
You know that outdoor photography can present some very special challenges. This is true even for the most experienced photographers. Direct sunlight can be harsh. Unwanted objects can interfere with your composition. Render the right color can be a problem. And many times, good old Mother Nature is not feeling cooperative. Probably, not much can be done about nature, but with some practice and patience you can overcome many other challenges that you face as a photographer outdoor portraits.

Throughout my travels as a photographer I have learned some techniques that may be useful outside for those who choose to follow:
1. Keep it simple. Subtle pattern and color of brick walls, a simple repeating patterns and muted tones on board fishing pier, or uniform color of a patch of blue hat, snapdragons, or yellow primrose can serve as a beautiful backdrop for your outdoor portraits. When you create your portrait, you want your subject to be the focal point that all interested eyes. Busy patterns, large areas that are too bright colors (especially a mixture of different colors), or more imposing forms in the foreground or background that is not treated properly, can actually divert attention from him if you do not watch the liver.
2. Controlling depth of field (range of distances from your camera to focus). Edge of the forest, or mountains in the distance can make a beautiful backdrop for your subject with precise control over depth of field. If you have an SLR camera, you can adjust your depth of field to bring the background more or less out of focus relative to your subject. It serves as a control for the observer of your portrait subject. The eye is naturally drawn to what is the brightest and most sharply focused. If the subject is focused sharply relative to the background, he will highlight the focal point of your portrait. Controlling depth of field is done by adjusting your aperture setting (the size of your lens opening, expressed in f-stops). The smaller the f-stop larger opening of your lens, and the smaller the depth of field will be. For example, when you see a photograph in the magazine nature of the beautiful butterfly in a patch of flowers, and butterflies in razor sharp focus but the flowers are gently blurred; is done by a photographer using a narrow depth of field (small f-stop setting). For bright light situations it may be difficult to achieve. For any given intensity of light, once you open the aperture (low f-stop) you must increase the shutter speed (thereby reducing the exposure time) to avoid over exposure. Increasing the shutter speed generally reduces resolution in the image. Experiment to find the combination of aperture and shutter speed settings that deliver the results you want.

3. Be aware of disturbing objects behind your subject. What is clear bushes, mailboxes, or bird cage to your eye, can appear like an additional appendage that grows on the head of your subject in your two dimensional portrait. You might get some interesting effects this way, but generally they will not make a good impression on your subject. Take the time to find interesting angles that eliminate disturbing objects from the background.
4. Control of light. “Bottom light” (eg harsh light of day) is generally not desirable. Because the pattern of shadows it creates, can bring out the worst in your subject … can anyone say, “raccoon eyes”? “Light of lateral” (eg morning and afternoon light) is much more desirable. Lateral light can be controlled and directed to create shadow patterns are beautiful in your subject’s face. There is a saying with a lot of photographers who shoot outdoors, “is the first tree in the forest of the best” for the background. Because the first tree canopy to control light down hard, but being on the edge of the forest, you still have a light lateral work with. The same idea applies to the edge of the patio or any other type of overhang. Professional photographers sometimes use shade cloth and reflectors to block down light while directing available lateral light to enhance their subject and achieve the desired effect.
5. True colors. Before the digital age, corrective filters or special films that are mostly used for color correction in outdoor portraits. With digital cameras, color can be corrected using your white balance settings (expressed as color temperature in degrees Kelvin). Most digital cameras do a pretty good job automatically adjusts white balance for outdoor exposure. If you want to experiment with manual white balance settings you use the table below as a guide. For a more detailed understanding of the meaning of the color temperature correction

Temperature … … … .. Typical sources
1000K … … … … … … … Candles; lamp oil
2400K … … … … … … … Early morning sunrise
3200K … … … … … … … Tungsten light bulbs
4000K … … … … … … … Fluorescent
5200K … … … … … … … Typical daytime; electronic flash
6000K … … … … … … … Day of Publication
7000K … … … … … … … Shade
Keeping your composition simple, controlling depth of field, and remove objects that can distract from your subject, helping all to accentuate your subject as the focal point of your portrait. Controlling the available natural light and white balance improve your photographs can reveal and enhance the true beauty of your subject. Beyond this, make it your goal each day to unleash your creativity that you may see the world around you with fresh and unique way. Never satisfied with seeing regular as usual. Just stop and think for a moment, everything is there, which is unusual for someone. Art created by them with the ability to look beyond the ordinary, to interpret their world in an extraordinary way, and to reflect their interpretation for others to see. So, experiment and do not be afraid to try something new. The world is abundant in the shape, texture, color, and pattern of light … all the handy-work of God. Great landscape and man-made structures that are not required to incredible great photos outdoors. Mother Nature always work with you. Good day and happy clicking!
