Shoot Epic Portraits in Harsh Light (Wedding Photography Behind the Scenes)

If you love taking epic portraits in epic locations, if often requires shooting in harsh light. In this video I'm going to break down how you can shoot in epic locations with harsh light and still get a beautiful final product!
*The audio of BTS footage was damaged in this clip! I apologize for the scratchy-ness!*
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(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Pros & Cons of Harsh Light
(3:27) Tip 1 | Evaluate the Scene
(6:01) Tip 2 | Use Body Blocking
(7:25) Tip 3 | Avoid Lens Flair
(8:05) Behind the Scenes from Real Wedding
(13:52) Wrap Up!
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[@GunXter]

Thank you, finally practical tips for mid day sunny setup.👍

[@jamesrobertstclair]

I’m taking photos of a family reunion for a friend this summer and this was super helpful. Thank you for the great work!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@mrskelseydw]

Katelyn, I would love to see a video that touches on weddings with no natural light options. I had a wedding in April where it was monsoon raining out and the venue had no windows. I had to cover the entire day inside with little to no light. (Mostly florescent/bulbs.) The entire day just felt tragic, not just for me, but so much went wrong with other vendors too. Maybe just divulging on worst-case scenarios and how to be prepared. Maybe even a little something on how on earth to edit these low light images that just aren't a dream. Thanks so much for all you do! I have learned sooo much from you and the quality of my work has made leaps and bounds simply from consuming and applying your free content. You're amazing and I would love to impact others as you do one day!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@katerinavankova2416]

I have a very important photoshoot today and it will be in harsh light. I have never done it before, I would have always chosen soft light time. It starts in an hour and I had been searching for a video like this for days! All the other video talk shade or diffusers that I won’t have. Thank you so much, this was so so so helpful!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@akobudoy04]

This channel is worth subscribing. It feels like, finding a gem among the pile of rocks☺️

[@KatelynJames]

Awesome, thank you!

[@rbolwell]

Epic video Katelyn. Thanks for the epic tips about taking epic portraits in epic locations. You're epic! lol. Seriously though, great video as always.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@filipedrumond]

You’re an amazing communicator ! Love your videos!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks so much for watching Filipe!

[@arfff.animals7531]

This is great! Bless you

[@KatelynJames]

Glad you liked it!!

[@kaydeerobinson1864]

Thank you for making these videos and investing YOUR time to help US learn. That is incredibly selfless of you and I have such respect for that. Thank you Katelyn!!

[@KatelynJames]

Hope it is helpful!

[@krazyk57]

Great stuff... Ty for the info...Wonderful imagery....😎

[@KatelynJames]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelakramer9475]

I love your videos. Thanks for the insight! I would love to see your raw photo vs your edited photos that you add into your videos.

[@KatelynJames]

Yeah we can add some of those in the future!!

[@michaelakramer9475]

@@KatelynJames Yay! That would be wonderful!

[@verzomusic]

Nice tips! Very helpful but still… harsh lighting is sooo difficult 😮‍💨 so many things to be aware of. Thanks!

[@KatelynJames]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rockj8197]

Would love too have seen the before and afters to see what we should be shooting for in camera using these techniques. I would imagine it would be exposing for the background leaving the subjects slightly underexposed in the shadows and bringing the shadows up in post? Thanks. This is my recurring nightmare!

[@KatelynJames]

I actually over expose the background and then would bring back contrast and exposure through the tonal curve, darken of certain colors like blues and reducing whites and highlights.

[@crofterlass3459]

@KatelynJames ..Hello..just came across you and love the way you shoot..But wud u mind explaining to me how over exposure off the back ground works.. as have read mostly that you expose for the background and add flash on the subject through ttl...tk u ..much appreciated

[@shannonmedeiros1606]

Learned so much from this super helpful video - my one question is, can you share where in Colorado is that beautiful wedding location??

[@KatelynJames]

Maroon Belles near Aspen

[@destin-danser]

This is a prime example of why some situations truly can’t be shot in natural light while obtaining professional results. Clients might be happy, but delivering photos where the highlights are completely blown out in both the foreground and background is less than ideal. I’d argue this is a case where you’d be best exposing for highlights and pulling any shadows up in post, but really you’d be better off taking over the sun with a moonlight or two.

[@georgeverdzadze7063]

Great video, but easiest way to handle harsh light is to use xplorer 600 or similar godox flash and it will make pictures very beautiful with vivid colors. So try that and you will see a huge difference.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@jillschindel2832]

Do you use any exposure bracketing or anything to help recover some highlight details?

[@KatelynJames]

I don't and I haven't had any issues.

[@loricanton7969]

Hi Katelyn I had a situation on a Clift with a ocean background . It was a beautiful day but no clouds at about 230 pm winter, very harsh light. I did the couple shading but still struggled to have shade. Do I exposure fir them or the bright sky? I was trying a flash but really probably made it worse, also do you think a reflector would help which I left in car😟

[@KatelynJames]

That is a tough situation... The reflector would have helped, but I never have one with me haha!

[@orebabaalibaba]

First of all, thank you so much, this was a great video. Not many people say about how to shoot in harsh light. Just wanted to ask, is it a good idea to use reflectors or parabolic light modifiers to somehow equate the intensity of light on the background as well as the one lighting the subject, also may be when you said to get the subject into the harsh light to match the overly lit background, and use a reflector towards the bottom to soften the harsh shadows?

[@KatelynJames]

We do not use reflectors or light modifiers. Not that they are wrong, we just don't use them.

[@zyrusvince6770]

Would an ND Filter help?

[@mandapanda388]

Do you ever use auto iso in manual mode? I always use manual to control my shutter and aperture but I feel like I always forget my iso unless it's in auto lol

[@KatelynJames]

I do not.

[@stephenbradleyent.3323]

Great video!I was wondering if you ever use ND filters?And if not, then why not? Thanx!!

[@KatelynJames]

Thank you! I do not use ND filters! I don't do any long exposure type photography where an ND filter would be useful. I just raise my shutter to compensate when in bright environments!

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥 I would like to see someone showing a photoshoot of a late afternoon wedding ceremony and not just a single posed shot. It can’t be found anywhere for good reason. The reason is that no one can successfully pull it off. I tried using my speedlight to fill in areas when my bride or groom were either side or backlit from the sun and it was a disaster for me. TTL mode but the flash output was so inconsistent with my Godox V1 Pro being about 8-10 feet away from my subjects. Sometimes too bright and other times no light at all and I was shooting slowly

[@shanemanjr]

Hi I need help with this scenario. What if the client needs/wants/demands a wide portrait in front of a specific background, say a building/structure at the moment where the sunlight is harsh at 1pm? what to do?

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeffnovak4247]

Good info and I really appreciate your live-action tutorials. FYI, I'm a newbie so I can't speak to the photography content but even though I liked the video and subscribed I had to fight to watch this one to the end because of the constant use of "epic". We get that it's epic, we can see that, but other colorful adjectives would make this much easier to listen too and less like a candidate for a drinking game.

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for the feedback Jeff!

[@timasbell108]

Do you ever use a flash for fill light?

[@KatelynJames]

I do not.

[@shaneandersen1316]

OCF would have made these images epic.

[@melodyphillips2388]

Just seeing this one, but I'm curious. A couple of times in your videos you have mentioned budget weddings, but also you don't offer smaller packages. Are these couples on a budget still allotting $10,000 for wedding photos? You are worth every penny, btw❤️

[@KatelynJames]

Some do and some are family friends that get a discount.

[@marc-xw6yq]

genius idea when shooting in harsh light, i think the main point is to avoid uneven shadow on the face

[@KatelynJames]

yes!

[@kirstinshontere]

So where exactly is this Epic location?

[@KatelynJames]

A glacier in Alaska!

[@lindapeters3743]

Question: in these epic locations, to focus on the couple, do you Spot Metering ? Or what metering? Thanks.

[@KatelynJames]

Yes for metering I am using spot metering! and for focus I am using a single focal point!

[@lindapeters3743]

@@KatelynJames Thank you sooooo much !!! I LOVE your photography and your fabulous lessons in photography. This is a big help to know you use spot metering and single focal point. I am not a wedding photographer but I appreciate your tips for shooting my family. Thank you again.

[@svetlanagrobman3476]

Katelyn, how much overdosing are u talking about? One stop? One third of a stop? Thanks!

[@KatelynJames]

Thanks for watching!