Lighting your photoshoot in Victoria, BC
Family photos made even better with perfect light
The Magic Ingredient for Beautiful Photos
Ever wonder why some photos take your breath away? “What an amazing capture!” or “A stunning subject!”, you might think. But if you take a closer look, much of what makes a photo special is simply the quality of light and how it’s used. Yes, we photographers are basically light tamers. Let me show you how we work our magic and how to help us achieve it.
The Power of Light
Light can be used to create everything from dramatic silhouettes to dreamy golden scenes and dark and soulful portraits.
Over time, photographers learn how to harness light to create certain looks or moods. Knowing this, a good photographer will work with you to see what results you would like. That will help us pick the the best location and time for the shoot.
Choosing a Light
Golden hour (the hour before sunset) has long been revered as the gold standard in family photography. You have likely seen those photos in wheat fields with the subjects looking ethereal, their hair like stands of gold. Sounds ideal, right?Yes, the results are usually oustanding.
The catch is, during the summer, golden hour takes place around 8 p.m. If you have young ones and are set on photos during this magical hour I would recommend waiting until the fall when the sun sets earlier.
Another option I love is shooting on a cloudy day. With an overcast sky, light falls softly across my subjects, which results in super flattering photos.
A bonus of cloudy day photography is there’s no need to time it as specifically as golden hour shoots. This means you can even meet me at midday and walk away with beautiful photos (no harsh shadows!).
That being said, it’s not impossible to schedule a photoshoot on a bright, sunny day.
With bright skies, it’s all about seeking out open shade: I love to place my subject under a tree on a bright day. This way we can avoid harsh shadows on their face AND save their eyes from squinting.
I hope I helped illuminate a bit about why photographers are so obsessed with light. We know how important it is in setting the mood and helping you look your best. We’re always happy to answer any questions clients may have about lighting, location and timing. It’s all about making things easy for you and putting you and your family in the best possible light.
Do you have questions about lighting and the best time of day to meet? I would love to chat!