Today as a photographer I will share my Tips on How to Have Bright Photos in Winter for indoor spaces. If you struggle to have clear bright images and flat-lays, this is the perfect quick guide for you.

Location:  Italy

Photography: 35mminstyle

Edits: 35mminstyle

Camera: Canon 5D Mark II

Do you always struggle to shoot still life images with a proper good light in winter? Guess what, there is no need of a soft box or of a million lights. The only thing you have to use is your head. I will explain you the best way to have bright photos in winter.

Winter is dull, the sky is grey, the light is very low but all of this is actually perfect for indoor images. Direct sunlight is always too strong, neon light (I am thinking of lamps) is always too yellowy toned – a nightmare – but winter grey light is perfect.

A Few Tips on Winter Light

Now the key for having a bright image, without post-editing like crazy is find a window. The light that comes from there is already smoothen by the glass so we receive the best part. A downside is the little space we have but for flat-lays, products images is more than enough.

I will show some examples. But remember, go around you house and look fro the perfect window. Remember that light changes throughout the day, so you might have a good light in the morning from window A, while in the early afternoon the perfect spot is window B. Simply note it down.

How to Take A Bright Photo

Have a look around your place and see from which side the sunlight comes in. On the left image (the Dior one) the light comes from the right. It is likely to shoot the props not standing in between the light and the props but slightly on one side in order not to cover and shadow the objects. Whereas in the illamasqua image is the other way round. The light comes in from the left, so I opted to stand on the right side not to cover it.

Play around a little with your phone or your camera. Do not waste exposures if you are using film rolls please.

How to Take a Bright Flat-lay

Here instead I want to focus a little on flat-lays. The two pictures below have no editing at all, they are only taken from different position to let you see how with only the light, an image can radically change.

On the left image it is easy to see that the window is on the left corner, leaving the bright light part on top left and the darker shadows on the bottom right part. Look at the Dior foundation to see where the light touches the bottle, the writing is completely in the dark. And same it happens in the all image. Even though I was taking the picture from above, I was in the shadow part.

While in the image on the right I went almost in front of the light but on one side not to cover it all. I have never moved the Zara knit, while I have worked a bit the other props to be towards me, and from this front side, the image is much more bright.

what’s in the pic: / / Collection concelear

Overall it is very easy, use the light that comes from a window without covering it too much. Of course you can then post-edit the images with any program or app but remember that if you start with a good picture, it saves a lot of time and work. 

I will add some other useful posts on photography tips for you to read.

How do you edit pictures? Do you have any more suggestions? Let me know.