Tip of the Day: Portraits in Natural Light

While many photographers prefer a studio setup with several lights, diffusers, and other light modifying equipment, most of us simply cannot afford to do something like this. If you are trying to figure out how to take good portraits, while on a budget try these suggestions. First of all, natural light is much more diffuse than any artificial setup. Remember, the sun is BIG! A room with a large window is ideal. A west, north-west facing window is ideal. Aim for days that are somewhat overcast, as the light will be very soft. A muslin background is ideal, but may be too expensive for some people. To get a nice background for much less, make a trip to your nearest fabrics store. You will be surprised how good the selection is. You will also need to add a couple of hooks in your ake-shift studio, which will be used to attach the fabric. If you have a support stand to hang your background, even better. Don't worry about wrinkles, they add interest to the background. Position your subject 45 to 90 degrees to the window... Shoot...