EASY ways to handle harsh sunlight
Let’s be real — shooting in bright, midday sunlight is every photographer’s least favorite scenario. The shadows are harsh, the highlights blow out, and your client is squinting no matter how hard you try to pose them. But don’t worry — I’ve shot countless sessions in tricky light, and once you know how to work with it (instead of fighting it), harsh sunlight can actually enhance your photos.
Here are my favorite, tried-and-true ways to handle harsh sunlight — without needing a studio setup or waiting for golden hour.
1. Find Open Shade
The first thing I do when scouting a location on a bright day is look for open shade — areas where your subject is shielded from direct sun but still surrounded by reflected light. Think the side of a building, under a tree, or beneath an overhang.
This gives you beautiful, even lighting on your subject’s face while keeping the background nice and bright. Just make sure the shade isn’t too deep — you still want that light to wrap around softly, not disappear completely.
2. Use the Sun as a Backlight
When shade isn’t available, turn your subject so the sun is behind them. Backlighting gives you a lovely rim of light around the hair and shoulders, creating separation from the background.
You might need to slightly overexpose for your subject’s face — or, if you’re shooting RAW, recover some highlights later in post. The key is avoiding that direct, squint-inducing sunlight on their face.
Pro tip: bring a reflector or white surface to bounce some light back onto their features. It instantly lifts the shadows and adds that professional polish.
3. Embrace the Shadows
Not every photo needs to be evenly lit! Harsh sunlight creates strong, graphic shadows that can look incredibly dynamic — especially in fashion, street, or editorial-style work.
Play with angles, let the shadows fall intentionally, and use the contrast to tell a story. Sometimes, the “imperfections” are what make the image stand out.
4. Use a Diffuser or Sheer Fabric
If you’re working solo, a portable diffuser is a game-changer. Place it between your subject and the sun to soften the light instantly.
Even a piece of sheer white fabric or a translucent umbrella can do the trick in a pinch. I’ve used everything from veils to thin curtains on shoots — creativity always beats expensive gear.
5. Adjust Your Angles (and Your Mindset)
If the light’s hitting too harshly, try changing your angle instead of your settings. Move a few steps left or right. Lower your shooting height. Position your subject so that the light skims across rather than attacks head-on.
Remember: light direction is everything. Once you understand how it shapes faces and textures, you can make any time of day work for you.
Final Thoughts
Harsh sunlight used to intimidate me — now it excites me. It pushes me to be creative, to problem-solve, and to find beauty in unexpected conditions.
So next time you’re out shooting at noon, don’t panic. Look for shade, use backlight, or embrace the contrast. With a few small adjustments, you’ll transform what feels like a lighting nightmare into a chance to create something truly striking.
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