3 Easy Ways To Get Flattering Light In Your Portraits

If you are just starting out in photography (or maybe you’ve been at it awhile but are still struggling a little) There is one thing you need to know how to use that will really make or break the look of your photos. And guess what, it’s not an expensive camera or fancy editing software. It’s something that’s completely free. It’s light!

Understanding how to use light correctly will take your photos from looking amateur to professional quicker than saving up to buy the latest model camera. When you understand light, even the picture you take using an iphone can look awesome! Keep reading to learn 3 ways you can get flattering light to use in your pictures.

1.Watch Out For Spotted Light

This typically occurs when you place your subject in a shaded area with trees. The light from in between the leaves, naturally peeks through creating spots across your subject. This is unflattering and will create uneven areas of highlights and shadows across them. To avoid this, step back and really look at the light. If you can see the spots on them before you click that shutter, they will show up in your photo. Instead, look for areas with open shade. (Learn more about Using Open Shade here) Look below how the light flows smoothly across here face. She is standing in a completely shaded area from the shade of the house, while I am standing in the unshaded area.

Using the open shade of a house shadow to create smooth light.

(The open shade in this picture creates a “smooth” light over her. There are no “spots” of light over her face from light that comes in through trees.)

2. Look Into My Eyes

Yes, you read that right Look into the eyes (of your subject!) If the eyes are dull and solid, the light is flat. If you can see light in their eyes, a white area in the pupil or a sparkle, then you’ve found the catch light! This is very flattering in portraits because it creates life and dimension in the subjects. To achieve this make sure your subject is facing some sort of light OR place a reflector to the front/side of them to help bounce the light back to their eyes.

Test this out in your home. Have someone face a window and look at how the light hits their eyes. Then, have them turn all the way around so their back is to that window. Look at how their eyes look now. Not so sparkly anymore, right?

use catchlights in your portraits to create dimension. Beautiful Child portrait taken in Phoniex

On the opposite side of dull flat eyes are too lit up eyes! If your subject is directly looking into the sun or light source, their natural reaction will be to squint, and their facial expression will most likely be one of uncomfortable agony- not super pleasing in a photo.

(Look at her eyes, see those glints of white in her pupil? Those are the catchlights. Make sure you see those in your subjects eyes before you press that shutter!)

3. Backlight Your Photo

This is one of my favorite ways to use light in pictures. Back lighting will eliminate spotted light and squinty eyed subjects. To do this simply make sure your light source is directly behind your subject! For even more details on how to create a beautifully backlit photo check out this article.

With backlighting you may want to bring that reflector along to pop in those catchlights!

(Photo taken with a 135mm lens with back lighting. Notice the sun directly behind them creates a beautiful glow.)

Those are just 3 of the great ways you can use light to make sure your photos look flattering. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you! If you are over on Instagram, so me what you’ve created! Make sure to tag or mention me @cozyclicks so I can like and comment on your work!