How To Shoot With Natural Light - 5 Must Have Items.

5 items with me on every location shoot to keep production value high and cost low.

The more you understand lighting, the less you use it.
Most of the shots in my portfolio are not from big sets with 20' scrims, power generators, and 3x 7' Elinchromes. Most of the time, shade + positive bounce + negative bounce gets a clean, well-lit shot.

1- Scout trips.

Be in the location, track the sun's path, and identify your staging, blocking, and ideal time before your shoot day. Do this with your digital tech, art director, client, and producer.

2- Bring more than enough shade.

I always travel with 2x Uncle Sam's, a 4x4 scrim, and an 8x8 Scrim. If you are shooting on-location, mid-day, these tools are a must-have.

3- Negative bounce.

For some reason, this is the most overlooked tool. This is how you sculpt mood and dimension. This can be a black piece of foam core, but lately, I have been using a matte dark-grey show card.

4- Positive bounce.

Anything can bounce light as long as it is white. This is a no-brainer. My 5in1 reflector I bought in college is still with me today. Someone in a white hoodie just out of frame did the trick once. Clean cement on a sunny day can bounce about 2+ stops more light into your shot too.

5- Experienced support.

Not an item, but people who know what they are a doing. There is nothing like having an experienced crew shaping and sculpting natural light. A professional assistant's knowledge of the equipment and its limitations will speed up any photoshoot by 2x. More important than efficiency, their understanding of light will generate great ideas on the spot to improve quality while also keeping everyone safe.

Stay hungry. Stay foolish.