Event photography is very particular about lighting. Too often, photographers ask their subjects to come into a studio or a similar space where they can adjust lighting effectively to get the best shot. There are times, however, when artificial studio lighting won’t work -- especially if one is, say, covering an outdoor wedding. For these cases, it is best to use natural lighting. There are some challenges involved here; not every space or light opens subjects to their best angles. Different kinds of natural light can produce a wide variety of subject appearance, even if they come from the same light source. It is, therefore, important to learn how to fully maximize natural lighting to gain the best shot.
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Time of day: All natural light comes from the sun; however, a subject’s illumination depends on the time the photographer sets to shoot the subject. In general, a subject can be illuminated in three ways: direct (which has a high contrast and is generally warmer), diffuse (which is cooler but has a low contrast), and bounced (which has the qualities of a reflecting object). Many photographers suggest shooting either in early morning or late afternoon to get the best contrast, and to have shots that look as real as can be. That said, there are still others who suggest that photographers should really shoot at whatever time of the day would best give the intended look.
Other weather conditions: Understand that weather plays an essential role in how much natural light is filtered between the sun and the subject. Light can be relatively warm and highly localized, or it can be incredibly cool, enveloping the subject. The thickness and extent of cloud cover will decide to what extent your subject is seen. Photographers should also take note that stormy weather would require them to learn how to protect their gear.
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Expert photographers recommend shooting in RAW and adjusting the white balance when shooting under dense cloud cover. This will prevent images appearing more bluish.
John Bradberry is a retired photographer but does consulting jobs. For more photography advice, follow John on Twitter.
