As a professional photographer, I have heard it all when it comes to what kind of gear people think you need to be a “good” photographer. The latest trend I see is people trying to convince others that all you need to be a good photographer is a camera and “natural light.” While I am all for using natural light, there are some things that you just can’t do without artificial light.

Here are three reasons why natural light photographers are missing out:

1. You can’t control the weather.

If you want to shoot outdoors, you are at the mercy of mother nature. This means that if it’s a cloudy day, your photos are going to be darker and less vibrant. If it’s a really sunny day, you run the risk of blowing out your highlights and having harsh shadows, and not being able to see the beautiful clouds in the sky. And if it starts raining, well then your photo shoot is over!

2. Natural Light is Inconsistent.

The biggest problem with natural light is that it is completely inconsistent. The quality of the light changes constantly throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky. This makes it incredibly difficult to get consistent results from one day to the next.

3. It’s also Unpredictable.

Finally, natural light is unpredictable. You never know when a cloud will move in and block out the sun, or when a gust of wind will kick up dust and dirt into the air. This can make it very difficult to get the shot you want, when you want it.

4. You can’t control the time of day.

Let’s say you finally found the perfect location for your photo shoot, but the only time that works for your model is noon. This means that you are going to have really harsh light and deep shadows. Unless you want your photos to look like they were taken in a horror movie, you are going to need to use artificial light to brighten things up and fill in those shadows.

5. Natural Light is Harsh.

Another problem with natural light is that it is often too harsh. This is especially true in the middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky. The harsh shadows and contrast can be very unflattering, especially for portrait photography.

3. You can’t shoot indoors without artificial light.

If you want to shoot indoors without using flash, you are going to need a lot of natural light coming in from windows and doors. But what if it’s nighttime? Or what if the room you want to shoot in doesn’t have any windows? In these cases, you are going to need to supplement with some form of artificial light like studio lights.

So there you have it, five reasons why natural light photographers are missing out!

All things considered, I will never be a “natural light” photographer because I value consistency, predictability, and control in my work. If you want to be a truly great photographer, you need to be able to control the environment that you are shooting in—and that means being able to use both natural and artificial light. So next time someone tries to tell you that all you need is a camera and natural light, just laugh and keep doing your thing!

Read Next → Why I switched to Godox Strobe Lighting for my Boudoir Photography Business

THROUGH MY LENS BLOG

Posts tagged with ISO

How Natural Light Photographers are Missing Out.