All images © Brittney Bassett

There are lots of options for outdoor lighting, but the major thing to pay attention to is the light conditions and white balance.

After setting your camera correctly for the lighting situation, the rest is just fun!

Remember to pay attention to the space around you, expecially what is in the background. If you don't like somthing in the view finder, try zooming in closer, or physically moving either closer or to the sides.

Some simple tips to remember are:

Get close

Fill the camera's viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera's zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera's closest focusing distance.

Lock the focus

A picture of several people can come out blurry because most auto-focus cameras focus on the area in the center of the viewfinder. When photographing two people, this can spell disaster—the tree in the background will be in perfect focus, and your subjects blurry. To remedy this, lock the focus on the subject. Usually you do this by centering the subject in the viewfinder and then pressing the shutter button halfway down. Continue holding the button halfway down while you move the camera until your subject is where you want it in the viewfinder. When you are satisfied, press the button all the way down to take the picture.

Place your subject off-center

Placing your subject to one side of the frame can make the composition more interesting and dynamic. But if your camera is an auto-focusmodel, the picture may turn out blurry because those cameras focus on whatever is in the center of the viewfinder. Check your camera manual for how to use the focus lock feature to prefocus on the subject. Usually it is done by pressing the shutter button halfway down and then recomposing the picture while still holding the button halfway down.

Use natural light

You may be surprised to learn that cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people. Bright sun makes people squint, and it throws harsh shadows on their faces. On overcast days, the soft light flatters faces. Indoors, try turning off the flash and use the light coming in from a window to give your subject a soft, almost glowing appearance.

Avoid harsh shadows

Avoid harsh facial shadows by using the soft lighting of a cloudy day or a shady area. On sunny days, if your camera has several flash modes, select Fill-Flash. This will fire the flash even in bright sunlight. This "fills" the shadows on nearby subjects, creating more flattering portraits in direct sunlight. Check your camera's manual.

Have fun!

Don't work too hard to position your subject. The goal is for him or her to relax and fall into a natural pose. Try shooting in your subject's favorite place, or at least a comfortable place. Meaningful props, like a trophy, a musical instrument, or even a fish, can add interest.

And Sometimes:

Sometimes you don't even have to have your subject looking at the camera.


The images to the left are just some examples of people 'caught in the moment' outdoors.