Tips for Shooting Lifestyle Photos in Harsh Sunlight

Shooting at Sharks Cove on the North Shore of Oahu in the middle of the day is initially a challenge. Compared to the afternoon glare, golden hour is easy. When that 1 or 2 pm lighting comes into play, I’ve learned to get excited. There is actually a lot you can do. It’s the combination of glare, hash sunlight, and shadows that’s like trying to figure out a Rubik’s Cube. If you enjoy a challenge, this is your time to shine. All of the colors and tones have to subtly line up or you get a washed out look. I’m obsessed with bringing out the vibrant skin tones and playing with any available shadows or shade to create something noteworthy out of tough conditions. Let’s jump into a few takeaways that you may find useful for shooting in harsh lighting.

I’ve shot in most condition and find that shade is your friend. Whether it’s a hand over the head casting shadow or a palm frond, bucket hat, and tree casting a warm shadow — each of these becomes an ally while shooting in harsh sunlight. I’ve learned to love shooting in these conditions because I get to think outside of the ideal conditions and create something different.

For harsh lighting I recommend props — coconut oil or lotion to get a glowing look, sunglasses for some fun poses, and a hat for offering differing amounts of light on your face. Props also give you something to grab onto or adjust for natural looking posed photos or something to fidget with if you’ve got the nerves in front of a camera. I recommend tossing your hair side to side, running your hands through and around your hair as it frames your face, and spinning in circles as you ease into your photoshoot.

Another tip is to take a deep breath and keep your mouth slightly open as you exhale. As you hit harsh sunlight, your eyes might tend to squint. You can either toss on those sunnies, look up at the sky with your eyes closed before opening for a while, or close until you are ready to open for the shot on 3, 2, 1, open. I find that this allows you to tolerate wide open shots without straining the eyes too much.

Lastly, I recommend adjusting your surroundings. For instance, make your own shade. We pulled down a palm frond that the model held down with one hand for shade. Look around and figure out what you can use to your advantage to create the softer light in hard conditions.

I’d love to see what you create, feel free to tag or send over your results on instagram and i’ll take a look!