Creating a Natural Light Beauty Setup on Location | Lindsay Adler

We're going to check out another awesome video by renowned beauty photographer Lindsay Adler today. Watch as Lindsay offers an insightful approach to creating natural light beauty setups on location. 

In the world of commercial beauty photography, there are two primary styles: one that involves extensive lighting, retouching, and makeup, and another that embraces natural lighting, minimal makeup, and subtle retouching. Lindsay's focus here is on the latter, providing a step-by-step guide to achieving a natural beauty look using outdoor lighting and a V-Flat.

Setup 1: Mastering Open Shade for Soft, Even Lighting

For a clean, commercial beauty look, Lindsay starts by placing a white V-Flat behind her subject. This setup involves an open shade situation, where it's a sunny day, but the model is positioned in the shade cast by a building. This ensures the light is soft and omnidirectional, provided by the open sky above, which is great for achieving smooth skin tones.

To further enhance the lighting, Lindsay uses a white reflector below the subject to bounce light back into any shadows, especially under the eyes. This technique ensures the skin appears creamy and smooth, ideal for skincare ads. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of avoiding auto white balance, as it can misinterpret the skin tones and create an unnatural, cool look. Instead, she recommends manually setting the white balance to ensure accurate skin tones.

Setup 2: Embracing Direct Sunlight and Breaking the Rules

In another setup, Lindsay chooses to shoot in direct sunlight later in the day, breaking the typical rules of natural beauty photography. She places the model under a scaffold, using dappled light to add texture and interest to the images. The shadows cast by the handrails and bars create a storytelling element, making the photos appear more dynamic and real.

Lindsay explains that when working with good makeup, proper retouching, and a beautiful model, direct sunlight can create a fresh, sunny, and summery feel that is difficult to achieve with softer light sources. She uses a white V-Flat behind the model, ensuring it has some shadows for added texture. A silver reflector is used sparingly to add catchlights in the model's eyes, enhancing the overall impact of the images.

To maintain a warm, summery feel, Lindsay opts for a shade white balance instead of a sunny one. This approach warms up the image, giving it a natural and inviting look. She positions the model carefully to find the right balance of light and shadow, directing her to lean forward or adjust her position as needed to achieve the desired lighting effect.

Bringing Out the Best in Natural Beauty

Throughout her setups, Lindsay emphasizes that sometimes less is more. Simple makeup, natural lighting, and minimal retouching can create stunning, authentic images suitable for various commercial beauty campaigns. By mastering these techniques, photographers can achieve fresh, natural looks that resonate with today's beauty standards.

Lindsay concludes by highlighting that both of these setups could easily be used for commercial ad campaigns. She emphasizes that simplicity in makeup, lighting, and retouching can often be more effective than more complex setups. By understanding and utilizing natural light effectively, photographers can create beautiful, authentic images that stand out in the world of commercial beauty photography.

Through her detailed explanation and practical tips, Lindsay showcases her ability to adapt and experiment with different lighting conditions. Her approach to natural light beauty photography proves that natural beauty can be both striking and commercial-ready, offering valuable insights for photographers looking to enhance their skills and create compelling beauty images.

Lindsay's Gear in the Video

Lindsay opts for her Canon R5 camera, chosen for its high megapixel count, which allows for detailed and close-up shots. She primarily uses two lenses for this setup: an 85mm f/1.2 lens for tight headshots and a 50mm f/1.2 lens for a more intimate feel. The 85mm lens is perfect for capturing detailed facial features, while the 50mm lens provides a slightly wider field of view, creating a sense of closeness and intimacy.

To modify the light, Lindsay uses a Profoto Collapsible Reflector and a V-Flat.

Wanna Learn More?

Check out more beauty shoot ideas and lighting tips from Lindsay Adler. 

We’ve also got over 100 videos on our Behind the Scenes page with tips and tricks for photographers and videographers of all genres.