Soft light vs hard light photography (differences & techniques)

The word “photography” derives from the Greek word meaning—“drawing with light.”

We cannot see without light. Objects do not give off light themselves, so we see the light reflected off the subject into our eyes, which determines how it appears to us. 

Light is everything when it comes to photography—it not only determines what we see, but how we see it. 

How the world around us appears depends very much on the type of light, weather, and time of day or year. Just as the light determines how we see things, it also dictates, to some degree, how our photos will look. 

It’s not simply about how much light is available. There are different types of light. 

This article looks primarily at two types—hard light vs soft light in photography. 

 

What is hard light?

Hard light is strong, direct light from a small, concentrated source. Examples of this include:

• the sun
• a flash
• street lights
• candles

Because the light originates from a small source, it is projected directly onto the subject and characterised by its intense, focused beam of light that produces well-defined edges and dark shadows. 

It produces high-contrast images with very bright parts, lots of shadows and definition, and vivid colours when lit from the front.

As hard light is directional, it produces bright and dark sides to the subject it illuminates. 

Think of a spotlight in a theatre or shining a torch on something in the dark. The result, as you can see by the illustration, is a high-contrast scene with strong front light, dark and well-defined shadows and hard edges with lots of definition. 

Depending on its use, this type of light can be dramatic and unflattering. 

Related: How to clean a camera lens in 4 easy steps 

 

When to use hard light vs soft light

When used correctly, hard light can greatly emphasise mood and is perfect for intense, vibrant images. 

One of the defining features of hard light is its ability to reveal surface texture and emphasise details. This makes it particularly effective in highlighting the contours and shapes of subjects. In photography, hard light is often used for portraits to accentuate facial features and create a bold, dynamic look.

 

Portrait photography

Portrait photographers will use it to create gritty, dramatic portraits with lots of facial detail. 

Hard light shows up all the lines and texture in a person’s face, so while this may be unflattering for most of us, it is great for showing age and character in a face, illustrating mood and emotion, and enhancing facial expressions. 

Hard light can be used to illuminate a small part of a subject, such as a person’s face, or even just one side, and throw the rest into darkness. 

This helps create an impact or an edgy film noir look. Many great portrait photographers, like David Bailey, use this technique.

Hard light from behind can create dramatic backlit images and is great for creating dark silhouettes or illuminating cigarette smoke.

 

Landscape photography

Hard light can be great for showcasing the texture of a landscape or the contrast in clouds. 

Go out on a partly cloudy day when the sun is high in the sky and see how the texture and shape of the clouds are highlighted by that strong, direct sunlight coming from above them.

Colours are often bolder and richer when lit from the front by hard light. When lit from the side, the shadows help reveal the landscape’s texture and shape. 

 

Fashion photography

In fashion photography, hard light adds a sense of glamour and sophistication, highlighting fabric textures and defining silhouettes.

 

Architectural photography

Hard light emphasises the geometry and structure of architectural elements, enhancing the sense of depth and dimension in photographs.

 

Product photography

Hard light can showcase details and textures when photographing products, drawing attention to specific features.

 

Black and white photography

When it comes to hard light vs soft light in photography, hard light is ideal for black-and-white photography, where the emphasis is on the contrast between light and shadow. 

Again, this is used in black-and-white portraiture, but also important when shooting black-and-white landscapes. 

Related: What is shutter count, and why does it matter?

 

What is soft light?

Soft light is diffused from a large source rather than a single small one.

Technically, light is diffused when it passes through a transparent object, such as a big white sheet or a window. 

The light scatters and is spread out as the diffuser becomes the source of light rather than the original source. 

Therefore, the larger the diffuser, the softer the light becomes. This results in gentle transitions between highlights and shadows instead of the sharp transitions produced by hard light.

The perfect examples of this in the studio are the big softboxes you see surrounding the person being photographed. 

The reflected light is also softened, which is why you see large reflectors in a studio, used to fill the shadows. 

You don’t have to be in a studio, though; large windows and net curtains can be used to spread and diffuse light, so you can place your subject strategically in front of a window when photographing them. 

Outside, an overcast sky is a large diffuser and is nature’s own softbox. On a sunny day, the sun is the light source, but on a cloudy day, you don’t see the sun, and there is no direct hard light. The entire sky becomes the light source. 

Head outside on a cloudy, overcast day and note the absence of shadows. Everything is evenly lit and looks softer and less defined, and even the colours are less intense. 

 

When to use soft light vs hard light 

Portrait photography

Soft light is ideal for portraits, especially when the goal is to produce beautiful, flattering portraiture. 

Soft light hides wrinkles and lines and softens the skin and facial tones. It produces a dreamier, more romantic feel. 

You don’t necessarily need a studio for this, though—take people outside on overcast days or look for shade and place your subject there. Against a wall or under the shade of a tree can work well. Forests are ideal places to seek out soft light on a sunny day. 

 

Wedding photography

Although more difficult to control, soft light is the go-to lighting for wedding photography. 

This is ironic because the bride and groom want to get married on a nice sunny day. However, this is the worst lighting for a wedding photographer who has to watch for unwanted shadows, especially when doing group photos. 

Typically, the photographer will have an assistant or two walking around with large reflectors to help control the shadows. 

The photographer will also place people in shaded locations. A good wedding photographer will have scouted the location well before the big day to determine the places with the best shade so harsh, direct light can’t spoil the day!

 

Landscape photography

When it comes to landscape photography, overcast grey days are not the best. This kind of soft lighting can be quite flat, and the absence of shadows is counterproductive to landscape photography. 

While we often don’t want lots of harsh shadows, we do want some subtle shadows to give shape and texture to the landscape. In this case, photographers look for a mix of direct and diffused light, or direct light from a low angle, most often found around the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. At these times, the sun is low, and its light is softer but still directional.

 

Still life photography

Soft light can enhance delicate details and textures while maintaining a natural and pleasing aesthetic when photographing still-life subjects. This is particularly true when photographing flowers.

 

Food photography

Soft light is often preferred in food photography to create a warm and inviting ambience, making dishes appear more enticing.

Related: The ultimate guide to family photography

 

Choosing between hard light vs soft light in photography

So which is best? Well, of course, as we have just seen, it depends on the type of image you are trying to create. 

Choosing between hard light vs soft light in photography depends on various factors, including the desired mood, subject matter, and creative vision. Understanding the characteristics and applications of each type of light can help you choose which type best suits the mood you are trying to convey.

In many cases, both hard and soft light sources can be employed to achieve the desired effect or add depth and dimension to a scene. 

The best way is to experiment with different lighting setups and techniques to allow for creative exploration. This will help you best understand the effects and determine which works best for each situation. 

 

About the author:

Ian Middleton is a travel and landscape photographer and writer. He is the author of several books, including a practical guide to photography. His photography has been used in numerous publications worldwide and is sold as high-quality wall art online.

Visit his website for more info: https://ianmiddletonphotography.co.uk

Illustrations reproduced from his free ebook: A Practical Guide to Photography.

 

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