using direct sunlight through a window

as wedding photographers, we love to use window light for brides and grooms. it is one of the most tasteful light sources and easiest light sources to master. it easiest to use on overcast days and evenings, but it can be difficult when there is direct sunlight through a window. wedding photographers tend struggle because they expose properly for the face but blow out the bride's dress or over expose the groom's shirt.  here i will teach my method of using direct sunlight through a window, it is easy to set up and does not take more than 3 minutes.

tools:

1.     knowing the basics of exposure (i.e. the brighter the scene the more your meter should be reading on the + side and vice versa)
2.     light meter
3.     nylon (i bought mine from B&H)4.     posing: turn the head to the light and turn the body away from the light (this helps to light the face properly and there will be dramatic fall off on the white dress so it will not be blown out
5.     posing and shooting: shoot on the shadow/short side, this will slim the face down.  the broad side, will make the face look bigger.
  

how

1.    thumb tack the nylon over the window, this will make the window into a giant soft box by evening out the light. 

2.    set camera to matrix metering

3.    use your light meter and meter for the face.  if you don’t have a light meter assess the light scene and dial your meter to the plus side, if and only if the scene contains a lot of white. ( a good educational video that i recommend is photocafe’s perfectexposure for digital photography by tim cooper , it teaches the zone system of exposure that was invented by anslem adam 

4.    pose the bride or groom  by turning their face to the light and body away from the light

5.    set your camera to readings of your light meter and shoot.

this shows the window without the nylon  ISO: 200, f/3.6, 1/200 sec. the red highlights indicates areas that are blown out.

 nylon hung over window with harsh/direct sunlight

below, nylon over the window

ISO: 200, f/6.3, 1/200 sec. 

note the light is even and softer, as well as the face is properly exposed and the dress is not blown out. 

some hotel rooms where the bride and groom gets prepare, the windows have a sheer material behind the curtins. so there is no need to hang nylon, ther is already a giant softbox created for you.