The signs of spring are all around us – birds are

chirping, snow is melting, trees are budding,

baseball teams are practicing, and Easter is right

around the corner! Spring is a wonderful season for

outdoor photography. The excitement of Spring

Fever is apparent on everyone’s face, and nature’s

fresh start sets a lovely stage for an outdoor photo.

However, natural outdoor light can make or break

your spring pictures. Here are a few things to

Avoid forcing your subjects to squint. Kids are

notorious for squinting when facing the sun. Always

try to keep the sun at their backs. Even though the

sun’s light is rich and warm, kids will squint when

it’s in their face. Plus, a shot backlit by the sun

creates a beautiful halo effect around a person’s

head, and separates the subject from the

background to bring out more depth in your shot.

Adults can usually handle the sunlight in their face

a little better than kids, and a photo lit from the front

using the sun can be a beautiful shot, especially in

the morning or evening. Just don’t let them squint!

Do not let the sun hit your lens and cause flare.

Backlighting your shot with the sun can help you

avoid squinting and create a gorgeous halo effect,

but if the sun hits your lens at the wrong angle, it

will cause flare in your shot. To avoid this problem,

shield the lens with your hand, or ask a friend to do

it. Just make sure the hand is not actually in the

shot!

Use the contrast of tones to your advantage. When

used properly, the contrast of tones between your subject

and background can help the image jump off the print. A

little girl in a white dress on Easter morning will stand out

against a darker background. On the flipside, use a lighter

tone in the background for a group of people in dark blue or

black suits.

Shoot during the Golden Hours. Professional

photographers know that the best time to shoot

outdoors is during the Golden Hours, either early in

the morning or later in the evening, when the sun is

lower on the horizon. Because of the sun’s location,

the quality of the natural light given off by the sun is

considered “golden.” The light is warm and

complements skin tones beautifully. You can still

take pictures at noon; you just have to be more

creative and aware of your natural light. Take

advantage of the Golden Hours this spring.

Use the shade properly. When the sun is high in the sky,

find open shade and place your subjects on the shade’s

edge. The sunlight bouncing off objects in front of them will

fill in the shadows. Also, avoid split light, where the subject

is partially in the shade and partially in the sun. Your

camera’s meter will be forced to read one way or the other,

which makes highlights too hot and shadows too dark in

your photo.

There are always exceptions to these guidelines,

especially when shooting candid shots like Easter

egg hunts, but informal portraits or group shots will

turn out much better when natural sunlight is used

correctly. Spring is a lovely time of year for