Light can make or break your photo. It’s what separates amateur shots from professional-looking images. Whether you’re still getting to grips with your settings or you’re further along in your photography journey, understanding light will take your photos to the next level.
In this post, you’ll learn the difference between soft and harsh light, how to work with light indoors and outdoors, creative ways to use light, and why mastering this skill helps build a more consistent and professional portfolio.
Let’s dig in.
If you’d rather listen to the audio version of this Blog click here, or Check out Episode 3 of the Better Photos Podcast wherever you listen, or scroll to the bottom of this post!
A Quick Catch-Up From Last Week
Last week’s challenge was all about experimenting with focus points and trying different focus modes. If you gave that a go, amazing! If not, you’re not alone — I had my own learning curve too. When I first switched from Canon to Sony, I watched a few quick YouTube videos and set my camera up for family photography… then just left it.
This week, I tried two new things:
- Spot tracking mode
- Back button focus (where you use a button like AF-ON to focus instead of pressing the shutter halfway)
If you haven’t experimented with those yet, it’s worth playing around. It gives you more control — and that always helps.
Let’s Talk About Light (AKA the Real Secret to Better Photos)
Beyond camera settings and sharp focus, light is the number one thing that will improve your photography. It’s the biggest difference-maker between a beginner and someone whose photos really stand out.
Why Light Matters
- It affects skin tones and textures
- It helps create mood and emotion
- It determines the overall quality of your image
Soft Light vs Harsh Light
What Is Soft Light?
Soft light gives you even skin tones and smooth transitions between shadows and highlights. You still want contrast, but without extremes.
What Is Harsh Light?
Harsh light is what you get around midday — super strong sun creating intense shadows and bright spots. You’ll notice this especially on people’s faces — dark under the eyes, bright on the nose, and overall uneven light.
Pro tip: Don’t shoot at noon unless you have to. Instead:
- Shoot earlier in the day
- Or shoot later, closer to golden hour
- If you must shoot at noon, find full shade
The Quality of Light Affects Image Quality
Ever taken a photo on your phone at night? It probably came out grainy and dull. That’s because the less light you have, the lower the image quality.
Whether you’re shooting indoors or outdoors, keep this in mind:
- Adjust your ISO and exposure properly
- More light = better sharpness and detail
Outdoor Lighting Tips
Look for Even Light
When shooting outdoors:
- Avoid high contrast areas (where you see sharp light and dark lines on the ground)
- Choose full shade for softer light
- Position your subject facing the light for better skin tones
Backlighting (When the Light’s Behind Your Subject)
Backlighting can be beautiful — but it’s tricky. It can cause unwanted haze or soften your subject’s face too much. To handle it:
- Adjust your angle (shoot slightly above or to the side)
- Avoid pointing your lens directly into the sun unless you’re going for a specific sun flare effect
- Make sure eyes are visible and sharp when subjects are facing the camera
Indoor Lighting Tips
Turn Off Overhead Lights
Indoor lighting is usually warm (orangey) while window light is cool (bluish). Mixing them creates weird color casts on skin and makes editing harder.
Instead:
- Turn off lamps and ceiling lights
- Use only natural window light when possible
- Move your subject close to a bright window
Watch Your Exposure
Always expose for the highlights (the brightest parts of your image). If you blow them out, you can’t bring them back in editing — even when shooting RAW.
So:
- Slightly underexpose your photos
- Avoid letting skin tones get too bright
- Keep the exposure meter below zero if needed
Creative Ways to Use Light
Light isn’t just functional — it can be part of your creative storytelling too.
1. Dappled Light
This is light that filters through blinds, leaves, or anything that creates a patterned shadow. It adds interest and directs the viewer’s eye. Great for storytelling.
2. Artificial Light
Want to shoot at night? Try using:
- Nightlights
- Reading lamps
- Candles
You don’t need perfect skin tones — this is about creating mood.
3. Silhouettes
Create a silhouette by placing your subject in front of a bright window or the setting sun, then underexpose the shot so only their outline shows. Perfect for maternity or emotive family shots.
4. Full Sun + Contrast
Having your subject face the sun (eyes closed works!) and darkening your exposure can make a bold, stylised image with lots of drama.
Shooting at Different Times of Day
When planning a session:
- Golden hour (1 hour before sunset) is ideal for that soft, warm light
- Early morning works well too, especially in shaded or wooded areas
- Avoid midday unless you have tools to diffuse the light (trees, blankets, or diffusers)
Indoor Shoots
For indoor sessions like newborns, I usually shoot around:
- 9:30–10am (when the light is brightest)
- Or early afternoon in winter (around 1–3pm)
I’ll often ask for a photo of the room ahead of time to check the light.
My Thoughts on Flash
Personally, I avoid flash. It takes away that documentary, natural feel I love. I want my photos to look like someone just happened to catch a beautiful moment — not something overly staged.
But if you want to explore flash photography:
- Use it with intention
- Look for classes on how to make it look soft and natural
- It can be fun for adding variety or going for that disposable camera look
The Importance of Consistency
If you’re sharing your work on Instagram or booking clients, your lighting choices affect how professional your feed looks.
When your light is inconsistent (harsh midday sun, mixed indoor lighting, soft golden hour all in one grid), your feed will look scattered — like you’re still figuring things out.
A consistent look tells your clients:
“What you see is what you’ll get when you book me.”
That builds trust.
This Week’s Challenge
Try shooting in different types of light this week:
- ☀️ Morning light outdoors
- 🌳 Full shade
- 🌇 Golden hour
- 🌿 Light peeking through trees (for dappled light)
- 🪟 Indoor light by a window (with lights off)
- 🌙 Artificial light at night (e.g. bedside lamp)
Compare the results and notice how light changes everything.
Coming Up Next: Composition
Next up, we’ll move on to composition — one of my favorite topics and one that comes straight from my art background. You’ll learn how to frame your images in a way that tells better stories and draws people in. Check it out here.
