A Beginner's Guide to Shooting in Harsh Sunlight
- Melissa Marshman
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Whenever someone requests a photoshoot midday, when the sun is at it's brightest I panic just a little bit. I always find myself reaching out to my photographer friends for some advice on how I can successfully tackle the session and make it work. Know what they say?
"Find shade"
"Re-schedule"
"Don't shoot during those times"
I live in one of the sunniest cities in Canada and sometimes hiding from the sun just isn't an option, so I decided to lean into the dreaded harsh light and face the scaries!
As a novice in the world of photography, one of the greatest challenges you may encounter is shooting in harsh sunlight. The sun, in all its blazing glory, can either be a photographer's best friend or worst enemy. It all depends on how you harness its power.
When the sun is directly overhead, it can cast unflattering shadows, blow out highlights, and create an overall harshness that can be difficult to manage especially for beginners. But don't let this deter you, you can turn these obstacles into opportunities!
I recently attended Not-A-Conferene in Banff with Focal that had some awesome photographers come to mentor and share some insight. One of those photographers being Fer Juaristi who is a Mexico Wedding Photograpgher. We had harsh sunlight when Fer was mentoring our group and he didn't have a single care in the world about it, he leaned right into it for what it was and started taking photos.
With Johnson Lake behind us know what he said? -- "F*ck everyone and their nice background" and it was oddly refreshing to hear that. He finds beauty in his subjects and he works everything around them, he doesn't work them around the scenery. He got in close to the models, used their hats to cast down some shade and used the sunlight to create harsh yet beautiful lines on certain parts of the face. He completely eliminated the mountains in the background in some of his shots. Want to see what his outcome was?
Click the link below to see! Specifically the second image.
His subject was on the ground, on a concrete pathway, in some dirt, with Johnson Lake in front of her and you would never know. Gorgeous, right?!
Anyways, moving on!
So, how can a photographer shoot successfully under harsh sunlight? Here are some tips to guide you;
First, understanding light is fundamental. The position of the sun in the sky changes the quality of the light. Early morning and late afternoon offer 'golden hours' with softer, warm light and longer shadows. The sun at midday provides the harshest light with strong contrasts. As a beginner, it's beneficial to shoot during the golden hours.
Second, playing with shadows can be very effective. Shadows can add depth and drama to your images. Try to use the harsh shadows created by the midday sun to your advantage. For instance, look for interesting patterns or shapes created by the shadows.
Third, using the right equipment can help. A lens hood can prevent lens flare, while a polarizing filter can reduce glare and increase color saturation. A reflector can also help bounce the light and soften shadows.
Fourth, don't forget to adjust your camera settings. Overexposure can be a problem when shooting in harsh sunlight. To counter this, you can adjust your camera's ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
Lastly, post-processing your images can be a game-changer. Software like Photoshop or Lightroom can help correct issues like overexposure or harsh shadows, giving you more control over the final look of your images.
Remember, practice creates comfort, familiarity and confidence. So get out there and start shooting. With time, patience, and experience, you'll learn to use harsh sunlight to your advantage, creating stunning images that can stand out from the crowd.
