If you’d like a simple framework for finding light like this on your own shoots, grab my free Natural Light Guide — it’s one of the free resources on the membership page.
Scarlet: The Natural Light Decisions Behind the Portraits
A red dress, a changing sky and one compact location gave this portrait session several very different looks.
The color catches your attention first. But the light on Susan’s face, her position and the way I framed each image are what allowed that color to work within the portrait.
Scarlet is a useful example of how much variety you can find without traveling between lots of locations. I photographed Susan with Eva assisting, working through changing natural light and making decisions as the session unfolded.
Begin with the relationship between the subject and the sky
After a storm passed behind Susan, clouds softened the sunlight coming from behind my shooting position. The distant sky gave us a dramatic backdrop, while the light on her face remained gentle enough for the portrait I wanted.
I used the Sony A9 with a 55mm f/1.8 lens for this part of the session. The framing allowed the red dress and the cooler storm colors to play a visible role in the image.
The sky was worth including because it supported the portrait. I still needed to pay attention to Susan’s face and position rather than letting the background dictate everything.
Find another pattern of light nearby
For a different look, I moved Susan under the trees and used the Sigma 135mm f/1.8. Here I worked with indirect light and the surrounding environment to create what I think of as a room of light.
The useful opening was behind my shooting position, with a little light also reaching her from behind. That gave this setup a different feeling from the wider portrait against the storm.
The lesson is to look closely at what is available within a small area. A position that seems ordinary when you walk past it can offer something useful when you consider the direction of the light and what the camera will see behind the subject.
Respond when direct sunlight appears
Later, the sun broke through. That changed the lighting conditions, so I changed the way I worked with Susan’s position and the light across her face.
Inside the Creative Portrait System
This is one piece of a bigger creative system
158+ in-depth classes on light, colour, direction and composition — the exact process behind 13 years of paid client work.
Direct sun asks for more care with face angle and shadow placement. A pose that worked in softer light may create an entirely different pattern once the sun reaches the subject directly.
I used that change to create another look within the session. The red dress remained part of the visual story, while the light gave the photographs a different mood.
Give color a purpose in the composition
A strong color can hold attention, but it still needs a considered frame. In these portraits, the red dress relates differently to the cool storm sky, the surrounding foliage and the warmer sunlight.
When planning your own session, think about how the clothing will sit against the places you are likely to use. Consider brightness as well as hue. Then look through the camera to see whether the background supports the person or competes with them.
You do not need a dramatic dress to practice this. The same decisions apply to a child’s shirt, a family’s clothing or a simple portrait of someone close to you.
What the session shows
The variety came from responding to the light and changing the relationship between subject, lens and background. I worked with natural light throughout, without strobes or reflectors.
If you want a starting point before watching the class, my five natural light photography tips for beginners introduce the approach.
Follow the complete Scarlet class
The 66 minute Scarlet class is now available. Come on location with me and see how I identify different lighting patterns, direct Susan, choose lenses and respond to the conditions within a tight shooting window.
You will see the shooting decisions and out-of-camera results, followed by a review of the portraits and the compositional choices behind them.
Watch the Scarlet class, or explore membership access if you would like to learn through more of my portrait sessions.
You Might Also Like
Lifetime Access
Creative Portrait System
The complete light, colour, direction and composition system behind 13 years of paid client work. 158+ classes. 6,000+ photographers inside.
- New classes added every month
- RAW files & Lightroom actions included
- Structured roadmap, start to finish
See current price
Or start monthly from $29 · cancel anytime
New
30 Portraits Explained
Thirty finished portraits. Thirty complete breakdowns of the light, colour, composition and decisions that shaped them.
Get the Ebook — $29
Digital PDF · Instant download
Free
Not Ready to Join Yet?
Grab a free guide and preview the exact process taught inside the full system.
Want Direct Feedback?
60 minutes, 1:1, on your actual portfolio — plus a written action plan.
More From The Blog
2 Comments. Leave new
These are STUNNING and the blog was really helpful!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found value in the post! More to come! Enjoy the coming tutorial where you’ll see me in action behind the scene! It’s an eye opener! (Even for me)