Choosing between shade and backlighting for outdoor portraits can dramatically affect how your subject appears. Knowing when to use each can elevate the quality and style of your photography significantly.
Coming to you from Jay P. Morgan with The Slanted Lens, this practical video walks through the nuances of shooting portraits in shade. Morgan demonstrates how placing your subject at the very edge of shade provides subtle control over lighting and background. Using a reflector just outside the shaded area, Morgan illustrates how easily you can brighten your subject’s face naturally without overpowering the shadows. The simplicity and versatility of shade are clear benefits, especially for beginners or those shooting in unpredictable outdoor environments. Morgan also shares a useful tip about positioning reflectors: keeping them high to emphasize facial features rather than illuminating from below.
Morgan shifts to backlighting, pointing out the advantages of creating dynamic, beautifully lit portraits without the restriction of finding shade. The technique offers natural rim lighting, highlighting hair and adding dimension. He explains clearly why positioning matters: the ideal setup is to place your subject against a dark background to leverage the contrast. Unlike shade, backlighting demands careful exposure control because direct sunlight can easily overwhelm highlights. Morgan advises switching to manual mode to maintain control over the highlights, ensuring they don’t overpower the image.
Morgan further refines the technique, explaining the reflector’s placement differences when using backlight. While shade setups require reflectors placed closely to bounce adequate soft light onto the subject, backlighting needs reflectors set farther back. Too close, and the harsh reflected sunlight risks blowing out facial details. He details subtle adjustments to reflector distance, managing shadow intensity and facial warmth effectively. Additionally, Morgan shares practical tips, such as using a stool for better camera angles and simple methods to secure reflectors on windy days.
Morgan’s clear, hands-on explanations about managing these techniques help you refine your outdoor portrait skills confidently. His balanced comparison highlights the advantages and challenges of each method, offering useful insight that goes beyond typical lighting tips. You’ll appreciate his practical advice about exposure management and reflector handling, particularly useful if you've ever struggled to balance natural lighting outdoors. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Morgan.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
