10 essential photography lighting tips to improve your photos

Great photography starts with great lighting—and you don’t need expensive gear to get it right. We asked ten professional photographers from around the world to share their most effective photography lighting tips, and the results may surprise you.

“The truth is you don’t need professional lighting equipment to shoot awesome photographs,” says Austrian-based photographer Stefan Sappert. “I once made a photo of Johnny Depp using just a single continuous light—no modifier—and it went on to win several international awards. Some of my best work, like a portrait of artist Max P., was lit with nothing more than window light and a $10 reflector.”

This advice came up again and again: you don’t need a studio setup or a big budget to master lighting in photography. With natural light, a basic setup, and thoughtful positioning, you can create professional-quality images in any genre—from portrait and fine art to commercial and documentary work. Read on for more valuable lighting tips for photography.

1. Master natural light

Let’s start with the most accessible and powerful tool in your photography lighting kit—natural light. Understanding how to harness it can dramatically improve your images, whether you're shooting indoors near a window or outside during golden hour.

“Make friends with natural light,” the Los Angeles-based photographer Nicolette Daskalakis urges. “The sun is the most powerful light available to us, and if used correctly, natural light can bring a beautiful, complementary, and enchanting quality to your photographs.

“‘Magic hour’ (around sunrise and sunset) can be a beautiful tool for softer, ethereal portraits. But harsher afternoon sun can also be used to your advantage for more contrasting shadows and pop-y images. A lot of amateur photographers feel like they need an entire studio setup or professional lights to create stunning images, but the truth is you don’t. Go outdoors, or move near a window, and you’ll find that nature has a free lighting source that can work wonders.”

Window light is perfect for practice, as it shifts in colour temperature and intensity throughout the day. Depending on the weather, it can range from soft and diffused to hard and direct. You can even manipulate it using flags or blinds to create your own customised light source.

2. Know your light types

Good photography lighting starts with observation—learning how to see and understand light is essential. Pay attention to how soft, diffused light creates a gentle, flattering effect, while hard light produces crisp shadows and higher contrast. Notice how changing the size, distance, or angle of a light source alters the mood and depth of your image.

Experiment with various lighting techniques like front lighting, backlighting, and side-lighting to learn how each one shapes your subject differently.

“Learn the art of looking at available light, and understand the effects of its direction, intensity, and temperature,” the New York and Los Angeles-based photographer Emily Hlavac Green suggests. “From there, practice single-point lighting and master that first. The strength of an image lies in both light and shadow, so keep it simple.”

3. Plan for great lighting

Now that you can recognise different types of light, the next step is knowing when and where to find the best light for your shoot. The quality, direction, and intensity of sunlight can vary dramatically throughout the day—so planning ahead ensures you capture your subject in the best possible light.

“The best way to start is to schedule your shoots during the first or last three hours of the day, so that the light comes from the side and not from the top,” the San Juan-based photographer Steph Segarra says. “I usually schedule my shoots so that my favourite shot can be done just at the golden hour.

“I scout the location beforehand so that I can see the light at the hour I will be shooting, and I use an app called Sun Surveyor to check out the position of the sun in relation to my location and the hour I plan to shoot. Sometimes, if the light outside is too harsh, I will get an assistant to hold the diffuser from my 3-in-1 reflector in front of the subject to soften the light.”

Golden hour lighting—just after sunrise or before sunset—produces soft, side-angled light that's perfect for portraits, creating a warm and flattering glow. Tools like Sun Surveyor or similar apps can help you track the sun’s movement and plan your lighting setup accordingly. And if midday sun is unavoidable, use reflectors or diffusers to take control and soften harsh highlights and shadows.

4. Learn from the pros

Planning is powerful—but learning from professionals can accelerate your understanding of photography lighting even more. “Look at work from photographers you admire and ask yourself: how was this lit? Which direction is the light coming from? Is it hard or soft light? Is it flash or natural light?” Stefan advises. “Some great resources include Instagram accounts where you can see ‘making-of’ images taken behind-the-scenes at successful photoshoots.

“For example, I recommend @iso1200magazine and @light.shapers. I also suggest checking out YouTube tutorials on ‘cinematic lighting,’ as you can learn a ton from filmmakers and directors, not only photographers. Finally, learn by trying, making mistakes, and improving on those mistakes.”

5. Simplify your setup

As you absorb advice from experienced photographers, you’ll notice a recurring theme: great lighting doesn’t have to be complex. In fact, many professional photographers achieve stunning results with a minimal lighting setup, using just one light or even relying entirely on natural sources. “Natural light is my favourite, but even when I use a flash, I rarely use more than one light,” the New York City-based photographer Calla Kessler tells us. “Less is more. Mobility is important to me, so I like simple and lightweight lighting.

“Seeing photographers use multiple lights with intricate set-ups intimidated me before; it seemed so inaccessible and expensive. However, I learned it isn’t difficult to create similar looks with far less gear. I am all about open-sourcing techniques and making sure photography isn’t this lofty hobby reserved for those who can afford it.”

If you’re just starting out, experimenting with a single light source—like a window, speedlight, or LED panel—can teach you far more than juggling a multi-light studio.

6. Start with continuous light

If you’re ready to explore artificial lighting, continuous light is the perfect place to start. Unlike strobes or flashes, continuous lights—like LEDs or hotlights—allow you to see exactly how the light falls on your subject in real-time. This makes them perfect for beginners and professionals alike who want more control and immediacy in their lighting setup.

“Continuous light is absolutely your friend, and I find strobes are rarely necessary,” the New York and Ohio-based photographer Hana Mendel admits. “I can easily say that 90% of my images were created using LEDs, hotlights, and/or a reflector. This is for a very particular reason: in choosing continuous light/reflector(s), the photographer must acknowledge the present environment within their chosen frame.

“Continuous light builds a scene that exists in real-time. Of course, this isn’t always advisable when you need extremely controlled light. But I’ve found this to be an effective way to visually convey outward influence within the image.”

Continuous lighting also tends to be more affordable and portable than strobes, making it an excellent option for location shoots.

7. Try flash photography

Once you’re comfortable with continuous light, experimenting with flash can open up even more creative control. Many photographers shy away from using flash, but with a bit of experimentation, it can become a powerful and flexible tool—especially in low-light situations.

“My number one lighting tip is to not be afraid of using flash,” British photographer Josh Adam Jones explains. “I would also recommend experimenting with simple lighting set-ups where possible, even if this is using the built-in camera flash and some DIY bounce cards or diffusers.

“With digital photography, such experiments can be recorded and observed relatively easily, making the process quite accessible. This is particularly useful for artists who prefer using natural light, as being able to use artificial light in a way that looks like daylight adds a significant skill to your photographic toolbox.”

Using flash creatively—whether it’s on-camera or off—can help mimic natural light or add drama and definition to your images. Start with basic setups, experiment with DIY modifiers, and use your camera's LCD or histogram to quickly see what’s working. With time and testing, flash can become an essential part of your photography lighting toolkit.

8. Use a light meter

As your lighting setups become more advanced, maintaining control and consistency becomes crucial—that’s where a light meter comes in. Using an external light meter helps you understand contrast ratios and balance your lighting setup precisely. Whether you’re working in a studio or on location, it allows for accurate and repeatable results—ensuring consistency across shots.

“My number one lighting tip is to use natural light—and a light meter,” the Paris-based photographer Bettina Pittaluga says. “My light meter has changed everything about my relationship to light.”

Even in natural light photography, a light meter helps you fine-tune exposure and make intentional lighting choices. It's especially useful when you're building multi-source setups and want to recreate the same lighting conditions across different shoots or locations.

9. Practice lighting techniques

Tools and techniques matter, but nothing replaces hands-on experience. The best way to improve your photography lighting is to keep practicing. “It sounds simple, but in my experience, lighting takes time and practice,” the California-based photographer Lou Mora explains. “I would say that learning how to truly see light and knowing how it will translate through the lens are far more important than any trick or tool one could buy.”

Assisting professionals or setting up your own test shoots can accelerate your learning. “When I was an assistant, I worked with a range of photographers who shot everything: product, food, lifestyle, portraits, and automotive photography,” Lou says. “One photographer, in particular, could see light quickly, and he knew exactly how to make it work for him. I worked with him for a couple of years and honed that skill. It’s proven invaluable.”

The more you practice, the more natural and intuitive your photography lighting techniques become.

10. Play and experiment

Finally, remember that photography is a creative pursuit. Don’t be afraid to play, take risks, and have fun with your lighting. “Lighting is everything to a photographer, but with that being said, it’s not anything that should be taken too seriously,” the Denver-based photographer Emily Teater tells us. “I think the most important aspect of lighting, whether you are a new photographer or have been working in the industry for 10-plus years, is to play.

“If you don’t have fun with lighting and play to create new images, you will inevitably get stuck in a creative rut. I have been there a time or two, and the best thing I did to inspire growth was to play with lighting. Whether natural or studio lighting, there are so many ways to discover new techniques and grow your skills. Just be sure to have fun and never stop playing.”

Don’t be afraid to try new tools, change your angles, or even break the rules. That’s often when the best lighting techniques are discovered.

Ready to transform your photos with light?

These expert tips will help you capture images that shine, whether you’re using sunlight, a reflector, or a simple lamp. Light is the most powerful element in photography—so grab your camera, experiment, and create photos full of depth and drama. When it’s time to refine highlights, shadows, and tones, Affinity’s photo editing tools give you the control to make every shot stand out.

About the contributor

Feature Shoot showcases the work of emerging and established photographers worldwide, highlighting those transforming the medium through compelling, cutting-edge projects, with contributions from writers from all over the world.