Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
If you follow my work you know that I am not afraid of hard light, I’m regularly using a bare bulb or something like a magnum reflector or other hard light source in the studio.
I use hard light because of the control it gives me. I can create high contrast with lots of crisp shadows that create a very poppy image.
Even though I am known for loving studio lighting, I also really like to shoot natural light too and that is what this image is all about. Forget the golden hour... I run toward the midday harsh sun! ☀️😜
Final image: :36
Behind the scenes: :57
The setup and execution could not have been simpler. A v-flat and an acrylic object used as a gobo with the subject directly in the sunlight. When doing a photo like this, it’s important that your model have good skin (unless that doesn’t matter to your final image) as the direct sunlight is going to be a really harsh light source and show all imperfections.
I varied the distance of the object to the subject to play around with how it appeared on her face. The closer you hold to the subject the more defined the edges will be.
That’s it for the lighting. Now for the post processing: 4:50.
There’s a few things that I adjust:
✅ Skin Retouching
✅ Darkened down the background
✅ Shifted the color more to a pink than a purple — to match the eye makeup.
✅ Copied shoulder from one to the other side to create symmetry.
So the takeaway: Don’t be afraid of direct sunlight! ☀️ You can create interesting images with pop and contrast that you can’t get on a cloudy day.
You should go out and give this a try, I’d love to see what you come up with! Share them in my group on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/creativeLIVE.Adler
⚙️ Camera settings:
✅ 1/2000th of a second
✅ ISO 100
✅ F2.2
📸 Gear Used:
✅ Canon EOS R5: https://prf.hn/l/7oZobqW/
✅ Canon RF 85mm 1.2: https://prf.hn/l/KjNLVQy/
✅ V-flat world V-flat: https://prf.hn/l/EJnOwJ0/
🔥 Also for more natural light setups be sure to check out my Creative Natural Light Recipe Guide: https://lindsayadler.photo/natural-light-guide. Use code YTNATURAL to save!
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👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
If you follow my work you know that I am not afraid of hard light, I’m regularly using a bare bulb or something like a magnum reflector or other hard light source in the studio.
I use hard light because of the control it gives me. I can create high contrast with lots of crisp shadows that create a very poppy image.
Even though I am known for loving studio lighting, I also really like to shoot natural light too and that is what this image is all about. Forget the golden hour... I run toward the midday harsh sun! ☀️😜
Final image: :36
Behind the scenes: :57
The setup and execution could not have been simpler. A v-flat and an acrylic object used as a gobo with the subject directly in the sunlight. When doing a photo like this, it’s important that your model have good skin (unless that doesn’t matter to your final image) as the direct sunlight is going to be a really harsh light source and show all imperfections.
I varied the distance of the object to the subject to play around with how it appeared on her face. The closer you hold to the subject the more defined the edges will be.
That’s it for the lighting. Now for the post processing: 4:50.
There’s a few things that I adjust:
✅ Skin Retouching
✅ Darkened down the background
✅ Shifted the color more to a pink than a purple — to match the eye makeup.
✅ Copied shoulder from one to the other side to create symmetry.
So the takeaway: Don’t be afraid of direct sunlight! ☀️ You can create interesting images with pop and contrast that you can’t get on a cloudy day.
You should go out and give this a try, I’d love to see what you come up with! Share them in my group on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/creativeLIVE.Adler
⚙️ Camera settings:
✅ 1/2000th of a second
✅ ISO 100
✅ F2.2
📸 Gear Used:
✅ Canon EOS R5: https://prf.hn/l/7oZobqW/
✅ Canon RF 85mm 1.2: https://prf.hn/l/KjNLVQy/
✅ V-flat world V-flat: https://prf.hn/l/EJnOwJ0/
🔥 Also for more natural light setups be sure to check out my Creative Natural Light Recipe Guide: https://lindsayadler.photo/natural-light-guide. Use code YTNATURAL to save!
----
👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
