Ah backlights. The simple positioning of a light behind us can make us all look fantastic. If only I could always move through the world with a backlight! Easier said than done. But a little extra effort in how your position your subjects for photographs can make all the difference.

What’s So Special About Backlight?

So what is it about a backlight? The most important thing a backlight does for our images is to carve the subject out of the background. Separation of subject from a background is key in a 2-dimensional medium, even more so in black & white.


Backlights also add a touch of glamor. Have you ever seen a glamorous shot of a movie star without a backlight? Probably not. This idea was mastered by cinematographers and portrait photographers prior to the invention of color film (and of course long before that with painters and artists throughout the ages). Without a backlight, an actor might just blend into the background. Color film diminished the need for backlights in every scene, but it is still an important component to making us look glamorous.

Photographs by famed portrait artist to the stars, George Hurrel really show how important a backlight and separation is to making these images come alive.

Making Your Photos Pop

Here is a recent example of how a backlight can make a picture pop. I took the two pictures below last week, Both shots are nicely framed with beautiful backgrounds, but the shot with the backlight on Chloe has a little extra sparkle. There is more balance in the backlit shot, while the other one looks rather flat.

Backlit Chloe

No Backlight

Looking with Fresh Eyes

It’s not that hard to orchestrate a photograph to make the most out of a backlight. Simply being aware of the direction of the sun or other light sources is the first step. If that means you move your subject or yourself to maximize this, then do it.

We rarely just land in the most beautiful spot, especially when there‘s a camera around, but with a little observation, it’s easy to place your subject in a puddle of light. It takes some coaxing to get Chloe to stand in just the right spots, but happily, my husband, Shayne knows what I’m up to and helps to lure her towards perfect light.

For detailed drawings and images of classic three-point lighting technique, click here.