Portrait Photography Using Natural Window Light

Natural Window Light

Light from a window can give an amazing, soft light for portraits and produce beautifully tender photographs.

Unlike in a studio, you move the camera position to change effect of the lighting.  Starting with the camera between the model and the window, move in a semi circle to behind the model.  This will change from no shadows to total shadow.  The position of the camera determines how much of the model is in shadow.

Now you can also turn the model around which will determine just which part is in shadow or light.  Shooting the model from the side will place half in and half out of the light.  You can then move the model so that most of the window is in front of her or behind her and this will change the quality of the light falling on her face.  More of the window behind her will give a softer darker light.  Most of the window in front of her will give stronger shadows and highlights.

Moving the model closer to the window will give a stronger harder light and moving away from the window will soften the light.

If the sun is shining through the window onto the model it will produce much harsher shadow and a harsher light, but if the light is early morning or late evening it can have quite a soft warming effect.

If the sun is high in the sky then the model can go quite close to the window without being in direct sunlight.  Placing net curtains over the window catches the light and diffuses it over a large area producing a lovely large, soft light.

If the room side of the model is too dark then use a reflector to bounce some of the window light back on to the model.

So with the size of the window, curtains, time of day, position of the model and position of the camera, there is a lot to practise and many different ways to achieve beautiful, soft lit portraits.