I’m lucky to have plenty of windows to choose from in our home. With plenty of open space, there is usually an abundance of light throughout the year or throughout the day. That doesn’t stop me from searching for pockets of light throughout our home.
Lighting with Window Light
My favorite spot for shooting the kids is in our family room. In the afternoon, the back door window gets a stream of light as the sun moves across the horizon. It’s one of my favorite places to take portraits of the kids. When they’re cooperating, I can usually get them to sit still for a couple of minutes and bathe their faces with light. I usually go for a nice side lighting across their faces to throw half of their faces into shadow.
Even on a messy day, I can isolate my subject enough to hide the imperfections in the background.
[Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70, ISO 400, f/2.8, 1/60]
By having her turn her face towards the light, I get a different feel all together. I can illuminate her whole face. Again, I stop down a bit so as not to over-expose her face. Rain or shine, this window always provides great light for me to play with.
[Canon 5D Mark III, 24-70, ISO 400, f/2.8, 1/30]
Behind the Scene
Here’s a shot of the room with the back door window. Placing my subject in front of the window provides plenty of light for me to capture a portrait. I use the 24-70 to squeeze myself between my subject and the couch.
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