- Try to keep the sun behind your subject even when it seems directly overhead and Avoid open shade as it gives little dimension and looks rather flat, and look for light patches to place your subject in.
- You can use many things as light reflectors, including things you already have in your home: Styrofoam boards, aluminum foil, cardboard, mirrors, etc.
- The best time to shoot outdoor portraits is when the sun’s not shining from above but from the side, either morning or evening. When using a reflector, avoid lighting the model from below.
- Choose a house or a landscape, any scene that you really like. Make a shot early in the morning, then shoot again during twilight, in the rain, during a snowfall, in the mist, at night, etc. Keep an eye on how the atmosphere of a shot changes with the light.
- Arrive at the location in advance, and take your photos at sunset, sunrise, and blue hour. To determine the position of the sun and the best shooting time.
- If you don’t use strobes or Speedlight’s as a main source of light, you will need to bracket. Either that or block the light from the windows.
- Shooting RAW is a must so I can fix anything later in post-production if need be. When shooting subjects outside, I would definitely look for soft light, and if it becomes difficult and there is way too much sun everywhere.
- Light is the most intense in the middle of the day, which makes contrast and shadows more pronounced.
- If you’ve planned your shoot on an overcast day, don’t be discouraged. Find a stable tripod, use longer exposures, and concentrate on finding perfect compositions.
- also make sure the that you set up your camera right and get the good lighting like during sunset.