Finding the light
As a photographer it is my job to help the model capture the shoot and image planned.
So let us talk about natural light photography.
All too often we approach a location without a full recce and start shooting.
When shooting a model in natural light, without flash, modifiers or reflectors don’t have their back (the models back) to the light. Meaning don’t have a background that is brighter than your model.
So how do we make it better? As a model you need to have an understanding of light and some other fundamentals too. You need to have the background the same or slightly darker than you (The model).
What we are starting to do now is layering, layering ideas to create the image we desire and get that final shot.
Remember! We don’t know what it is at this moment, we just have an idea of what we want it to be.
Using buildings or walls to lean against can help, especially if the wall has lines to draw you to the subject, but ideally keeping the face of the model towards the light. and maybe using pieces of grass, leaves or flowers in the foreground can also assist in getting that image.
Try to get that light as soft as possible or use the harsh hard light to show the focus point of your image.
Think about the setting on the camera. For example, in daylight start at:
ISO 100
F/2.8 – F4 for a shallow depth of field
Shutter speed 1/200 +
Review the image to regularly confirm you are moving in the correct direction.
Remember if you change the ISO your picture is likely start getting grainy (but will lighten the picture)
Move the F/Stop to change your depth of field, losing its shallowness (but will darken the picture)
Slowing the Shutter speed may show blur in your pictures depending on how steady you can hold the camera. Look to use a tripod and shutter release cable. But we are in daylight, natural light, so the settings should be close to the original settings.