Most photographers would prefer to shoot in natural light–but the inherent problem with it has to do with making it look better when taking photos. More often than not, the sun can create lots of harsh shadows unless it’s being diffused by a cloud.
So how do you tame it? Photographer Craig Beckta suggests using a five-in-one reflector and a shoot through umbrella, two of the same items that we strongly recommend. His video below the jump illustrates what shooting with regular sunlight looks like, using tree shadows, a shoot through reflector, golden, white, silver and a shoot through umbrella.
The biggest advantage that Craig doesn’t mention though is that by using a five in one reflector, you make the most of the time available to you and your subject. There are many of photographers who will specifically wait until the golden hour or for a cloudy day. But that means that you only have such a narrow shooting time, which can limit you when a possible schedule conflict arises.
Craig’s video on Natural Light for Portrait Photos is after the jump. But also be sure to check out our tips on taking the best advantage of natural light, backlighting your portraits, and how to use it during weddings.
