The “Sun Over Your Shoulder” Rule Is Bogus

©ISTOCKPHOTO/IZABELA HABUR

You may have heard of the “Sun Over Your Shoulder” rule, which basically states that when you’re shooting people outdoors, you put the sun behind you (over your shoulder), so your subjects’ faces are lit. This is a perfectly fine rule for people taking snapshots, but it is the worst thing you can do for your group portrait (besides the “tall people in the back” thing). If you want more professional-looking shots of people outdoors, the last thing you want is the bright sun blasting them straight in their faces (although that’s exactly what your average person does), so everyone is squinting, trying to shield their eyes, and turning away from the camera. Worse, it puts harsh, direct, unflattering light on them. Instead, position your subjects with the sun behind them (not behind you), so it puts a nice rim light effect around them (outlining their hair), and then use just a tiny bit of flash (keep the brightness of your flash low) to put just enough light into their faces to make them blend in with the natural light that surrounds them.