Cloud Lighting - Lose the Sun!

Ideally, it's great to imagine that those Utopian sun shiny days are best suited for capturing your happy family or sparkling special event, but here's a quick tip and/or reassurance for those fearful of cloudy doom, who feel their photogenic days might be spoiled by an impending lack of sun.

Have you ever had photos taken in direct sunlight? Did it give faces some weird and creepy shadow patterns which made the people look more like deranged weirdos? (Campfire flashlight face anyone?) Here's a valuable tip: On sunny days, don't pose for photos in direct sunlight. Please. And likewise don't pose people in direct sunlight. Take them to the shade and use a flash. You also don't want squinty eyes either. Go into the shade.

Or better yet, hope for an impending storm! This may sound contrary to Utopian expectations, and I know that sounds horrible to wish for, especially for peoples' wedding shoots, but as a photographer it makes sense to you and to me, and I'll tell you why.

In the studio, photographers often use light diffuses, which are translucent white colored items which spread out harsh sources of light to diffuse them and to give subjects a much more soft and pleasing appearance. Call in the clouds! What better natural and overall diffuse than white misty cloud cover?

Here are some fabulous shots of Ashley and Johnnie, shot just before a huge downpour! (Can you believe it? The wedding planner was at hand with a large umbrella.) See how nice and lovely their lighting is? Cloudy day photography doesn't turn out looking bad at all. It actually has quite a nice, misty, dreamlike quality. And their faces look soft and lovely with no patchy weird shadows from high contrast overhead shadowing (from trees and such).

Tip: Of course we don't have access to the weather control knob, but don't fret if it looks like rain is on the way. Just hurry to snag that lovely diffused cloud lighting before the water comes - and make sure you have someone prepared with umbrellas! Because looking soft and misty like those farewell-on-a-train romances is one thing, but getting drenched is something else entirely.

Another option in case it pours before you can get any shots in: Find a covered yet open-to-the-outdoors pavilion, or find a nice indoor place with huge windows or skylights to let in lots of light.