FAQ Friday (or Monday!). Lighting on location and perfecting skin tones.

Happy Monday!  We were so busy partying during our Client Valentines Day Party on Friday that we had no time to do our popular FAQ Friday Feature.  We’re making up for it today.  Thank you for all of your great questions this week.  Here were the top two, both receiving the most likes on FB!  Check back on FB this Friday for another chance to get your question in!

Question:

Christy Usher Thank you hhp for doing this today! I am wondering how do you ensure lighting on location (at a client’s home for example) will result in quality images given the lighting situation may not be ideal especially for natural light photography.

Answer:

This is a great question Christy!  As many of you know, our team shoots using natural light only.  We love the beautiful effect it has on the subject and the freedom and mobility it gives us especially when chasing after toddlers!  That being said, you have to learn how to work in any type of light.  You have to know your camera well and be able to adjust to low light, back light, color casts, harsh light, soft light…. usually all within the same session!  We can’t ensure great light on location, but with years of practice, we know how to work in any light we find ourselves.  Here are some tips:  Know your camera inside and out.  Set your High ISO Noise Reduction to high when shooting in low light situations.  Nail your exposure.  The less you have to fuss with an image in post processing, the less noise will be visible in the final photo.  Set your exposure manually and expose for the skin tones.  White balance.  And most importantly, check in with your settings frequently.  The most difficult thing to master with natural light is that it is constantly changing.  I’m changing my settings every few minutes in a natural light shoot to ensure I nail exposure and white balance in camera.  Finally, learn to love natural light.  It isn’t predictable, but that is where the beauty can be found.  Finding the perfect little pocket of light to shoot in is the best rush!  When you don’t like the outcome of a shoot, examine what you did.  When you love a shoot, examine what you did.  You’ll start to have a whole range of ideas for working with different types of light when you arrive on location.

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