5 types of photographic lighting you can easily capture on your smartphone

There are many creative ways to use lighting for smartphone photography, and this guide will show you a list of your best options. Read on to discover the best ways to use soft lighting, artificial lighting and more – with real-life examples.

1 Harsh lighting

While I’ve always avoided shooting in harsh light (ie around midday), I’ve been looking for ways to be creative during my least favorite conditions – of which this is one. When done right, you can use harsh lighting to great effect. It is useful, for example, if you want to capture photos in a vintage style on your phone.

Shooting in sharp lighting can also be useful if you have other interesting subjects in your images. If you focus on improving your visual storytelling, you will also have less trouble creating an amazing photo.

If you are going to shoot in these conditions, my main recommendation would be to make sure you are not facing the sun. Doing so will make editing much more difficult and your subject will also be less appealing. You may want to consider using different filters on your phone (or camera apps) to diffuse the light slightly if needed.

2 Backlight

While you should avoid direct backlighting when shooting in bright light, it can be useful in other circumstances. Done right, backlighting can lead to stunning photographic effects that flatter your subject. And in other cases, you can use backlighting to create a sense of mystery.

Backlighting is possible with natural lighting; I recommend taking these kinds of photos early in the morning or late at night. If you’re taking pictures of people, you can get them to look away from the camera for better results.

You can also use indoor lighting to create a backlit effect, and you’ll often see this in photo studios. You will need to be aware of the situation to determine when this is the ideal approach and when you should opt for something else.

3 Artificial lighting

Artificial lighting can have a huge effect on your photos and I really enjoy looking for opportunities to take advantage of in my night photography. For example, you can try using street lights, neon signs, and lights from buildings.

You can get really creative with the artificial use of objects like people. However, it’s also useful if you simply need to add a little extra light because there isn’t enough of a natural source. For more inspiration, you might want to read how I get the perfect lighting for smartphone photos.

4 Soft lighting

One of my favorite lighting scenarios for photography is to capture softer lighting. I’m a huge fan of the golden hour, but I’m not limited to this time of day anymore. I will happily take photos later in the afternoon and earlier in the morning; no matter when I’m shooting, soft lighting is my favorite by a long shot.

But soft lighting isn’t just about golden hour photography. You can also get soft lighting on cloudy days, which is especially useful if you’re tired of your images looking too harsh on sunny days. If you are at home, you may also consider dimming the lights if possible.

5 Silhouettes and shadows

Shadows and silhouettes can be annoying when you don’t want them in your images, but if used appropriately, they can make your images stand out in a whole new way. I recommend looking for shadows from a distance; this is especially useful for street photography.

One of the most underrated ways to capture shadows in your images is to look for them between buildings. You’ll often find them when the light is particularly bright outside, and they can add a unique dimension to your shots – especially if those buildings would otherwise look pretty bland.

Whether you’re shooting shadows or using artificial lighting, you can capture great results in many lighting situations. Play around with the ones I’ve mentioned today and see what works best for your shooting style.