Next time you are stuck at home on a gloomy day, find and window and watch your sexy self shine brighter than ever!

The secret lies in the magic of window light.

Are you tired of your pictures looking dull and lifeless?

Well, you don’t need fancy lighting that costs an arm and a leg. In fact, most of the time, all you really need is daylight and a window.

Artists have used window light to create beautiful portraits for centuries.

Controlling the light is crucial though and so here are some simple tips on getting great window light portraits…

1. Consider the direction of the window light. Observe where the light is coming from. Side lighting can create beautiful textures and shadows, as the light skims across the natural curves of the body. The shadows can create an air of mystery and allure.

Front lighting, where the window is directly lighting the subject is shadowless and soft creating less drama but plenty of beauty and back lighting can be used to create silhouettes for a totally different look and feel.

Creative window backlighting used here to create a moody semi silhouette. On an Auto Exposure setting, the camera would darken down the scene to reduce the brightness of the window which would darken down Sonya’s legs too much. In this picture, I’ve increased exposure to give lots of skin detail, sparkle up the jewelry and hair and blow out the details in the window.

The pictures below of Chrissy and Tom are another example of using a window and one of the first I shot after being blown away by the remarkable, ground breaking portraits of Princess Diana by Mario Testino HERE.

It’s difficult to replicate one of the true masters of portraiture but I was so heavilly influenced by the Diana pictures that I’ve worked hard over the years to try and simulate that natural light look which makes the whole image glow and radiate. When you over expose images like these to within an inch of their life, you magically brighten eyes and skin and clean blemishes without photoshop. (Photoshop wasn’t around in Diana’s day) - These pictures of newly engaged Chrissy and Tom were shot in their conservatory with huge windows on a very overcast day in Sheffield. Super soft, natural light a la Testino.

2. Soft vs. Harsh Light - A cloudy day will provide soft, diffused light, reducing harsh shadows, such as the super soft light of the picture above (Notice how clean the skin looks naturally) However, direct sunlight from a cloudless sky can yield dramatic contrasts with strong shadows. One is softer, the other is moodier and more dramatic, both are great for Boudoir. The picture below is an example of the moodier, dramatic light streaming in through venetian blinds in late afternoon. (Note how all the skin imperfections are clearly visible in this kind of light. I like to think of this as the natural character of the skin and generally use minimal photoshop in pictures like this)

3. Curtain Control - Adjusting the curtains or blinds to manipulate the amount of light coming in is a great way to add lots of control to the lighting. Net curtains can act as natural diffusers adding an extra softness.

4. Reflect and Bounce - We often use white foam boards or reflectors to bounce light back onto our subjects, eliminating unflattering shadows. It’s like having an extra light available when we need it.

5. Consider the time of day - Different times of day offer varying qualities of light. The golden hour around sunset can add warmth and magic and breaking dawn can add a coolness to a picture that gives an amazing feel any image.

Light is ‘brush’ for a photographer and few light sources are as useful and versatile as the light streaming in through a window.

Window light possesses a unique ability to transform ordinary scenes into captivating portraits, creating a natural, soft ambiance that elevates the aesthetic appeal of any subject.

One of the greatest features of window light is its flattering and even illumination. The softness of natural light pouring through a large window gently wraps around the subject, reducing harsh shadows and smoothing out skin tones. This characteristic makes window-lit photography particularly ideal for capturing the timeless elegance of portraits.

The directionality of window light is another exquisite feature. Depending on the time of day and the orientation of the window, photographers can achieve a range of effects.

Morning light, with its cool and diffused quality, imparts a sense of freshness and clarity. On the other hand, the warm, golden hues of the afternoon sun can infuse an image with a captivating warmth and intimacy.

Windows also act as natural frames and backdrops, adding depth and interest to compositions.

This was a rare opportunity to use one of the window boxes in the lovely **VAVASOUR RESTAURANT** at Hazlewood Castle. Mandy is a Burlesque dancer when not running her gift shop and this was her second photoshoot with us so she was a little more confident when it came to posing in unusual places.

Whether it's the silhouette of lace curtains, the play of shadows on a wall, or the scenic view beyond the glass, windows contribute an extra layer of storytelling to the visual narrative.

For portrait photography, the catchlights in a subject's eyes, created by the reflection of window light, bring life and vitality to the gaze. This subtle yet essential detail enhances the eyes' expressiveness, making them sparkle with a natural radiance that artificial lighting often struggles to emulate.

In essence, the beauty of window light lies not just in its physical properties but in its capacity to evoke emotion and accentuate the inherent grace of a subject.

Window light is so versatile that Photographers can exist entirely on natural window light alone without ever mastering artificial light options.