Shooting in Full Sunlight
When the Sun’s Out and Your Patience Is Tested
Ah, bright sunlight—the frenemy of photographers everywhere. It’s that overly enthusiastic guest who shows up early, stays too long, and insists on being the center of attention in every photo. Sure, it lights things up, but try getting those creamy, dreamy backgrounds we all swoon over—good luck.
If you’re anything like me, working in direct sun is never your first choice. Or your second. Or even your tenth. But sometimes the golden hour ghosted you, clouds decided to play hide and seek, and you’re left wrestling with the midday spotlight like a caffeinated wrestler in a glitter factory.
So what do you do when the sun’s out and your bokeh dreams are getting baked alive?
1. Start Smart: ISO, Then Shutter, Then F-Stop
I always start my exposure settings with ISO at 200. It’s my safe space—low enough to avoid grain, high enough to play nice with shadows. From there, I crank my shutter speed up like I’m trying to outrun the sun—spoiler alert: you won’t. Only when absolutely necessary do I touch the f-stop, reluctantly nudging it higher. Yes, that means sacrificing some background blur, but hey, properly exposed faces are the real win here.
2. White Balance Woes (and Wins)
This is one of those rare times I actually point my white balance at the sun. Yes, the sun. Why? Because sunlight is warm. Like, toasty-marshmallow-on-a-stick warm. And if you don’t tell your camera that, it’ll assume you're in some kind of clinical lighting nightmare and cool everything down. No thanks.
Still, even with the white balance set, I always make a pit stop in post to wrangle those wild yellow and orange tones. It’s like color correction yoga—breathe, bend, balance. I finesse those hues until they align with my signature style—stop looking like a citrus explosion.
3. Shade Isn’t a Savior—It’s a Strategy
When I can, I seek out shade. But let’s be real—it’s not a magic fix. Just because your subject’s in the shade doesn’t mean your background got the memo. A blown-out, nuclear-bright background will make your beautifully lit subject look like they’ve just seen a ghost. Flat, gray, lifeless... not exactly the vibe.
The trick? Keep an eye on that background like a hawk in polarized sunglasses. Shift your angle, reposition your subject, maybe even let the sun peek through just enough for a gentle glow. It’s all about balance.
4. Embrace the Chaos (and Keep Practicing)
Bright sunlight is like that friend who insists on karaoke even though they can’t sing—it’s unpredictable, relentless, and occasionally spectacular. It can bamboozle even the best of us. But with practice, patience, and a good claw clip, you can learn to work with it instead of against it.
So, the next time you’re out there squinting into the abyss, remember: you’ve got this. Even if your camera—and your forehead—are sweating.
