However good your lighting gear is, natural light will always be better for photography.
1. Background And Location
Choosing a good location is an important part of preparing for a shoot. Interesting shapes or elements can frame your subject, or you might pick a location that contrasts with or complements them, which plays a huge part in the feel of the image. Try to avoid too much clutter in the frame, even if you plan to use a shallow depth of field, as it can leave too many distracting elements.
2. Light
If it’s bright, look for some shade, as harsh sunlight from high in the sky is best avoided. The deep shadows it creates across a subject’s face won’t be flattering. Cloudy, flat days may be shunned by landscape photographers, but they’re ideal for natural light portraits, as the clouds act as a huge diffuser and put soft light on your subject.
If you’re stuck with bright conditions on the day of the shoot, try moving into the shade, such as under a tree, or shoot in the shadow of a building to avoid the full intensity of the sun. Sometimes that isn’t possible, and you may need your own diffuser to soften the light, either a dedicated one or an improvised option such as a translucent sheet. When the sun is lower in the sky later in the day, think about shooting into the light for a striking contre-jour effect, using a reflector to help balance the exposure.
3. Reflectors
Whether you need to brighten your subject or simply lift the shadows in your shot, a reflector is a useful accessory to keep with your camera. They come in a variety of surface colours, but the three most popular are white, silver and gold. White gives the most subtle results, silver adds a bit more punch, and gold offers a warmer look. Many reflectors have different surfaces on either side, so you can have white and silver, or silver and gold, for instance. It’s a matter of personal choice.
4. Composition And Posing
Asking someone to stand in front of the camera can make them feel uncomfortable, so try bringing elements of the background into play. If your subject has something to hold on to or lean against, you’ll soon find their poses look far more relaxed and natural. Don’t be afraid to direct them either, telling them how you want them to pose, what to do with their hands, how to angle their head, and where you want their eyes to be looking. You’ll give them confidence, and you’ll get the shots you want.