If you use window light to take portraits you need to set up your camera to expose for the light. If you have a digital camera this means setting the camera to ‘expose for’ the light and not the subject. If you use film this means changing the aperture to let more light through the lens. You will have to experiment to find the best settings for your camera.
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Use the window light to your advantage.
The sun is usually at its highest point between 9am and 3pm. Use this to your advantage by finding a time of day where the sun is high in the sky and then standing in the window of the room where you are taking the portrait.
If you have time to pose your subject, do so.
Posing can add drama to a picture and help create a mood. It can also help your subject relax and look natural. If you have a model who is happy to sit still, ask them to turn their head slightly and then tilt their head up and down. This movement helps to suggest movement and action.
Try using window light indoors.
You can take interesting portraits inside too. Experiment with the light coming in through the window by asking your subject to move around. Use different colored paper or textured fabrics to reflect the light and create a variety of effects.
If you are photographing more than one person, try placing them behind each other and have them face the window.
Remember to use the flash.
Flash photographs can give a flat, washed-out effect to your picture. If you use the flash your subject’s face will also be brightly lit. Instead, look for a more shadowy background and brighten your subject’s face with fill flash.
The answer lies in finding a natural light source.
You can achieve this by setting up a simple light source such as a lampshade on a tripod, but a better approach is to use window light in order to create dramatic shadows.
When photographing indoors, set up a tripod and put the camera on a stand so it is level. You can use a simple lampshade as a reflector to bounce light onto your subject from a window or other brightly lit area, or you can position a flashgun, set to low power, pointing towards your subject.
Alternatively, you can use a window to provide a soft diffused light. Simply use a sheer curtain or material on a pole to diffuse the light falling through the window. Be aware of the brightness of the room and how it will affect your subject. If it is too bright, use a black sheet or black paper.
Use your imagination to play with different ideas.
Photographers often use a single bright light source to illuminate a group of people standing in a small area. They might use a spotlight on a stand. Or they might use a flashgun, pointed towards the group and held away from the subjects’ faces. A simple diffuser will help you create the appearance of more light than there really is.
Light comes in many shapes and sizes.
Some photographers prefer to use a softbox, which is a flexible box with a light source in the middle, which creates a circular light. A softbox can be used with a single light source or you can use multiple softboxes with different light sources, depending on what you are trying to achieve.
Experiment with different shutter speeds.
Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter stays open when the camera is taking the picture. You can control the effect of a moving object by slowing it down. This is known as the exposure time.
The exposure times of the camera can be set between 1/60th and 1 second, but most people find that around 1/125th to 1/250th second works best.
Experiment with different aperture settings.
This is the size of the hole that lets light into the camera and creates the depth of field. The size of the opening is controlled by the f-stop.
You can choose from f/1.8 to f/11, which is equivalent to a light that is just wide open to one that is almost closed down.
Aperture affects the amount of light that reaches the sensor. To achieve the same effect, with a smaller aperture you will need to open up your aperture further.
For example, you will probably have to use a higher ISO number to shoot at a slower shutter speed. And a bigger aperture will make your lens wider, which will increase your depth of field.
There are two types of focal length: normal and wide. Normal focal length is equivalent to a lens that focuses in the middle of the frame. For example, a 50mm lens on a camera will focus in the middle of the frame.
Wide focal length is equivalent to a lens that focuses at the top or bottom of the frame. For example, a 24mm lens on a camera will focus at the top or bottom of the frame.
Work with natural light and not artificial light.
When using artificial light, you need to make sure the light source is at the right distance from your subject. It’s not a good idea to place the light source in front of the subject or to stand too close. Instead, you should work at the correct distance and hold your light source high enough so that the light will fall onto your subject.
Be creative.
Think about the type of light source you want and then work out ways of creating it. For example, if you are using a flashgun, you can aim it at the ceiling and use a diffuser to create the soft light effect. Alternatively, you could use a diffuser or a black sheet to soften the light. You can also use your own body as a light source.
Take your time and experiment with different ideas until you get the light you want.