A literal definition of photography is “drawing with light.” Many beginning photographers get so caught up in the choice of gear, and then the mechanics of exposure, that this truism about light sometimes gets pushed aside.
But how does one learn how to use light well? Part of the answer is to learn the types of light and then how to control them. Here are a few useful photography lighting tips for beginners.
10 Photography Lighting Tips for Beginners
1. Look for the different types of lights
It’s not all direct sunlight or overhead office lights. Sunlight itself can be divided up in several ways. Besides direct sunlight, which is warm and can sometimes be harsh, there is skylight. Skylight is the cool light coming from the sky itself without the sun being visible.
An overcast day has yet another quality choice of light, a softer diffused light. Artificial lights can be the overhead lights, but it can also be a camera flash or a continuous LED light bank. Take notice of the different types of light you see throughout the day, what effect they have on potential subject matter.
2. Turn your subject around
When taking pictures of people outside, it’s a natural tendency to position our subject so that the light is falling on their face. We don’t really need direct sunlight straight on like that, though. It can make for an unflattering portrait, what with the harsh shadows and all the eye squinting.
Turning the person to where is striking from the side can give interesting effect, but the sun behind them, while metering for their face, is gives that lovely halo of backlit brightness. Now all you need is …
3. A reflector
A reflector is great for all sorts of portraits. Whether inside or outside, a reflector can add just enough light to open those left over shadows. Those pesky under the nose shadows that we run into so often with any lighting set up can detract from our subject.
A reflector can add a catch light in the eyes, that little glint that enhances appeal. Reflectors are often collapsible, making transport a breeze. The subject can hold it themselves, while you frame their head and shoulders or face, or you can solicit help from a bystander or assistant. They come in various colors, as well. Commonly used colors are white, silver, or gold.
4. Shadows add depth and contrast
When taking portraits of people, we try to control the light, whether we are using artificial lighting such as LED lights or some sort of flash, or if we’re using sunlight, either directly or indirect. But shadows add depth to a subject. Rembrandt lighting is a portrait lighting style that can look fantastic for some subjects.
We’re looking at more than people pictures when discussing lighting. Using shadows for natural scenics or for architectural subjects can really enhance the WOW! factor of an image. A majestic mountain range casting a deep, dark shadow across a valley forest comes to mind.
Or a building, old or new, with the multiple angles and planes involved being in and out of light and dark, can be seen in early morning or late afternoon sunlight as a work of art itself.
5. Use the warmth of sunlight to your advantage
Early morning and late afternoon sunlight can record as very warm in our images. That warmer tone can combine with our shadow play to truly capture the beauty of an outside subject. That subject can be a person, place, or thing. Interior images qualify, too.
A warm shaft of light across a darkened room of antique furniture evokes a nostalgic charm. A portrait done in this way can have a very romantic feel to it.
6. Open the windows
In order to benefit from tip number 5 when inside, we need to open the window. It’s not only beneficial for the nostalgic or romantic feel we can evoke, but useful for other types of imaging as well. Maybe we want to provide a good view of a room, for real estate sales perhaps.
For documenting any kind of interior event, windowlight adds appeal and character. Current digital cameras with smart or matrix metering can blend the lighting types for a good exposure.
7. Use an artificial light such as LED lights or a flash
An artificial light can be the sole light source, the main light source, or a supplemental light. Photographic LED lights have added benefits such as being color corrected for daylight and being continuous so we can makes videos or still images.
Many on camera flashes are so advanced that one can hardly tell sometimes that a flash was even used. If you want to learn more about artificial lights, check out my guide on the best Canon flashes and this list of strobe lights photography.
8. Filter the light
So much is said about filters that go on the lens for various purposes, but lights can be filtered, too. Very simple to accomplish when using an artificial light such as LED lights, because we can see just what the filter is doing to that continuous light source.
I like LED lighting for when I need a continuous source because they don’t get very hot. Keeps my cheap gel filters from melting, for one thing. We can filter the main light, which would add a color cast to the entire subject, or we can filter the catch light, the eye light, or the back light for various different looks.
9. Diffusers are wonderful lighting tools
A diffuser softens the light and reduces shadow contrast effects. Artwork, products to sell online, some portraits, all can benefit from diffused light. We can mount a diffuser to our flash or to a continuous light. Most LED lights for photography come with a diffuser and maybe a color filter or two.
There are many after market diffusers for whatever flash unit we may be using. Even windowlight can be diffused. Either by the translucent window shade found on older windows or by making the windowlight an indirect source for our subject.
10. Shoot all weekend in Black & White
At first glance, this doesn’t sound like a lighting tip, so let me explain. Shooting a mix of subjects in B&W will allow us (or force us) to concentrate on things like light and shadow, contrast, and exposure. I suggest an entire weekend of this so a beginning photographer can look for a wide variety of subject matter.
Portraits, with natural or artificial light. Architecture, both classic and modern. Nature, either as a landscape view or close up. Shoot them all in Black & White. Some digital cameras have a B&W shooting mode, most imaging programs have B&W conversion modes.
After spending that one weekend shooting the pictures, spend the next weekend closely examining the images on your computer or tablet. Trust me, you will see light in a whole new way after this exercise. That will benefit all of your subject types and shooting styles, both in color and monochrome.
If you want to learn more about lighting, check out these helpful guides below.
- 10 photography lighting facts
- Beginners guide to lighting (really great guide!)
- 14 lighting kits for photographers
These tips are a starting point. Delve as deeply as you want into any of them. Being a beginner isn’t a handicap. Use this beginning time to hone your craft and maybe to develop your own personal style. Enjoy your new journey!