Natural light portraits can be stunning with the right setups, and they're simpler than you might think. This excellent video tutorial shows three easy setups that will elevate your portrait images.
Coming to you from Nathan Elson, this practical video explores three natural light portrait setups. The first setup involves placing a movable white wall in front of large windows. While this setup provides soft, pretty light, it can sometimes be too flat. To add contrast, Elson uses two v-flat reflectors with their black sides facing the model. This technique absorbs some light, enhancing the shadows and adding depth to the model's face and body. If you prefer less contrast, simply flip the reflectors to their white sides to add fill light and soften the shadows. This setup demonstrates the importance of shadow control in creating carefully crafted portraits.
The second setup aims for a more dramatic effect, achieved by placing the model against a white wall with the window light coming from the side. This side lighting creates fantastic transitions from highlights to shadows, adding shape and dimension to the model's features. The directional light is key here, as it sculpts the face and body, resulting in portraits with more depth. This method is perfect for those looking to add a touch of drama to their images without any complex modifiers.
That's just the tip of the iceberg, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Elson.
