The biggest culprit when it comes to destroying otherwise adorable pictures of your kids is the sun. That’s why learning to use the sun to your advantage rather than fighting it is the single most effective way to transform the moment when you first see your pictures from one of disappointment into one of excitement.

Tip #1:  Consider the time of day

One of these photographs of a little girl playing in the sand was taken around noon on a sunny day.  Due to the sun’s high angle, she is covered by harsh shadows. Avoid this harsh midday light, especially if your subject is wearing a hat. 

Disappointed:                   Excited:
     

Instead, plan family photographs for early morning and late afternoon hours when the sunlight is softer and more diffused.  Notice the even lighting and lack of shadows on the child’s face in the other photograph. It was taken in the late afternoon.

Tip #2:  Keep the sun behind you

You will be much happier with your photographs if you make a habit of keeping the sun behind you, not behind your subject.  

Take a look at these two photographs of a child walking on the beach. In one photograph, the sun is behind the child, lighting her back rather than her face. You can see that her face is shadowed and her eyes look black – probably not the effect the photographer was going for.

Disappointed:                  Excited:
     

When you keep the sun behind you, it lights your subject’s face and eyes, as in the photograph of the child holding her mother’s hand.  Notice, however, that the child is turned slightly.  This helps avoid squinty eyes.

Tip #3:  Use your flash

While these are great guidelines, beautiful and spontaneous moments don’t always schedule themselves around perfect lighting conditions.  Luckily, you can use your flash to rescue these photographs.

Disappointed:                 Excited:
      

In one of the photographs of the child in her snowsuit, the sun is lighting the child from behind and the photographer did not use a flash.  Notice the dark shadows on the child’s face and eyes.

In the other photograph, the photographer either increased the power of the flash or moved closer, using the flash to light the child’s face.  Now you can see all the details in her face and eyes.

Now that you’re armed with these tricks for working with the sun to capture all your memories, pack your camera and have fun!

Photographs and article provided by:

Accent Photography
Gregory Gittsovich & Shawna Falkner
www.accentphotography.com
ggittsov@isd.net
763-383-0589

Accent Photography is located in Plymouth, MN and specializes in baby and family portraiture. Photographer and owner Gregory Gittsovich has studied and practiced photography both in the United States and in Europe and has been in business for more than 25 years.