natural light portrait photography pro tips

[@shy-guy5544]

Excellent tips and insights. I liked the staircase photos especially. Thanks

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you Steven :)

[@simonwesterlund1]

such a great video with so many valuable tips, especially the last one with how to coach the subject. thanks!

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you for watching Simon :).

[@johananGR]

Great advice. Great pictures. thank you!

[@AskMOTT]

My pleasure Johannes, thanks for watching.

[@jklphoto]

Always good to hear your rapid-fire thoughts and see your images Justin. You referred to the light as flat on-set, but I was admiring the almost split-light on you. I would photograph you exactly where you sit, in your element. Watching on an 8" tablet, I instinctively cropped out the window on the far right of the screen with my thumb. Highlights are very distracting in the background. As you know, the eye is drawn to them like a magnet. Your image of the woman in a kimono at 10:53 proves how important it is to make the face the focal point of any environmental portrait. The setting is just there to amplify their story. Learning to SEE light (and understand how the sensor/film will record it) is probably the biggest challenge for young photographers. Digital certainly has flattened the learning curve.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for commenting JK, yeah I suppose it wasn’t that flat at my place as it least I get some natural side light, but typically when the sun comes out I get some amazing dramatic shadows in my place. The funny thing about framing that highlighted corner out, it’s always a challenge for me as my tripod is flush against my couch and I use a fixed lens, so it’s always a battle :).

[@jklphoto]

@@AskMOTT I knew what you meant based on your examples of environmental portraits. The light in your home was not dramatic, exciting or voluminous. But I could shoot there all day long! Best in 2021!

[@AskMOTT]

@@jklphoto Thanks, I love shooting here too, but it's mostly chasing my dogs around with my camera.

[@HoldMyData]

This was so helpful, thank you! Also, the color switching on your shirt was mesmerizing me for a bit 😶😄

[@AskMOTT]

Ha ha yeah it was changing :), thanks for watching

[@Heavensntme]

Great tips!!!!

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you for watching Jess.

[@hurleygreen927]

Right on time with this low-light photography video! Have a photo op tomorrow indoors with no flash allowed, so this is VERY helpful! Thanks

[@krisceuppens5273]

Beautiful portraits you showed during this video

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you Kris, and thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@TomKaszuba]

Very helpful information put forth in an entertaining manner. Thank you very much.

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you Tom.

[@punit213]

Always natural light for me! Glad to see more content from you Justin!

[@AskMOTT]

I’m the same , I use strobes sometimes but I always prefer natural light.

[@sasanbaha]

Thank you for the content, I would like to know witch camera and lenses you use? thank you

[@chris2kostya]

Thanks Justin, This was really inspiring.

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you for watching Chris.

[@fischek]

pure gold, thanks...subbed

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you :).

[@stefanhansen5882]

Oh my! Your photos are incredible! I want to begin shooting portraits and boudoir and your tips were great! So far I have focused on landscapes, so this will be quite a change. Thanks!

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for watching Stefan, and wishing you the best with your photography :).

[@stefanhansen5882]

@@AskMOTT Thanks!

[@AskMOTT]

@@stefanhansen5882 My pleasure.

[@colinosullivan930]

Great video Justin. Hope you are keeping well. Cheers from Ireland

[@AskMOTT]

Thank Colin, hoping to visit Ireland when the world opens up again :).

[@colinosullivan930]

Justin Mott when that happens let me know as a tour guide ;)

[@AskMOTT]

@@colinosullivan930 That would rock, thanks for the offer Colin.

[@randallvargas5315]

Great video and tips!

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you Randall, taking requests for more content ideas if you have any.

[@wondersandwilderness]

Hi Justin, great tips and I love the emphasis on not always thinking inside the box. I'd love to see a video on your post-processing technique. As a full-time editorial and event photographer, I believe this is where many get stumped. They can capture the image, but have no clue where to go from there. Thank you so much for the content. Appreciate the perspective so much!

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for watching John. Thanks for your idea as well, I’ve never done a post production video for my journalism work outside of my archive process but let me give it some thought. I believe we are all so different so that’s why I offer one-on-one sessions of that sort of thing interests you and I can help you create a better process for yourself. If not no worries , just thought I’d share as I’ve been a lot of these recently. www.justinmott.com/bookme-online-store

[@mikeabcable]

I totally agree with these points. In particular the last one. My brain is so used to shooting without control except the gear. coaching and assisting the poses is the last thing I feel comfortable with. However I’m keen to learn portraits.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks for watching Mike.

[@Qbabxtra]

This video is more like "How to take a portrait photo" (where natural light is one part of the equation), that being said i found it to be a really good and informative video!

[@oldbakeroldbaker1243]

Very inspiring👌👌👌

[@AskMOTT]

Thank you :).

[@Joe32942]

Great video, Id like to add one thing, if I may: make sure the eyes are in focus. I myself have done this mistake in the begining: great light, posture etc but in the final image, the eyes are out of focus and the whole image is ruined. Use the viewfinder dont rely on the back display.

[@zverinafilip]

So guilty of 1.4. It's theoretically easier to shoot wide open, less distraction but also less context and story as you said. So true. Also about telling people how to pose I found out the key is not to tell them they look bad or that something doesn't work. It makes them feel insecure and they sometimes close. "This looks good, let's try something different" sounds much better:) Btw like the trippy shirt. And very cute dog. Is it from the dog shelter you took pictures for?

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Filip, I still love 1.4 but I try to to rely on it and I'm extra cautious when I have an out of focus foreground. I agree about the positivity when talking to my subjects, communication is key. The dog is rescue dog that was owned by an expat here in Vietnam but she was moving back home so I took him in :). He's adorable and a terror at the same time.

[@zverinafilip]

@@AskMOTT He did look like that😁 Yep, do agree. And what focal length do you prefer for small aperture? Long time I was into 35 but now I feel like I more prefer 28

[@AskMOTT]

@@zverinafilip I'm a fan of 1.4 when I'm not shooting through anything or when I don't have anything large in my foreground. I find F2 works well for me to get that pop and still keep the eye and the nose in focus.

[@thestaringenclave]

Thank you for this video. It was very informative. Personally, I would have liked to see more examples of your work. It helps in learning and also getting to know you as a photographer. You have amazing photos by the way. Cheers.

[@tonydicasa9254]

Thank you for sharing these images ... very informative ... I got a lot out of this video! I very much appreciate your point about shooting wide open with a blurry background as being overdone and boring ... Just a suggestion .... I would have liked if you could have explained the source of light in some images and how you used it for effect ... maybe in another video :) thanks again!

[@AskMOTT]

I"m glad to hear that Tony and that's a great idea, perhaps if I do a tutorial on the quality and direction of light I'll go into more detail.

[@reverton77]

I understand you prefer the real sun light instead of overcast, but do you thing overcast is not bad? A lot of photographers prefere overcast day.

[@IAmJames]

Your beanie slowly moves back as the video goes on. 😂

[@AskMOTT]

I noticed that , I need some double sided tape :)

[@anthonydavis4829]

Good advice & video, but wanted more pop-up dog. He's cute.

[@AskMOTT]

Thanks Anthony, I'll talk to my cohost about making more appearances :).

[@AskMOTT]

Natural or artificial light for your portraits?

[@dPico-digitaldurda]

💪📸👍

[@christopherpiscatella9183]

Slow down your speech.