Natural light: the ally of your family portraits

Why is natural light so flattering?

Sunlight filtered by an overcast sky or window is soft, diffuse and enveloping. It does not create hard shadows, flatters skin tones and gives a natural and warm look to portraits. This is exactly the type of light that professional photographers use — often at great expense of material to reproduce it in the studio.

The window: your portable studio

Place your subject 45 degrees from a window, illuminated side facing the window. This is the basis of the portrait in natural light. Avoid direct sunlight that creates harsh shadows — look for a slightly cloudy sky or use a veil to diffuse light.

Golden Hour Outdoors

Golden hour - about an hour after sunrise or before sunset — offers a grazing, warm and flattering light ideal for portraits. This is the time that all professional portrait photographers are on the lookout for.

Accessibility problems and developments

Noon, direct sun in the middle of summer: hard light, shadows under the eyes and nose, wrinkled faces. Under a tree with a spotted light: uneven and unflattering result. In a dark room with only one lamp on the ceiling: cold and unflattering light.

Highlighting the elderly

To photograph seniors, look for a slightly diffused light that minimizes shadows in wrinkles without artificially smoothing the face — their experience is part of what you want to capture. These well-lit portraits will be the best candidates for a animation by Living Memories.

Practice & Observe

Mastery of light comes with practice and observation. Photograph the same place at different times, in different weather. Compare the results. You will quickly develop an eye to detect the right light, wherever it is. To go further, also read our tips on how to take better photos at family reunions.