How to Use Ambient Light and Flash for Stunning Outdoor Portraits

Using natural light effectively can make or break a shot, especially in outdoor portraiture where the light source and your subject’s position work together to create the image’s mood. Understanding how to position yourself and control lighting lets you create depth and definition without overwhelming your subject with artificial light.

Coming to you from Jiggie Alejandrino, this thoughtful video demonstrates the balance between natural light and flash to shape the image. Alejandrino shoots in Alberta’s scenic Lake Vermilion, where he uses the ambient light as a foundation. He shows how to position the model, his wife, so the existing light adds dimension, acting as a rim light from behind. This setup is all about understanding where light naturally falls and using it to complement, rather than overpower, the shot. Alejandrino explains how to give ambient light a specific role in each shot, setting it up to shape the subject and dictate flash power accordingly.

For this shoot, Alejandrino uses the Sony a7RV with the Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master lens, a setup that allows him to shoot wide open at f/1.2 for an ultra-shallow depth of field. To handle this in bright conditions, he pairs his camera with an H&Y variable ND and CPL filter, locked in place to function as an ND filter only. By using the filter, he’s able to keep his shutter speed manageable while shooting with the lens wide open, minimizing the need for heavy flash power and maintaining his preferred flash sync speed.

The light source he uses for fill is a Profoto B10X Plus, a powerful but compact strobe that he sets as a kicker light. Alejandrino starts with his flash power set high, then gradually reduces it to blend naturally with the ambient light. He emphasizes adjusting the flash to match the natural highlights, which makes his approach to lighting subtle yet effective.

To refine his composition, Alejandrino explains how he makes minor adjustments to achieve the right alignment with both the light and the background. By positioning at specific angles to catch the ambient light just so, he creates a soft, natural wraparound effect.

As he shoots, Alejandrino highlights the importance of monitoring exposure levels, especially with bright outdoor lighting. By focusing on highlights, he maintains a natural look without overexposing key areas. For editing, he selectively brings back details in post-production, underexposing parts of the image to retain the sky’s highlights while brightening the face for balance. This layering technique is subtle but keeps attention on the subject while respecting the landscape’s natural beauty. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Alejandrino.

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!"

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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Thanks Alex.