If you ever get anxiety shooting on cloudy days this video is for you!! It’s so frustrating when you dreamed of those bright, airy shots with the sunburst and you see the clouds rolling in. No worries, you can still pull off some great shots and avoid those dreary, dull colors and dark eye sockets.
Over cast days still have directional light. It may not be a free for all day where you can shoot from any direction, but you can use it to your advantage. Clouds diffuse light and can act as a big soft box. So use what you have, remember your lighting priorities and make the best of it!
A go to tip for shooting on cloudy days is to face your subject toward the sun, but that doesn’t always give you the best lighting in every scenario.
I shot three scenarios within 30 mins apart, starting in harsh, direct sunlight, then to intermittent clouds to a heavy, dark cloud coverage. While I had no control over the weather, I still pulled out a few great shots just by moving my subject and understanding my light source.
Tip 1: Intermittent Clouds
I typically would recommend on cloudy days to face your subject toward the sun, but this doesn’t always give you the best lighting when you have some sun peering through the clouds. Notice in these examples, the subject was placed with the sun behind her and then facing the sun. I was able to achieve a more even light with the sun behind her. So what made this scenario different? There were large trees behind the subject and a large open field, clear view of the sky in front of her. Even though the sun was behind her, the bright cloudy sky was acting as a big soft box in front of her.
Tips 2: Heavy Cloud Coverage
Now, 10 mins later a storm is rolling in. Heavy clouds, no shadows. I moved my subject out in an open area, free from trees and did a test shot. Here you see I was able to achieve a brighter, more even look with my subject facing the sun, or at least where the sun was behind all the clouds.
So next time you see the clouds rolling in, have a moment of panic and disappointment, then take a deep breath and take it step by step. Use all your knowledge on lighting and what you have available to make the best of the situation. You will be surprised what you can pull off when you take control of the situation. You will not only look more professional, but your clients will feed off your positive vibes.
