Lighting How To

Some photographers shy away from shooting portraits because they don’t own supplemental lighting equipment or they’re intimidated by the complexity involved. But today we’ll show you how easy it is to make beautiful people pictures outdoors under available light.

Shooting outdoor portraits can be a mixed bag. On the one hand, natural light photography means carrying less gear, but here’s the problem: On bright, sunny days with high contrast, it can be difficult to properly meter a scene and capture flattering images.

Some photographers fall into a rut by shooting the same type of images over and over again. For some that means landscape photos, for others it’s portraits, macro, wildlife, or whatever specialty they enjoy. The problem with this approach is it’s easy to get a bit stale.

While most photographers realize that a bit of supplemental light can make a huge difference in portrait photos, many shooters shy away from the technique because they think expensive gear, complicated skills, and a studio are required to get the job done.

If you've ever wanted to shoot eye-catching portraits in a studio but don't have a ton of space, here's a great video showing you how to create a professional-level portrait shoot in a small area. In the tutorial, pro photographer Andrea Carretta shows you how to create the portrait look you want in a space not much bigger than a bedroom.

If you've ever dreamed of doing a shoot at a photo studio that's bathed only in gorgeous natural light, here's a great video showing what it's really like. In the below clip, portrait and swimwear photographer Anita Sadowska takes you behind the scenes for a swimwear shoot she did recently at a studio in New York City.