Choosing A Wedding Venue: Natural Light Photography for Wedding Photos

What is Natural Light Photography?

Light is the key to photography, literally photographs wouldn’t exist without it! The second that light enters the camera, it copies and transfers the direct image onto the film. Or it will transform it into tiny-unseen electric signals then in turn are known as pixels! So natural light is any form of light that is produced by the sun. Even ambient light can work a natural lighting because it is not directly influenced by the lighting equipment used by the photographer. 

The Benefits of Natural Light Photography

There are so many benefits to using natural lighting! First off, it is extremely affordable. Why? Because it is free! You don’t have to pay to use the sunlight as a lighting source. (However, the specific place you had in mind for wedding photos may require a fee to access the land). Natural lighting can be used for almost anything, such as portraits or even landscapes. A lot of people tend to associate natural light with beautiful countryside scenery, yet it can also be used in portrait photography! With the help of camera settings, you can play around with the various exposures and settings to get the picture-perfect shots that are professional and also similar to something shot in a studio.

Natural Light VS Artificial Light

The difference between natural light and man-made light, is that is is basically the sun versus electrical. 

Natural light is free and comes with various scenic backgrounds when you choose to go with sunlight. It also enables the “golden hour”. Different times of the day ensures different types of lighting angles and creates beautifully unique pieces.

For artificial it is created through man-made objects the produce light through the power of electricity. The way you can place the lighting equipment also makes a difference. If you place it in a certain place, you can make it look like different times of the day as well.

Sunlight

Throughout the day, sunlight tends to change colors. At dawn, it is a soft light that peaks over the horizon as the sun begins to rise and illuminates the dark sky with oranges and yellows. When it is midday, the sunlight tend to contain more blue light. If the sun in shining through a layer of clouds, it can produce a unique blue light that tends to be to harsh for most applications and settings. When working outside, it is best to use a reflector. It bounces light toward the subject, allowing the photographer to take stunningly detailed photographs.

The Pros and Cons of Natural light and Artificial Light

Natural Light Pros

  • It is free
  • The Golden hour is magnificent
  • Changes colors throughout the day and different seasons
  • Different scenery makes for beautiful photos
  • Playing around with the camera settings can produce studio quality photos
  • Illuminates the scenery behind

Natural Light Cons

  • Sometimes locations cost money
  • The weather isn’t always reliable
  • Sometimes the lighting isn’t the way you wanted it to be and you can’t fix the settings to how you want
  • If there is too much sunlight, the photo’s temperature color may not come out how you wanted it.
  • May have to reshoot on another day

Artificial Light Pros

  • Can be used almost anywhere
  • Can replicate sunlight almost perfectly
  • Can be used indoors and outdoors
  • Can be used with a green screen

Artificial Light Cons

  • It can be expensive to purchase
  • Equipment can become damaged
  • Sometimes it can’t replace the natural beauty of sunlight.