THE ART OF USING BACKDROPS IN NATURAL LIGHT
For those of you who shoot studio spaces, don’t abandon natural light completely. Studio flash can really make things consistent, but I still find that the most beautiful light is the light coming from the sun. For those of you who don’t shoot studio spaces, but want something new in your location lineup, a backdrop setup in beautiful outdoor light can be a game changer and truly elevate your galleries.
Backdrops can be purchased, or hand made. The backdrop in this course was hand painted by our talented stylist. She used a painter’s cloth from a local hardware store and some oil based paint. Even a simple sheet or length of fabric can be a great backdrop for a portrait session.
In this lesson, I show you how I set up my backdrops for that painterly light. I also cover the following:
- Working with light and reflection to get great results in natural light.
- Directing models in limited spaces.
- Exploring creative posing and shooting perspectives.
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Properly metering deep shade for a perfect exposure on film.
