I love shooting low light photography and I actually prefer it often. Low light lends itself so well to capturing raw emotion and human connection. Moody images that are full of shadows, beautiful grain and rich tones that I personally adore.

The medium can be daunting at first and there is a learning curve but once trained you’ll be able to work within those small pockets of light to achieve wondrous results.

What is low light photography?

When first learning how to be a photographer you are on a desperate search for the most perfect, beautiful, soft lighting situautions.

But the reality is that you don’t always have perfect lighting and that is why embracing low light is going to be crucial for growth.

Low light photography is the ability to use any light you have to beautifully capture your subject.

If you’ve been avoiding low light, I urge you to consider giving it a try. I’ve learned to embrace it and I’m often overjoyed with some of the stunning outcomes that have resulted.

You may have a few questions about shooting with low light.

How Dramatic Natural Light Can Inspire Your Photography

What is the best ISO setting for low light photography?

This is a common question many photographers face. Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as telling you the exact settings to use since each lighting situation is different and requires different settings. The best thing to keep in mind is making sure that your subject is properly exposed.

The biggest mistake photographers make with their camera settings for low light is not raising their ISO high enough. Many people are taught early on that raising your ISO increases the noise in the photo and therefore you shouldn’t raise it.

However, an underexposed photo will cause lots of noise in your photo as well. Use your ISO when needed, that is what it is there for.

What shutter speed is best for low light photography?

This question also depends on your subject. Are you shooting a still life shot, or a moving subject?

After setting your aperture and your ISO then you might also need to adjust your shutter speed.

Keep your shutter speed above 1/125. If you need to, raise your ISO but don’t go belown 1/125 or your photo will likely be blurry because of motion blur.

How do I Take Sharp Photos with Low Light?

To take a sharp photo using low light you have to make sure your are properly exposing your subject.

Using manual mode you will adjust your ISO, aperture, and shutter speed until your light meter is close to zero. This will make sure your subject is exposed correctly.

Lastly keep your shutter speed above 1/125 and don’t be afraid to raise your ISO.

Read a little more on How to Master Manual Mode for New Photographers

Top 5 Reasons to Embrace Low Light Photography

1. Low Light Creates Mood

Low light and mood go together like pancakes and syrup. I like to use side lighting to my advantage and even under expose slightly to push that moodiness even further. Don’t be afraid to up your ISO when shooting indoors.

Read more: 5 Ways to Enhance Mood and Atmosphere

2. Embrace the Grain

Once I started embracing a little grain, the world of low light photography unlocked and enabled so much more creative freedom. Shooting in lower light will naturally add some grain to the final result. I encourage you to welcome it with open arms!

When I first began in photography, most everything I read suggested keeping your ISO as low as possible to reduce all grain.

Fast forward to today and I shoot in the style that speaks to me. I absolutely love grain in my black and white images and will sometimes even add a bit more in post processing.

There is a rawness to images that contain some grain that I gravitate towards and the end result will often add emphasis to connection between my subjects.

3. Add Variety to Your Images

Learning to work in low light will dramatically open up your shooting availability.

This holds especially true if you live in the northern regions where it begins getting dark at 4:30pm this time of year! What a boon it is to no longer be at the mercy of perfect lighting conditions.

Even when the conditions seems untenable I’ll take a second look to seek out those little pockets of light. One ray breaking in through the curtains can produce the most beautiful and subtle effect.

See more about how to shoot using indoor natural light.

4. Opportunity to Learn

Learning to see light and then capture it in a beautiful way is a vital skill for a photographer. Pushing myself to “see” light and work within varied light conditions helped develop my proficiency as a photographer quite rapidly.

If you’re struggling with shooting in lower light conditions, I implore you to try some new techniques and continue practicing. Study the light in a familiar environment like your home and shoot as much as possible while comparing your results. It takes practice, but the juice is worth the squeeze!

5. Creative Freedom

Learning to shoot in low light conditions really helped me unlock my creative freedom and ultimately land on the style that I adore the most. Lower light can be used to convey mood and add levels of depth to your work.

Another favorite low light photography opportunity is to shoot sunset silhouettes. I love getting to be creative with the light that you have whatever it looks like.

Read more: 9 Ways to Find Your Creative Confidence

Have you tried shooting low light photography yet? If you’re struggling to put your personal creative mark on your images, low light photography may be worth the try!

Discover More Low Light Photography Tips:

–Low Light Photography Tips
–How to Take Amazing Photos in the Winter
–Shooting With Available Light
–Easy Steps to Create a Starburst Photography Effect Day or Night