Lighting is a key factor in creating a successful image. Lighting determines not only brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood, and atmosphere. Therefore, it is necessary to control and manipulate light correctly in order to get the best texture, vibrancy of colour and luminosity on your subjects.

Hard light is a concentrated, bright light that casts strong shadows and draws attention to specific areas of a photo. With hard lighting, the transition between light and shadow becomes very difficult and distinct. When a subject is exposed to strong light, its silhouette casts a sharp, harsh shadow.

Soft lighting is a type of light with few hard shadows that’s bright yet balanced. In soft lighting, the transition between the light and the shadows is more of a gradient and much smoother.

Warm lighting/cool lighting

Warm light, characterized by reds, oranges, and yellows, is often used in photography to evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and intimacy. Just as warm colors in art and design can create a feeling of comfort and energy, warm light in photography can enhance the emotional impact of an image.

Cold light is the most common colour temperature of natural light, as it exists from about 1 hour after sunrise to about 1 hour before sunset. This colour temperature is fairly neutral.