Using Natural Light for Indoor Photography

Big lights, cables all over the place, a soft-box bigger than yourself; when we think about indoor photography, we often associate it with a studio settings. However, if you don't feel comfortable with all the fuss that goes on in a studio there are still some simple ways to turn your indoor photography experience into a successful portrait session.

When you are a Lo-Fi photographer, mastering the art of being resourceful can turn every perceived disadvantage into an advantage. It is the charm of analogue photography and its uniqueness.

Photos by Elisa Parrino

One thing that is (almost) always at our service is the sun. Learning how to use it is a key skill for any photographer. Do not think that, because you are indoors, it will not serve our purpose. Even at home, we can use the sun as our main source of light. As it is fixed, it is important that we understand how to position ourselves.

Figure out at what time of the day the sunlight shines through your window. That's the best hour to shoot. We can have soft light, or harsh light with lots of contrast and use reflective surfaces to add some drama. There are many options. For today's tipster, we decided to use an evergreen camera: the Lomo LC-A 120 paired with a stunning Lady Grey B&W 120 ISO 400 .

Photos by Elisa Parrino

With the LC-A, there are no settings to worry about other than the ISO and zone focusing control. For everything else, the camera alone will adjust shutter speed and aperture according to the light reading. We chose this camera because it features an aperture that goes down to ƒ4.5, a suitable aperture for indoor situations.

When it is time to choose your film for an indoor environment it is wise to go for a higher ISO. It allows the film to have a good sensibility, especially for those shots that are not positioned in direct sunlight.

Photos by Elisa Parrino

With the Lady Grey and LC-A in our hands we were comfortable shooting indoors. We focused on our model, and made her feel at ease, worked on our composition, and most of all, had fun. The intuitive adjusting of the shutter speed created the unexpected charm of a longer exposure, one of those happy accidents that we love to embrace.

Overall the mix between the window light and the reflection from the mirror created a playful game of shadows and added depth to areas that would have otherwise turned out darker. When we deal with harsh light the black and white film suited the look that we wanted to achieve as the shadows and highlights create geometric cuts that make the image fun.

What we can take from this tipster is to never limit ourselves with the belief that something might not be quite right. We can always get great results out of any situation, with a little bit of creativity and drawing from everything we’ve learned.


How often do you shoot indoors? Have you ever felt discouraged by an indoor environment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

written by eparrino on 2022-10-25 #tutorials #black-and-white #lc-a #indoor-photography

Lomography Lady Grey B&W 400 (120)

Add a touch of class and sophistication to your shots with this charming black and white film.

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