P#16 Q5C: What is the Best Way to Capture a Natural Light Portrait If the Light is Changing?

Concept is Key

Bobbi Lane: I find this to be a very interesting question because light doesn't change that quickly unless you're taking pictures outside on a day where there are a lot of puffy clouds covering the sun and then opening back up again. That doesn't happen that often. Most of the time, the sun is either shining or it is overcast.

Even if you tried to find a day where the light was changing a lot, it would be a challenge. You're going to have a hard time finding it. It's very tricky.

That being said, there have been times when I've had to shoot under those circumstances.

When I was faced with shooting a natural light portrait when the lighting kept changing, my assistant would stand there taking light readings every ten seconds and would tell me when to change my exposure.

We try to avoid those situations whenever possible.

How do I avoid it? The main thing is really saying, "What's my idea of the picture?" What's the concept? What do I want to say about this person? Am I looking to have a bright, happy picture? Do I want to make it a flattering picture?

In other words, do I want to do everything I can to make this person look as good as possible or am I looking for an effective, dramatic, moody picture?

You have to have your idea. What is it you're going for in the first place? Then you start to look for the light that's going to match that.

Is it backlit? Is it in the shade? Is it window light? Is it diffused? You still have all these choices. If you just walk around a little bit, you're going to find that in a 20 square foot area you probably have eight different kinds of light that you could use.

It's a matter of knowing the concept and then looking for the light.

You can pretty much make any background work as long as you have the light that you want. I think that's my simplest way to explain that. It really comes back to that awareness of what light is and how it works. I don't think you have to worry too much about it changing.

In Closing

Changing light? Bobbi Lane advises that it's not really much of a problem. Your main concern should be the concept of your photograph. Once you know that, you can go out and find the lighting needed for your natural light portrait.