Dark skin can be tricky to photograph, whether for a fashion blog or family session. It’s difficult to capture light that flatters and highlights the various shades of darker skin tones.
Location
One of the best ways to photograph dark skin is with natural light. Selecting an appropriate time of day and using creative lighting can go a long way towards making sure your photos look their best.
In general, softer lighting is more flattering to darker complexions and helps avoid obvious shadows or hot spots on a person’s face. Taking time to experiment with different exposure settings and finding the ideal locations for your subject can make all the difference when creating an image you’ll be proud to display.
For photographers looking to take their photography skills to the next level, there are some fantastic apps on the market that can do everything from measuring skin tone to finding an ideal background for you. This will enable you to capture stunning photographs without needing any special software or digital tricks.
When photographing dark skin in natural light, the most important thing to remember is finding a well-lit spot and using a diffuser to soften the blow. You might need some creativity and luck for this shot, but with enough effort and time you’ll definitely capture an amazing photo.
Light Source
When photographing dark skin, light sources are essential. The sun, for instance, is one of the most prominent natural lights on Earth; however, other light sources exist in the universe such as stars and meteors.
Lighting a subject typically involves three lights coming from different positions. The key light is the brightest and placed directly in front of your subject; the fill light sits at an angle to it, filling in shadows left by the key light. Finally, a back light or rim light sits behind them to help distinguish them from their background.
Light diffusers and reflectors are used to soften the light, allowing your camera to capture more detail. You may also use flash diffusers to scatter the beam of light and reduce harsh shadows that may appear in your photo – particularly useful when photographing darker skin tones against a white or blue background.
Positioning your subjects is another crucial aspect when photographing dark skin. Place the darker-skinned subject closer to the light source and the lighter-skinned person farther away. This simple step will enable you to take accurate photographs of both skin tones accurately.
Furthermore, you must understand how the light meter on your camera works when photographing dark skin tones. A dark subject will reflect more light and overexpose the photograph, while someone with lighter skin tones will reflect less and underexpose the image.
If you’re uncertain of how to properly expose your images, try taking them in manual mode for more control over exposures. This will guarantee proper lighting on subjects’ skin and allow for color cast correction later in Photoshop.
If you want to add more color vibrancy and contrast in your images, colored lights or gels may be the way to go. Orange and blue are two hues that can work particularly well when complementing dark skin tones while providing striking visual interest for portraits.
Skin Tone
Photographers or anyone aspiring to capture accurate skin tones should know how to utilize lighting and exposure correctly. Here are some tips for getting accurate skin tones:
Your skin tone can be determined based on two elements: surface color and undertones. Utilize this knowledge when selecting makeup or clothing items.
First, identify your surface color – that is the hue you see when looking in a mirror. You can do this by placing a small mirror on your face or taking a step outside and looking into either direct sunlight or well-lit windows to obtain natural hues.
Once you know your surface color, it’s time to examine the undertones that make up your skin. Although less noticeable than your surface hue, undertones still play an important role when selecting foundation shades or selecting an aesthetic for yourself.
Undertones are caused by melanin, a pigment found in your skin. Melanin determines your complexion’s color and it can shift due to genetic disposition or sun exposure.
Also, some people tan well while others tan unevenly (hyperpigmentation). If your complexion doesn’t match up to what you expect, investing in tinted moisturizer and makeup products that will even out your tone could be beneficial.
Conversely, those with darker skin tones may develop more freckles and blotchy patches as they age. Fortunately, this can be treated through chemical peels or other treatments that brighten your complexion and minimize these blemishes.
It’s worth remembering that your skin tone can shift throughout the day due to changes in exposure from UV rays. Therefore, it is essential to wear sunscreen in the morning and when going outdoors, and reapply it throughout the day for maximum protection.
When photographing dark skin, it is best to use natural light whenever possible and position the subject so that the light hits them in a way that emphasizes their features rather than washes them out. This is especially crucial when taking portraits of multiple people since underexposing one person may lead to overexposure while overexposing another.
Exposure
When photographing dark skin, it is essential to get the exposure correct. To accomplish this, utilize proper settings and position your subject appropriately so they aren’t in harsh light.
To adjust the exposure for your subject, begin by setting your camera to manual mode. This is the most reliable way of guaranteeing that your camera won’t make decisions for you regarding how much exposure to use.
You can also increase your aperture to ensure that your subject isn’t being overexposed too much. Doing so will create soft, pleasing skin tones which are more flattering on darker subjects.
Take it one step further by adjusting your shutter speed to compensate for contrast between light and dark. This is an effective technique to remember when shooting in natural light as it helps avoid blown out highlights that may appear on lighter skin tones.
When photographing dark skin, it’s best to bounce the flash off of your subject instead of directly hitting them with it. This will make them appear more 3-dimensional and complex while decreasing contrast between their skin and that of the background.
If you are using a cell phone, you may wish to tap where your subject’s face appears on the screen of your device to trigger the camera to focus on that spot. Be aware that mobile phones cannot adjust lighting as effectively as a real camera can; experiment with different focus points until you find one that meets all of your requirements.
Finally, when selecting how to light your subjects, take into account their skin tone and the colors in the background of your picture. Too bright or dark a background will only distract from the facial features of your subject.
When photographing dark skin, there are a few things to keep in mind. With some practice and the correct exposure and background settings for your photos, you can achieve stunning portraits of your subjects in an organic light.
