So you have heard photographers say it time and time again, use natural light. But what exactly does that mean? Let me show you three ways to use window light.

Photography coach Erin Cobb challenged me to experiment with side lighting, flat lighting, and back lighting. I'm going to be honest and let you know that I do not have a DSLR, I'm not an expert photographer by any stretch, but even I found the challenge doable.

All of these photos are straight out of the camera (no editing except resizing for the web). So hopefully it will give you an idea of what you can try, even without a fancy camera, Lightroom or Photoshop.

Today I'll share with you some of the photos I took using Erin's techniques. I was photographing Emily playing with her playdough, but did try to 'set up' the shots as best you can with an almost three year old!

Side Lighting

For side lighting, sit your subject side on to the window.

I was surprised at how well my side lighting photos turned out. It was pretty easy to use the default mode on my camera. It can add a bit of dimension to the photos.

And I also got my favourite shot of the day:

Flat Lighting

When you take a photo with your subject directly in front of the window, and you also take the photo from the window side.

Flat lighting seems easiest to me, and I was taking photos in the afternoon we had a fair amount of light coming in our north-west facing window. I love the concentration on her face that I captured, but it was a little blurry.

Back Lighting

Backlighting is where you shoot into the light. You can use a reflector to light up the subject.

I did like the tip about metering for backlighting, and wondered if I could try something similar on my point and shoot. So I hunted around to find the settings so I could try it. Eventually I worked out I was able to set the exposure for Emily's face. I didn't have a reflector (I usually would use my car sunshade as a temporary reflector) and it was a little blurry again, but then again nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Emily's hair is so fair that it didn't really come up in the shot, and the whole thing is a little over exposed, but I can always play around in Lightroom later!
I feel like I could have done better, but the sun was starting to set and I'd been playing around for my 15 minutes by now.

So why not grab your camera and have a play today - I'm excited to try these techniques in my general snapshots even with my little point and shoot.
Look what I did!

With a new baby on the way (due May 5) I'm feeling the need to capture some of the special Mum and Emily moments we've been taking for granted over the last three years. I want to enjoy these last few days with just Emily and I at home.

I chose my favourite photos and paired them with template from Scrapping with Liz and supplies from the member collaboration kits at The Daily Digi (No longer available).

Journalling:

You are nearly three but insist you are not two and a half, but just two. Two is your favourite number, pink is your favourite colour, Penelope is your best friend, Mischa is your ‘little friend’, Mummy is your best friend in the whole wide world. You love to read, make duplo or block towns, make caterpillars out of playdough. You have no fear in the playground and go down the fireman’s pole all by yourself!