shooting in natural light

If I had to choose, I would always shoot in natural light over artificial. It is where I feel most comfortable, it is intuitive, fluid, and something I genuinely enjoy working with. No matter the time of year, I find beauty in it. The soft light of winter, the golden tones in late summer, the odd shadows cast by city streets it keeps me creatively engaged.

There is something undeniably romantic about natural light in portraiture. It feels honest. It allows for a certain softness, unpredictability, and even imperfection, which for me is part of the charm. It creates space for connection and emotion something I often find lacking in overly polished studio setups.

That said, working in natural light especially in London comes with its own set of challenges. Winters can be tough. The light disappears early, everything feels flat, and pushing ISO too high can result in grainy images that lose detail. I am not the biggest fan of working at very high ISOs, I like to preserve as much detail as possible in the tones and textures.

On days like that, I often carry a flash in my bag just in case (even though I rarely use it). The problem is, it is not always easy to shoot with flash in public places it draws attention and can feel intrusive. So I adapt. I look for reflective surfaces, bright corners, or buildings that bounce just enough light.

There are little tricks I have picked up over the years to make the most of difficult light ways to use the city as a giant softbox, in a sense. But that is probably a separate post entirely, one specifically about shooting on city walks in London.

For now, I will just say this natural light has a presence of its own. And even when it is challenging, I always find it worth working with.