Something that I used to struggle with as a photographer was mastering backlit images and finding that “glow” that other photographers always seemed to have in their images. I absolutely loved the look of “glowy”, sunset light, but I just couldn’t seem to achieve it without hazy images or awful sun flare. But, with practice, I began to fall more and more in love with backlit images + using the sun to create beautiful glow around my clients…and now it’s my FAVORITE way to shoot!!! I frequently get asked questions regarding light in my images, so today I’ll be sharing my tips for achieving gorgeous glow + backlit photos!

1. Shoot at Golden Hour

Golden hour is a photographers BEST friend! I always begin my sessions 2 hours before sunset (or right around sunrise!) to have the best possible light during my sessions! I try to always avoid booking sessions at any other time, and this is the number one reason a lot of my images are back lit! (TIP: You can look up sunset times far in advance to tell your clients the time upon booking!)

2. Find the Light 

The first thing I do upon arriving at a location is find where I am going to shoot based on where the light is. My top priority is ALWAYS  the best light, and sometimes that means sacrificing a gorgeous location or beautiful pose, and that’s okay! My sessions usually begin around 5pm in the spring, and at that time I am looking for shady locations with spotty or “dappled” light (where the light is coming through an object like a tree or building and hitting the ground like spots) and I will shoot there first! As the sun begins to set, I can find more opens locations like fields or downtown areas because the sun is not as harsh.

3. Break it Up

One of the most important tips when it comes to backlighting your images is to be sure that the light is not direct. This means that, just because your client is standing with their back to the light does not mean your images will turn out how you’re hoping! If the sunlight is too direct and is entering your lens, this is when you can get sun flare and hazy images. So, when shooting with the sun behind your clients, be sure there is something breaking up the light and it’s intensity like a tree or a building. When the sun begins to set and is low to the ground, you can use your clients to break up the sun by having them stand directly in front of it and block the rays from hitting your lens!

4. Switch up your angle

If you’re finding that your images are hazy or have unattractive sun flare, try shooting sightly to the right or left of your client to get the sun out of your frame! Pointing your camera down and away from the sun can also help combat this. If the sun is just too bright and intense, have your client sit or lay and point your camera down at them to prevent the sunlight from creating fuzzy images!

BONUS TIP: Find natural reflectors!

When shooting at golden hour, sometimes it’s hard to get your clients skin tones to be exactly what you’re wanting. When shooting in an open field, try shooting right at the edge of the field where a white concrete sidewalk or gravel is acting as a natural reflector to bounce white light onto your clients face. I’m always shooting in areas that have natural reflectors like streets, sidewalks, gravel, buildings, etc. to create gorgeous skin tones without having to carry a real reflector!

This image was taken about an hour before sunset. Lena was standing in the shade, but the sun is still coming in from behind her to create a tiny bit of “glow”!

Okay…seriously though, how beautiful is this girl!? In this shot I had Lena pose so that her hands were filling the frame and blocking the sunlight, but you can still see a tad bit of haziness and sunlight creeping in above her arms. But I love this image anyway 🙂

On the right, the sun had really begun setting and Lena was standing in front of it to block it, but it was still creating a little haze and fuzziness. So, I had her sit and shot from slightly above her to create sharper images like the one on the left!

RIGHT before the sun finally set behind the horizon, we got these gorgeous shots! THIS is the golden light that I love! The sun was directly behind Lena’s head so she was blocking it to prevent flare, but it creates a stunning glow that I can’t get enough of!