Photography Lighting Basics

Understanding photography lighting basics is key to understanding photography. After all, photography literally means painting with light. Once you understand how light works, you can make almost any photo look better, whether you’re shooting with a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, or your phone.

I created this guide during social isolation when I started a video series to help people learn photography. Light was the first thing I taught because it’s the foundation of everything else. Watch the video below first, then keep reading for a deeper breakdown.

I hope you enjoyed the video, if you have any questions, just contact me. I am more than happy to help in any way I can. And, for anyone who is curious as to what I use to record videos, I purchased this ring light from Best Buy.

Now, let’s explain photography lighting basics!

What you’ll learn:

• Indoor lighting, how to get the most out of it.
• The position of the light will greatly impact your photos/video.
• Ways to modify the light to make it more flattering.

WORKING WITH INDOOR LIGHTING

Taking photos indoors requires a little more intention than shooting outside, but once you understand the basics it becomes second nature. Here’s how to get the most out of whatever light you have available inside.

Work with windows. Natural light does wonders for indoor photos. Position yourself or your subject near a window or open door and use that light as your primary source. It brings warmth and a natural quality that’s hard to replicate with artificial light.

Stick to one light source. This is one of the most important rules in photography lighting basics. If you’re in a room with overhead lights and windows, turn off the overhead lights and work with the natural light only. Mixing light sources creates color casts and unflattering shadows.

Pay attention to your background. A cluttered background pulls attention away from your subject. Take a minute to clear the space before you start shooting.

Explore your space. Walk around before you shoot and look for spots you haven’t considered. A hallway, a corner with good window light, or a spot near a glass door can surprise you.

Examples of indoor portraits:

THE THREE POSITIONS OF LIGHT

Where you place your light source, r where you position your subject relative to the light, changes everything about how a photo looks. Here are the three main positions and what each one does.

Front lighting places the light source directly in front of your subject. Shadows fall behind them and the face is evenly lit. This is the easiest place to start when you are new to photography lighting basics. It’s forgiving and consistent.

Side lighting adds depth and dimension. The light hits from one side rather than straight on, creating shadows that give the face shape and character. Everyone has a good side — side lighting helps you find it. Broad lighting widens the face while short lighting narrows it, so pay attention to which side you’re lighting from.

Back lighting is the most challenging but also the most beautiful when you nail it. The light source is behind your subject, creating a glow around them. To make backlighting work you need to bounce light back onto the face using a reflector, white poster board, or manual camera settings. Always look for a catch light — that small bright highlight in the eyes that brings a portrait to life.

HOW TO MODIFY LIGHT

Light modifiers change the quality of your light — making it softer, more diffused, or more directional. You don’t need expensive equipment to do this.

Outside: The sun is a large harsh light source. Shooting in the middle of the day creates unflattering shadows. Aim for early morning or late evening when the sun is lower and naturally filtered. Cloudy days are actually a photographer’s best friend — clouds act as a giant natural diffuser and create soft even light. Open shade under trees or buildings gives you soft light with the sun as fill.

Inside: Walls are your best friend for modifying indoor light. Bouncing light off a white or light-colored wall softens it significantly. A white poster board, a foam core board, or even a white pillow can bounce light back onto your subject when you’re working with backlighting. The closer the light source is to your subject the softer it becomes. Move it farther away and it gets more directional and dramatic.

QUICK TIPS TO REMEMBER

Understanding photography lighting basics comes down to three things: where the light is coming from, how it’s hitting your subject, and whether you can modify it to be more flattering. Start with windows, stick to one light source, and pay attention to how shadows fall on the face. Everything else builds from there.

If you have questions about anything covered here, reach out through the contact page. I’m happy to help.