Shooting portraiture in the midday is challenging, especially if you plan to stick with purely natural light. However, with a bit of skill, you can use it to create dramatic portraits! Forget about its reputation for harsh shadows on the face: here are two ways to make it work for you. Hospitality tip: Have sunblock and an umbrella on standby for your model! (Reported by: Haruka Yamamoto, Digital Camera Magazine/ Model: Ami Naruse)

EOS R8/ RF28mm f/2.8 STM/ FL: 28mm/ Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/1600 sec)/ ISO 160/ WB: Auto

 

1. Midday “komorebi”: Using dappled sunlight to elevate the shot

Have you heard of “komorebi”? It’s the Japanese word for sunlight that filters through tree branches, and it creates beautiful dappled shadow patterns, like in the example above.  You’ll see a lot of it in midday, so why not incorporate it into your shot? Best of all, your model doesn’t have to be out under the sun: she can be under a tree in the shade, as long as there is dappled light behind her.

Pro tip: Pose your model and adjust your shooting position so that there are no unnatural shadows on your model’s face.

Behind the scenes

I got the model to sit in the middle of the dapped shadows so that there wouldn’t be harsh lighting on her face.  Holding the camera above my eye level for a high angle shot, I then looked for a shooting position that kept her face clear from shadows.

 

2. Use angled sunlight to create rim lighting

EOS R8/ RF28mm f/2.8 STM/ FL: 28mm/ Manual exposure (f/2.8, 1/4000 sec)/ ISO 250/ WB: Auto

If you are shooting in the late morning or early afternoon, the sun is a little more angled and easier to use as backlight or semi-backlight, which can give dramatic results! However, all the light entering the lens directly isn’t just hard to shoot in, it might not give ideal results.

If you are having trouble, frame your shot so that the sun is blocked by something in the frame, like I’ve done with the tall grass above. The light might become softer, flatter, and less contrasty because the sun is no longer going straight into the lens, but it’s perfect as a rim light—here, it makes my model’s hair glow.

Pro tip: Adjust your shot or your model’s pose to ensure sufficient light on her face.

Behind the scenes

I angled the camera so that the tall grass blocked the sunlight from shining right into my lens. You might have to bend over to find the best position and angle, like I did here!

More natural light portraiture tips and ideas in:
5 Portrait Photography Techniques to Take You from Day to Night
Handling Natural Light: A High Key Portrait with Patterned Shadows
What’s the Best Shutter Speed for a Hair Toss Portrait?

Or try out these simple portraiture tutorials that use constant external light or a flash or two:
[Flash Technique] Creating a Pop Art-inspired Night Portrait
How to Capture a Windswept Hair Self-Portrait at Home
2 Instant Techniques to Liven Up Your Outdoor Portraits
[2-Light Technique] Achieving Edgy Outdoor Images in Broad Daylight