North facing window - best spot portraits!

Window light, especially light from a north-facing window, is among the most beautiful light for portraits anywhere. In fact, some professional photography insist on only using natural window light for all their portraits!

The window diffuses the light streaming in, and the larger the window, the more soft and diffuse the light. So, if you've got some nice window light, where do you position your subject to make the most of this beautiful light? You want to position your subject with their shoulder facing the window. As a result, the light comes across your subject, creating soft shadows on the far side of their face. Then, place them about 6 feet from the window, so the light is very soft and wraps around your subject. If you get them any closer, that soft light could turn very contrasty fast. Also, position your subject a little bit back behind the window, so they catch the edge of the window light and not the direct sunlight. This edge light is very soft and gives you that wonderful, almost magical light that so many pros swear by.

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