Shadows can be tricky to control in a food shoot with natural light. Check out our three lighting tips in the video to see what you can do with your window lighting!
DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR HARSH SHADOWS
For harsh shadows, place your food subject in direct sunlight. You can play with the positioning of your food to stop window lines from casting shadows onto them, or get creative and use them to your advantage!
Top tip: The brighter, the better! Check in advance which window in your space allows the most light in.
DIFFUSE LIGHT TO SOFTEN SHADOWS
If you want to soften the shadows in the frame, try using diffusion. This is when thin material is used to cover a light source, reducing how much light is let through and thus softening the shadows the light casts. Diffusion can also bring more attention to the subject as the background shadows will not contrast the food as much.
Top tip: As a household hack for diffusion fabric, try sticking wax paper on your window. It will also soften shadows from window lines!
USE PAPER TOWELS TO BOUNCE LIGHT & FILL IN SHADOWS
For those moments when you want more subtle shadows, a paper towel is a great hack for bouncing light. It will brighten the shot by filling in shadows and is also great when the light might be too strong!
Top tip: Wrap the paper towel around something (like an old glass bottle) to create a wall for the light to bounce off.
Have you tried any of these tips or have tips and tricks of your own for shooting food videos? Share them with us on our socials, and use the hashtag #MyJikoni to showcase your skills and join our growing community of recipe creators!