Photographing Beautiful Catchlights in the Eyes

As most of you know, from reading my other photography tutorials, I may be a tad long-winded, and may find humor in everything.  Today’s probably won’t be any different.  If you don’t have the time for the long-winded or humor…..in a nutshell:

Find the light.

If you do have time for long-winded, humor, and probably some funny-looking drawings, then sit back and grab a cup of joe and continue on.  Just no spitting on your screen, that’s just gross.

One of the MOST asked questions I get is “How do you photograph such beautiful catchlights in the eyes?”

Find the light.

To Capture Beautiful Catchlights:

1. Find your light source.

In any photo shoot…whether professional, hobbyist, or just a Mom-with-a-camera…this is your first step.

Where is your light coming from?  Look around.  Are you outside?  Are you in open shade?  Are you inside?  Where is your light coming from?  (I’ll wait a minute while you look around you.  You know you did.  HAAA!  My light source is a computer monitor at the moment and an ugly fluorescent light from the ceiling fan.

Here are a few examples of my favorite areas where I can find the perfect light for beautiful catch lights:

• Open shade:

  (Angie has done a GREAT series of tutorials on this if you’d like more information about open shade:  Utilizing Open Shade Effectively and Finding the Light in Open Shade)

  This photo was taken under a covered walk way, with her facing the sun.

  Light source: sun, filtered by the shade of the walkway.

Photo taken inside a garage, with her facing the open garage door.

Light source: sun, filtered by the shade of the garage.

Photo taken under a carport, with her facing out toward the sun.

Light source: sun, filtered by the shade of the carport.

• Open Sky:

  Photo taken in the evening, facing the sun.

  Light source: sun, filtered by the distance of the sun in the evening light.

Photo taken in the evening, facing the sun.

Light source:  sun, filtered by the distance of the sun in the evening light.

• Cloudy Sky:

  (Don’t miss this great tutorial from Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman: 5 Reasons I Love Taking Photos On Cloudy Days)

  Photo taken outside in the snow.

  Light source: sun, filtered through the clouds, light bouncing off of the snow on the ground as well.

Photo taken outside in my back yard.

Light source:  sun, filtered through the clouds.

I do want to add for this particular light source, cloudy skies, the amount of catch lights is directly affected by 2 things:  amount of cloud cover and direction they are facing.  In the first photo, it was very overcast (LOTS of snow that day), and there was more light coming from the snow than from the sky.  In the second image, it was very overcast again, so I stood above her and had her look UP at me.  By facing the sky, I was able to still obtain those much-sought-after catch lights!

• Window or door:

  Photo taken inside, facing the window.

  Light source:  sun, filtered through the window.

Photo taken inside, facing the open door.

Light source: sun, filtered through the open door.

• Flash:  

  Taken in a photo studio (isn’t she FUN?)

  Light source:  beauty dish flash

Even if the subject isn’t looking directly at you, if they are turned to the light source, you can catch those beautiful catch lights!  (I think my flash was a touch too hot.  I was practicing.)

Light source:  Alien Bee strobe diffused in an umbrella

Now, after you have FOUND the light…..you need to:

2. Face the light.

In all of these settings, it would have done no good to FIND the light, if I did not face the subject TO the light!   In the very beginning of learning this photography trick, I actually took my subjects by their shoulders (yes, even a client or two) and looked intently at their eyes and physically turned them in circles until I saw the light appear in their eyes!  (To all my clients I have done this to, I apologize for my creepiness.  I may have scared a few of you.)  But now, I just find my light source.

And here is where my wonderful stick figures come into play….

In the Open shade examples, it is important to FACE your subject where the light is coming from.

(My cute little chunky has to REPRESENT!  Hail to the chunky!)

(I know you’re so jealous at my stick figure ability.  Be jealous. HA!)

I have beautiful light in my front doorway every morning and early afternoon.  So, I use this light to light my subject whenever I have to shoot indoors, and by doing that, I capture that beautiful light in her eyes.

Let me show you:

Facing AWAY from the open door

I have this hazy glow from the window in the living room, I have light in her eyes, but I also have shadows on her face.

But, when I turn her around to FACE the doorway where all of my light is, everything lights up!

It’s the same room, same cute girl….but the lighting has completely changed.

I know, it is not ALWAYS possible to do this, but whenever it is within our power to do so, this will help our portraits sparkle just a little bit more!

(Eyes were NOT enhanced in any of the photos outside of the regular editing of the photo.  Since I’ve learned this trick, I haven’t needed to!)

Be kind and always keep learning!

Dana Suggs is an on-location photographer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, specializing in Children and Seniors photography.  She’s been married for 20 years and is the mother of 3 natural-born children and proud foster-parent (soon-to-be ADOPTIVE mom) to 3 more.  She believes that her insides are filled with sparkles and glitter and that’s why it’s a little chunkier than everyone else.  HA!  You can find her on her Photography website, Facebook Fanpage (she LOVES stalkers Likers) and, of course, she is a PROUD member of our Creative Team for I Heart Faces!

Tagged as: Catch Lights, Dana Suggs, Photography Tips, Tutorials