Week 10 - Using Window Light for Natural Portraits
Learn the fundamentals of natural light portraits
Learn how to create beautiful, natural-looking portraits using only window light by positioning your subject in front of, beside, or behind the window.
What You’ll Learn This Week
Lesson 10 - Window Light Portrait Photography
Window light is one of the most accessible and flattering light sources available. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use window light intentionally to shape faces, create depth, and achieve different moods — all without artificial lighting.
By the end of this lesson, you will understand:
Why window light works so well for portraits
How light direction changes the look and mood of a photo
How to position a subject with the window in front, to the side, or behind
How to adjust camera settings for each lighting scenario
How to pose a subject naturally near a window
Lesson10 Downloads
These are the digital versions of the handouts you’ll receive in class. Download and save these to your computer for easy reference.
If you misplace your printed handout, this is your backup copy.
🎥 Lesson 10 Video
This is your Lesson 10 video walkthrough. Watch this before class to prepare, or revisit it afterward to reinforce what we covered in the studio.
Take notes as you watch. Don’t worry about mastering everything at once - we’ll build this skill together through hands-on practice.
Week 10 Assignment
This assignment is designed to help you become comfortable using natural window light intentionally, rather than guessing.
Your goals this week are to:
Photograph a subject using front window light
Photograph the same subject using side window light
Capture either:
A backlit portrait with detail, or
A silhouette using window light
Experiment with moving the subject closer and farther from the window
Adjust exposure for both subject and background
Pay attention to shadows, highlights, and facial contours
Select your best image from each setup
When your assignment file is added here, you’ll also find:
Full instructions
What to submit
How to export your files (if needed)
✅ Download the assignment below once it’s available.
Next Lesson
When you're ready, continue on to the next lesson.