Natural Light

There's an intimacy to portrait photography that goes beyond technical skill. It's about creating a connection with your subject, making them feel comfortable enough to let their guard down and show their true self to the camera.

The Power of Natural Light

For this session, we worked entirely with natural light streaming through large windows. No artificial lights, no reflectors - just the soft, diffused glow of indirect sunlight. This approach creates a gentle, flattering illumination that feels organic and authentic.

Creating Connection

The key to capturing genuine expressions is creating an environment where the subject forgets about the camera. We spent time talking, laughing, and simply being present with each other before even picking up the camera.

Technical Approach

• Aperture: f/1.8 for shallow depth of field
• Focus: Sharp on the eyes, soft bokeh in background
• ISO: 400 to maintain natural skin tones
• White Balance: Slightly warm to enhance the golden hour feel

The soft focus on the background helps direct attention to the subject's face while creating a dreamy, ethereal quality. The natural light from the window creates a subtle rim light that adds dimension and separates the subject from the background.

"A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it." - Edward Steichen

Beyond the Technical

While understanding camera settings and lighting is important, the real magic in portrait photography happens in the connection between photographer and subject. It's about capturing a moment, a feeling, a glimpse of someone's authentic self.