Backlight Photography Tips and Tricks

 Backlight photography refers to the technique of using light that is behind the subject to create interesting effects in your photo. It can be used for just about any kind of picture, whether it’s scenery, people, or objects. It can give your photos more depth and make them look more professional and exciting. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to do! Keep reading to learn more backlight photography tips and tricks!

How to create a backlight photo? 

1. Set your white balance to tungsten. Tungsten balances are typically best for backlit images, as they make your subjects appear warmer. 2. Increase your shutter speed (or set a lower ISO) to avoid over-exposing your subject. 3. Use an off-camera flash or bounce it off of a nearby surface like a wall or ceiling in order to eliminate shadows and create contrast with your background while keeping natural light on your subject (best shot). 4. Experiment with different exposures to see what works best for you, as every image is different!

How to balance your photo

One of my favorite photography tips is to think about balance in your images. In many cases, it’s about balance between light and dark areas, but that doesn’t have to be true all of the time. When you start thinking about lighting in terms of volumes instead of just spotlights on parts of an image, you can better compose shots. It also helps create a more seamless flow from one photo to another.

The best time of day for backlighting photos

Sunrise. The best time of day for backlighting photos is right before sunrise or right after sunset when there is a light blue glow in the sky. This diffuses light through your subject beautifully, creating very clean backlit portraits. It also gives you longer, more golden hours to shoot because you’re still receiving (and are less likely to be blinded by) morning/evening sun when shooting into it at these times of day. Plus, if you’re traveling or working with a sunrise/sunset calculator, choosing these times will work out better for where you live!

Which lens to use?

The lens you use for backlighting is a matter of preference, but your best bet is a wide-angle lens or zoom. You'll be able to get close to your subject and will likely want something that can capture a wide area of light. A 70-200mm telephoto may not give you quite as much flexibility in terms of composition, but if you're shooting on a tripod then it should still work out well. Alternatively, go with an ultra-wide angle lens that's around 14mm. This way you can capture as much of light source (the sun) as possible—plus, it will let you get really close to your subject without having to worry about shadows on their face.

When to take a selfie vs. when not to take a selfie

most people who have smartphones have also taken at least one selfie. The trend is so pervasive that it’s earned its own name: selfiography. The popularity of selfies has been a great boon to many professions (not all), including photography, but not all selfies are created equal. Taking good backlit photos requires being cognizant of three elements: when to take a selfie, how to take a selfie, and what makes for a good selfie. In addition to these tips for taking better backlit photos, we've included advice on editing apps that make it easy to improve your photos right away!