>> SAVE UP TO 20% OFF IN CART <<

  • Log in
  • Cart (0)
  • Checkout
Pretty Presets and Pretty Photoshop Actions
  • Lightroom Presets
  • Mobile Presets
  • Photoshop 
    • Photoshop Actions
    • Photoshop Overlays
    • Limited Edition Holiday Collections
  • Learn 
    • Free Lightroom Training
    • Free Photoshop Training
    • Lightroom 101 Workshop
    • Photoshop 101 Workshop
    • Your Pretty Edits
  • Support 
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Order Lookup
    • Lightroom FAQ
    • Photoshop FAQ
  • Install 
    • How to Install Lightroom Presets
    • How to Install Lightroom Brushes
    • How to Install Presets in the Free Lightroom Mobile App
    • How to Sync Lightroom Presets from CC to Mobile
    • How to Install Photoshop Actions
    • How to Install Photoshop Overlays
  • Best Sellers
  • Blog
  • Lightroom Presets
  • Mobile Presets
  • Photoshop 
    • Photoshop Actions
    • Photoshop Overlays
    • Limited Edition Holiday Collections
  • Learn 
    • Free Lightroom Training
    • Free Photoshop Training
    • Lightroom 101 Workshop
    • Photoshop 101 Workshop
    • Your Pretty Edits
  • Support 
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Order Lookup
    • Lightroom FAQ
    • Photoshop FAQ
  • Install 
    • How to Install Lightroom Presets
    • How to Install Lightroom Brushes
    • How to Install Presets in the Free Lightroom Mobile App
    • How to Sync Lightroom Presets from CC to Mobile
    • How to Install Photoshop Actions
    • How to Install Photoshop Overlays
  • Best Sellers
  • Blog

5 Tips to Master Backlit Window Photography

By Anna Gay on January 25, 2023 | No Comments

Backlit Window Photography

5 Tips to Master Window Backlighting

There’s a lot to be said about the natural beauty of backlighting.  The drama of a backlit image can add an extra level of depth that makes the shot exciting and unique, and helps capture the viewer's attention.

So, how can you create the perfect indoor conditions within your home or any indoor space to capture an ideal natural backlit photograph?

Here are five tips to help you utilize indoor backlight for great photos:

Lightroom and Photoshop Facebook Group

1. Focus on Your Camera Settings

Aperture is very important when it comes to backlit photography, so you will want to use your camera's manual settings and experiment with shutter speed.  Apertures will vary from f/2.8 to f/5.6, and shutter speed can be anything from 1/100 to 1/640 but have a play around to see what settings work best for you.

You should also be up to speed with your focus.  Cameras aren’t used to photographing directly into the sun and sometimes may struggle to achieve sharp focus with so much light streaming into the lens. 

You will need to adjust your settings to get good focus.  Working with the blinding sun can be problematic... but persevere, and you can get some pretty amazing photos.

2. Look for Hard Light Shining Through Windows or Creating Shadows

To start, you need to understand your indoor lighting situation, so you can plan and set up your shots.  For example:

    • When are the best times of the day to get great light indoors?
    • What are the best spots in your house where the sun shines indirectly?

Light changes based on the season, so consider this when looking for the perfect indoor area for your shot.  Bedrooms, living spaces, and places with plenty of sunlight shining in are usually fantastic focal points for backlit photos.

Backlit Window Photography

3. Embrace the Haze

Have you ever seen a delightfully dramatic haze in a particular photo and wondered how it was created?

It is doubtful that you will have the perfect amount of haze inside your home, so the answer is to get creative and make the hazy look yourself.  Sometimes photographers will burn some toast to get a bit of smoky haze in the air. 

But if that's not an option, or if you don’t think you can time the smoke perfectly for your shot, you can always purchase a haze machine.  You can also add haze when post-processing in Lightroom.

Backlight Window Photography

4. Look for Dramatic Shadows

Dramatic shadows can make for a beautiful contrast in your images.  Look for contrasting light and position your camera at an angle so that it captures the shadows perfectly and adds plenty of uniqueness to your photos.

Indoor Backlit Photos

5. Play With Your Light

Backlight can add so much to images, and playing with shapes and textures can add even more interest.  Look for light streaming through different-shaped windows and play with the different patterns and effects that are created. 

Light can take on a whole new life when you add sheer curtains into the mix too!

Indoor Backlit Food Photo

Conclusion

Indoor window light is a simple light source that can create some pretty spectacular images. 

Another great benefit is that indoor backlit photography can be done all year round.  It allows the photographer to spend more time photographing their subject and less time trudging around in bad weather.

Do you have any questions or comments about Indoor Backlighting?  Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE this post using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!

Portrait Lightroom Presets

Related Articles

Mastering Lightroom Workflow: Editing Faster with Consistency & Creativity
Mastering Lightroom Workflow: Editing Faster with Consistency & Creativity
Discover a simple, efficient Lightroom workflow to speed up your photo editing, stay consistent, and develop a signature
Read More
Streamline Your Photography Business: Top Tips & Tricks
Streamline Your Photography Business: Top Tips & Tricks
Discover efficient strategies for booking, shooting, and editing photos. Learn how to save time, boost profits, and focu
Read More
How to Restart Your Photography Business: 10 Proven Steps for a Successful Relaunch
How to Restart Your Photography Business: 10 Proven Steps for a Successful Relaunch
Discover how to restart photography business with these 10 expert tips.  From refining your niche to boosting your brand
Read More
Pretty Presets for Lightroom author Anna Gay

Anna Gay

Portrait Photographer

Anna Gay is a portrait photographer based in Athens, GA and the author of the dPS ebook The Art of Self-Portraiture. She also designs actions and textures for Photoshop. When she is not shooting or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband, and their two cats, Elphie and Fat Cat.

January 25, 2023

Comments

INFO & SUPPORT
  • Lightroom FAQ
  • Photoshop FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Order Lookup
  • Log Into Account
Sign up for great freebies and tutorials

Get notified about promotions, giveaways and webinars before they happen!

Join the pretty Community

Come join the #1 Lightroom & Photoshop Facebook Group to help you learn how to edit your photos more confidently today!


  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • Policies
  • Terms of Service
  • Write for Pretty
  • Lightroom Scholarship
  • Photoshop Scholarship

© 2025 Pretty Presets for Lightroom | support@prettypresets.com (406) 298-3006

  •  
  •  
  •  
One or more of the items in your cart is a recurring or deferred purchase. By continuing, I agree to the cancellation policy and authorize you to charge my payment method at the prices, frequency and dates listed on this page until my order is fulfilled or I cancel, if permitted.