Your outdoor shoot faces sudden lighting changes. How will you adjust to capture the perfect shot?

When shooting outdoors, natural light is always changing, so adapting quickly is essential. If you face sudden lighting shifts, remember that adjusting ISO, aperture, and light tone can all impact the final image. Each of these adjustments affects not only the exposure but also the atmosphere, significance, and overall feel of the picture. While you can fine-tune aspects in post-production or the darkroom, changes during the shoot can profoundly alter the image's mood and message. Balance these variables thoughtfully to capture the perfect shot that aligns with your vision, making the most of the lighting conditions.

Changing ISO is a quick way to adjust if your lighting conditions change but that's only if you're in manual mode. If you're in any other mode, you may not get the end look you wanted because the camera is compensating for the change of settings along with the light meter. Automatically camera's want to create a gray or medium point of the light it's reading when it's the one doing the thinking. If you have aspirations to be a pro it's best to learn the exposure triangle so you're not in the middle of a guessing game during a shoot.

Changing lighting conditions is a common occurrence with on location shoots outdoors. Be prepared to take a new light meter reading and adjust exposure to maintain a consistent look. Adjust any reflectors or gels to account for kelvin changes or create a new custom white balance to maintain image color. Engage your subject in light conversation while making these adjustments and you will maintain a sense of professionalism and a calm set.

If you know you're shooting outdoors, I would always have a plan B even before arriving on location. Having an example of what you're visually looking for could be your north star in situations like this. I always go into it with the "ideal" vision and then another for extenuating circumstances. The weather is so unpredictable and if you don't have the equipment needed to change your lighting altogether, you can invest in very simple items like polarizers to adjust accordingly without sacrificing things like aperture.

Neutral density filters are a key tool for outdoor shoots if you want to cut down editing time. Also referred to as the 'sunglasses' for camera's, they can be super useful for sunny days when the sky is washed out with highlights. Pro Tip: Practice with ND filters during a spec shoot or out by yourself, they can be tricky when you have to compensate for the lost of light. Also grab a variable ND filter so you can have more range!