Harsh Light

I built my signature editing aesthetic on backlit sunshine and pastel tones. So when the sun was hanging too high in the sky, or my subject was lit directly, I felt lost and completely out of my element. For many years I hated the work that I produced in harsh lighting conditions. I felt it was really hard to match my other work… because it is next to impossible to get them to match.

I have a few tips for working in tough lighting situations:

1. It won’t match

The first thing I had to do was realize that it won’t look the same, and discover a new “style” based on my preferences.

For example, when it is high noon and the sun is directly above our heads, I learned that my preference was to find even shade, or (if no shade is available) set my subject’s back to the light and keep skintones even.

When it comes to editing, I keep all of my adjustments similar to my backlit work. Like always, I focus on skin tones first.

2. It takes practice

It took a lot of practice for me to understand how to shoot backlit to my preferences, and it took just as much practice with direct light as well. It takes practice to “see” the light and the shadows.

My best advice is to keep moving — even walking 360 degrees around your subject, to watch how the light changes things. As you change angles, the light will alter the warmth, contrast, saturation, and exposure with each step you take. You’ll start to learn exactly how the sun is making changes, and then you can control your light source to produce the results you want.

3. Be creative and willing to try new things

I try to use harsh or direct light to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone. I want to play with shadows and push the dynamic range of my camera.

As much as I can control, I try to set my photo shoots for sunset to deliver my signature look. However, there are too many factors simply out of my control to have ideal conditions for every session. It is imperative that I practice in bad weather, harsh lighting, and less-than-ideal locations in order to remain confident and capable.