Lighting is everything in photography. It affects the mood, the shadows, the colours...basically, how your photo turns out. Good lighting can make a photo pop, while bad lighting can make it look flat or blurry. Here’s how to work with different types of light and get the best results:

SHOOTING OUTDOORS

Hard Light (Direct Sunlight)
This is what you get on a bright, sunny day...lots of contrast and harsh shadows. It can be dramatic, but also tricky.

• Avoid shooting at noon when the sun is directly overhead (hello, raccoon eyes).
• Try early morning or late afternoon (aka “golden hour”) for softer light.

Camera Settings

• ISO: 100–200 (low, because there’s lots of light)
• Aperture: f/8 to f/16 (keeps everything in focus)
• Shutter Speed: 1/500 or faster (to freeze motion and avoid overexposure)
• White Balance: Daylight or manually set
  
  

Soft Light (Cloudy Sky)
Clouds act like a giant diffuser, spreading light evenly. This is great for portraits and candid shots.

• You won’t get harsh shadows, so faces look smoother.
• Colours might be a bit muted, but you can fix that in editing.

Camera Settings

• ISO: 200–400 (depends on how cloudy it is)
• Aperture: f/4 to f/8 (for a nice depth of field)
• Shutter Speed: 1/250 or faster
• White Balance: Cloudy or manually set
  
  
  
  
  

SHOOTING INDOORS

Photographing indoors comes with a unique set of challenges. You're dealing with low light, weird colours, and, in some cases, fast action. But you’ve got this.

Sporting Event

• Use a fast lens if you can (like f/2.8).
• Avoid using flash as it can be distracting.

Camera Settings

• ISO: 1600–3200 (higher to handle low light)
• Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4 (lets in more light)
• Shutter Speed: 1/500 or faster (to freeze movement)
• White Balance: Fluorescent or manually set (gyms often have weird lighting)

Theatrical Performances

• Use a zoom lens (like 70–200mm) so you can get close-up shots from the back of the auditorium.
• Take test shots during rehearsal if you can. It’ll help you dial in your settings before the real show.

Camera Settings

• ISO: 1600-3200 (higher to handle low light)
• Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4 (lets in more light and helps blur the background so the actors stand out)
• Shutter Speed: 1/250 to 1/500 (to freeze movement)
• White Balance: Tungsten or manually set (you're dealing with spotlights, coloured gels, and lots of shadows)