady spots. Move the subject to the shady area and if one side of the face is bright while the other is dark unless this kind of contrast is what you are going for.

5. Use a white sheet.

A white drop cloth, bedsheet or white poster board can serve as a cheap reflector that works as well as any professional reflector. A reflector bounces light and spreads it out so that your subject is bathed in an even, soft glow. If you are shooting on a sunny day with the reflector in front of your subject, you can also instruct your subject to look to the side, away from the reflector to avoid any squinting expressions.

Finding the right natural light can be tricky but do not let that stop you. Start with these 5 basic tips and see how your skills in spotting the right light improve with practice.

About: LillyK Photography is headed by a creative photographic genius, Isa Battaglin, who creates headshots that are enigmatically alive. She captures headshots internationally for everyone from business people to children to actors and has an aperture for fashion photography as well. When she isn’t busy with the art of photography, Isa Battaglin can be found cooking and watching movies with her family.