Learn How to Create a Natural Light Look with Flash
I get questions all the time about how to learn to create a natural light look with flash, so I thought I’d write another post about it with examples.
Creating a natural light look on film or digital with one simple flash unit (that’s under $300!!) is easier than you think! Believe it or not all the photos here are shot on film with flash but I bet you would have never guessed that.
Look at the Direction of light:
When using flash for your in-home newborn or family photography, the most important thing to master is flash placement. Where you place your flash will determine the direction and quality of light you’ll get from the flash unit that will fall onto your subject. It’s important, even before you pick up a flash unit, to look at your work and find out the quality and direction of light that you love! If you look at all your past work, see if there’s a pattern. Do you gravitate towards backlit images, front light, sidelight, or maybe a combination of them. What I mean by quality is do you prefer soft light or a harder, more punchy light?
You can see by most of my images that I love a soft directional light which really looks a lot like natural light.
Look at the Catchlights:
Catchlights are important! To learn to create a natural light look with flash, you obviously would know something was “off” if you saw catchlights in the middle of your subject’s eyes, similar to if you saw red-eye. Both are caused by the burst of flash directly in front of your subject going right into their eyes, and is not how natural light typically falls on a subject, right? So for a little exercise, stand by a window with a mirror. Look at your reflection and see where your catchlight is. The catchlight will mimic the shape of the light source, so for a window it will be square and coming from above. The catchlight will usually be in the upper half of your eye and sometimes off to one side.
So when you’re learning to use flash inside, look at your photos for the direction of light as well as what the catchlights look like!
How will you meter or expose your image?
The last piece of advice I have for you to get started on your film and flash journey to make it look natural, is to do a bit of homework again before you practice. Do you find that you love bright and airy images, or more moody images? You can replicate both to look just like natural light (again, see all these examples below)! There are a few ways to achieve the different looks, and it’s exactly the same way you do it when shooting natural light. You can meter and expose for shadows to get bright and airy, or meter and expose for highlights to get a more moody image. I personally love a good black and white with dimension and mood, even on a sweet little newborn. Plus I love the intimacy and depth it adds!
I hope these 3 tips will help you learn how to create a natural light look with flash, whether you’re shooting digital or film!
Shooting with flash and film is such a game-changer for in-home photography! You can shoot any time of year and any time of day regardless of how dark it is and it will open up your world to so many more possibilities and create consistency in your in-home work. How do I know this? Because over 7 years ago I had an epiphany while lugging my big softbox around in a house, I realized I could recreate the same look with one simple flash and you can too! I created a super simple step-by-step system for achieving consistently beautiful results called Lighting for Lifestyle. The online course is opening soon and you can watch my live free flash training by signing up below!
Learn a Simple Flash Method for Lifestyle Photographers Who Want Freedom Without The Fuss
Kim Hildebrand
Photographer & Online Educator since 2007
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