Getting Weird with
Romantic and Creative Lighting
Photography is quite literally, the recording of light. Flat light is usually flattering but can result in a boring gallery if we don't spice it up a bit.
Here are some of the ways I like to use light to help illustrate a narrative.
1 ) Backlighting
Remember when mom or dad used to insist you all look straight into the sun for the photo?
One of the most common ways I like to adjust light is to rotate it behind my subjects.
For one, it is way more comfortable for the clients eyes so we might catch a few frames with eyes wide open.
Secondly, I love the creamy, dreamy effect of that evening glow, seeping through.
This light feels very romantic without having to get too getting mushy (unless you want to, then I'm here for it!) and adds a dreaminess and depth to images that gives my work an ethereal quality. Allowing enough light to sneak in to add light flares gives an image a powerful feeling while silhouette images make the situation feel a little mysterious, especially as the sunlight dissipates.
Backlighting does not need to be done with hard light though. It can be done very beautifully with elements like the moon, or a gradient morning sky.
2 ) Water
Nothing makes most people feel more playful than splashing around in the water. Except, maybe bubbles.
Flicking water with your hands, running through it, or kicking it into the air, or at each other, is one way to force a gorgeous splash of light into your photos.
Waiting for the perfect second for the right wave to crash on a rock is another (seen above).
Playing in the rain under a lamp post will create a dapple of spray all around you.
The unpredictability and playfulness of water can add motion, reflection and intricate details to a scene that make a sweet moment even more special.
3 ) Mini Lights
I love mini lights. I have them all over my house, thanks to Costco Christmas bundles. They are laced in my flower displays, rim mirrors, and hang around the mantle. I will often snatch a set and bring them on photoshoots to enhance and add variety to images. It doesn't need to be dark for them to offer their fairytale feel to an image, either.
Mini lights have a way of romanticizing and elevating details, adding whimsey and twinkle as they soften hard shadows and balance an image, or as they add bokeh in the fore, or background of an image. They can be used to block distractions, keeping the focus on the subject.
4 ) Window Light
Natural window light is one of my favourite tools for indoor photography. It provides a soft, diffused light source that is perfect for creating intimate, cozy feeling images.
The way light filters through a window changes throughout the day, allowing for a range of moods and tones. Using modifiers to direct or diffuse the light, add visual interest and documentary feel as these elements of every day life often go unnoticed (like sheer curtains,
and the shadows of the windowpanes casted around the room, for example). Bright window light has great capacity to highlight textures and contour subjects as well, adding depth to your portraits.
5 ) Crystals + Reflectors
These can add playful rainbows and iridescence, bending light into glowing shapes and flares. These portraits feel atmospheric as reflections and refractions create a curious visual interest that is warm and inviting.
6) Morning and Evening Light
The beauty of early and late day light cannot be overstated.
The glow of blue to orange in the sky, the vertical directional light of the sun as it ascends or descends, is so versatile to work with as the duality of the light emotes different feelings.
Cold, tired, blue light can signal the natural beginning or end of something while the golden hue of sunrise/set promotes a warm and inviting feeling hidden among the long, intriguing shadows.
The richness of the colours during these hours is what I love the most; the deep golden hues and the bold colours of the sky that can only be captured during this time of day give a fullness to your portraits that mid-day just cannot deliver.
Note on Sunrise Sessions
The toughest part of getting a hold of that rich, colourful skyline is ...
getting up on time.
One thing I can tell you is that it's sooo worth it.
I found something that helps. It's a sunrise alarm clock that gently pokes your circadian rhythm into motion. You can check it out at the link below.
7) Hard Light
Not everyone loves themselves in hard light, myself included. Sometimes it highlights some of the ... not most flattering parts of our faces however, in the right conditions, it can be edgy so cool. Most of all, it introduces a certain level of drama to an image that I cannot resist.
Hard light can be used to draw attention to or highlight an object or part of the image that might otherwise blend in and get lost. Hard light causes hard shadows which can contour and tell it's own story in the shape of a body or in the details of a ring.
Many photographers will avoid hard light, opting for open shade or using blockers to provide a more even light. I love to experiment with it, though, any chance I get.
Light: Cinema to Photography Translation
Without the continuous movement and dialogue of cinema, light is a silent storyteller in photography, plucking at heartstrings and singing melodies through your photographs.
It's with these lighting strategies, and more, that I plan to make your personal portraits hum on another level with artistic flare.
With the right light, narratives are created, stories are told, and felt, for years to come.
I'm Ali from Lumenali Photography |
Ontario & Quebec Portrait &
Elopement Photographer
I photograph people engaged with the things that define them, in the places they adore.
I'm located in Kingston, Ontario and travel to meet the needs of my clients.
Where are we going next?
