Your Guide to Shooting Outdoor Portraits

Shooting outdoors isn’t every photographer’s forte, simply because controlling the light and setting conditions indoors is just so much easier with the right equipment. Outdoor portrait photography, in particular, can be challenging because of the multiple elements that one has to manage: the subject(s), the lighting, the color palette, and maybe even some nasty weather!

That’s why we’ve created this simple guide that will help you remember some often-forgotten aspects of outdoor portraits to help your shots turn out breathtaking.

Understand the Relationship Between the Subject & Setting

The key here is to remember you’re not shooting in a neutral space. Depending on the occasion, the environment and the setting can help transform the pictures.

By creating a relationship between the people you’re photographing, as well as the natural elements around, you’re radically transforming how the outdoor portrait will look. Using conceptual paradigm shifts can help bring out the essence of outdoor portraits.

Light Conditions Are Crucial

As with any other kind of photography, the right lighting is essential for getting a good picture. You’ll need to time your shoot to coincide with the type of effect you want for your photos.

For example, a misty background and cold tones are best achieved early in the morning. The morning light ensures crisp detail without being too direct and taking away from the cold outlook. On the other hand, golden hour pictures bring out the best of warm tones.

Bring Minimal Equipment

There’s no need to carry a huge bag full of lighting equipment, a range of lenses, or multiple cameras. Visit the site beforehand and use your judgement to decide what kind of lens and camera you’ll need. 

You can even cut out the need for a tripod if you make sure you pick an excellent stabilizing lens and use a handy leather camera wrist or neck strap. 

 

Bringing a Comfortable Camera Neck, Wrist, or Finger Strap

As mentioned earlier, tripods and unipods can be too bulky and difficult to manage outdoors. If you’re shooting on a hill or in a tight area where maneuvering is hard, it’s always best to declutter your photography equipment. A handmade leather camera strap from Due North Leather Goods Co. is your best bet for arduous, long photoshoots outside — especially if you have to walk around a lot.

They create their neck, wrist, and finger straps in a small workshop in Toronto, which means each piece is crafted with immense attention to detail. Buy leather camera straps online at their website today, with international shipping!