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Natural Sunshine or Off-Camera Lighting? Both, of Course!

By: Vicki Sands

I LOVE SUNNY DAYS, DON'T YOU? The warm sunshine on my shoulders and sun-kissed rays peeking through trees always put a smile on my face. Natural light from the sun and all its reflections and refractions can create amazing images that are fresh and inviting. I believe the best light tends to be in the morning and late afternoon heading into evening, when the sun is not as high in the sky. During these timeframes, I can get some incredible back lighting on a sunny day that really makes for striking portraits. However, not every day is sunny, and not every portrait session can be scheduled during those times. That's why off-camera lighting is a great companion for my creative sessions, like this one held in Alexandria, Ohio, around noon when the sun was high and the shadows were abundant. 

Using off-camera flash and a soft umbrella reflector can nicely complement the warmth of back-lighting by lifting unwanted shadows and helping ensure the subjects in my portraits stand out. By stepping into some shade and leveraging off-camera lighting, I was able to create a nice glow on Bella's face and still have a bright sunlit background radiating off the barn in the first shot. The second image was set against the coolness of a tree line, so the off-camera lighting helped lift the shadows off her face creating a nice even skin tone. 

Off-camera lighting also works on gray, flat overcast days when you need to make your colors pop and help eliminate dark shadows. If you want to create a specific mood or add dramatic effect, manipulate the flash and change its position to create that added pizazz. The beauty is that you have the freedom to leave your lighting set-up in one place and move around without restriction to get all those gorgeous shots. Try it, you’ll love the difference it makes. 

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614.595.4707
vicki@vickisands.com
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