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Understanding the Difference in Style and Technique
This blog is written by:
Photosprouts Photography School San Francisco | Weekly camera photography classes for adults and teens | Canon R50 Mirrorless Camera Provided during class.
When it comes to backlit portrait photography, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you use natural light or off-camera flash (OCF), each method offers a different aesthetic and set of advantages. The key is knowing what kind of vibe you want—and how to achieve it.
First, let’s clarify one key term
When photographers say they’re “exposing for something,” they mean they’re prioritizing that specific part of the image to be properly exposed.
For example, if someone is exposing for the subject, they’ll adjust the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed until the subject looks correctly lit—even if that means the background ends up overexposed or underexposed.
The Look
Natural light gives your portrait a light, airy feel. It’s soft, emotional, and often described as dreamy or filled with warmth.
The Risk
Shooting backlit with only natural light can easily lead to overexposed backgrounds as you expose for the subject, especially when the photoshoot happens in the middle of the day. This can wash out the sky or details behind your subject.
The Best Setup
Look for open shade in the late afternoon when the sunlight is lower and softer. Open shade gives you softer and more diffused lighting on your subject’s face, while still allowing a bit of sunlight to hit the back of their hair—this is called hair light and it adds depth and glow to your portraits.
If you're shooting somewhere without an open shade—like on a beach—try to avoid letting the sun shine directly into the lens. That can cause unwanted lens flare and reduce contrast.
Use a wide aperture (like f/1.2, f/1.4, or f/2.8) to create that soft, dreamy background blur. If your subject is mostly still, a medium shutter speed around 1/200s works well. If your subject is posing quickly or moving, go for a faster shutter speed, like 1/500s, to freeze the motion. Adjust the ISO until the subject is well exposed.
Example: Backlit Portrait in Natural Light on a beach:
Example: Backlit Portrait in Natural Light in an open shade:
(less overexposed backgrounds)
The Look
Using OCF gives you a punchier, more dramatic image. It’s moody, bold, and full of contrast.
The Power of Control
With OCF, you can control the exposure of your background and your subject separately. This means you don't have to avoid shooting at a spot where the background is brighter than the subject, and this gives you more flexibility.
Start by turning off your flash.
Adjust your ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to expose the background exactly how you want it.
Once you're happy with that, turn on your flash and adjust the flash power to properly light your subject.
The Benefit
You’re no longer limited to open shade or golden hour. With off-camera flash, you can shoot even in bright conditions and still get a perfectly exposed background by dialing the right ISO, aperture and shutter speed.
As the subject exposure is controlled by the flash and independent of the background exposure, you don't have to consider two variables at the same time. This technique also helps prevent overexposing the background—a common issue when shooting backlit portraits using only natural light.
The 3-Steps in Using OCF
Example: Backlit Portrait with OCF
There’s no right or wrong answer. Natural light gives you softness and warmth. OCF gives you definition and drama.
What matters most is the style you're going for, light & airy vs bold and dramatic, and having the knowledge to create that look with confidence.
Want to go deeper?
Check out Photosprouts' Master Class:
Build Your Confidence in On-Location Lighting, designed to help you master both natural light and OCF techniques, and when to use a flash, and when not to.
Prefer personalized guidance? Book a private class with Christina and learn how to create stunning OCF portraits step by step.
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