Capturing portraits outdoors can be both enjoyable and fulfilling, especially when you're equipped with the right setup. Unlike studio shoots, outdoor photography presents lighting challenges since you can’t control natural light entirely. However, you can learn to work with different conditions to your advantage. In this article, we’ll discuss the essential pieces of outdoor portrait photography equipment and recommend the best camera settings.
Why is equipment needed for outdoor portrait photography?
Outdoor portrait photography goes beyond simply taking pictures under an open sky. You need to skillfully use natural light, adjust to changing weather, and make the most of the surroundings. Whether shooting in a bustling park, a quiet forest, or a bright meadow, having the proper gear helps you manage challenges like intense midday sun or shifting light patterns, all while highlighting your subject’s features and emotions.
Common challenges include:
- Lighting Changes: While golden hour can produce stunning effects, natural light may also introduce unwanted shadows.
- Weather Elements: Conditions like wind, rain, or dust may call for extra gear to ensure both protection and stability.
- Distractions in the Environment: While the backdrop can enhance your composition, it also requires careful attention to framing and focus.
With the right outdoor photography equipment, you can skillfully navigate these factors to capture visually striking and naturally flattering portraits.
What photography equipment to use for outdoor portraits?
The outdoor portrait photography equipment list includes:
- Camera
- Lens
- Tripod
- Lighting equipment and accessories
- V mount battery
- Weather sealing
Read on to delve into the details.
Camera: Opt for high-resolution camera with strong sensor, excellent dynamic range, and low-light capabilities
A high-resolution camera with a strong sensor is essential. Opt for models known for excellent dynamic range and reliable low-light capabilities, as outdoor lighting can vary widely. Leading mirrorless and DSLR systems offer the flexibility required for high-quality portrait work.
If you aim for a lightweight device, full-frame mirrorless options like the Canon EOS R6 or Sony A7 III weigh under 1.5 pounds. These cameras are well-regarded for their rapid autofocus and impressive performance in dim lighting, perfect for capturing scenes at dusk. Pre-owned models can offer similar quality at a more budget-friendly price.
Lens: Short telephoto lens is an ideal outdoor portrait photography equipment for flattering portraits
For flattering portraits, opt for a short telephoto lens. Focal lengths like 85mm or 135mm are excellent choices. These lenses typically offer wide apertures (such as f/1.4 or f/1.8). They allow for effective low-light shooting, which is crucial in outdoor environments.
One major advantage of telephoto lenses with large apertures is their ability to create a shallow depth of field. They soften the background while keeping the subject sharp. This is especially helpful outdoors, where ideal backdrops can be hard to come by. The subject stands out clearly without facial distortion.
While wide-angle lenses can be used for outdoor portraits, they often introduce perspective distortion. This will exaggerate facial features, leading to unflattering results.
Tripod: Carbon fiber tripod is good to offer reliable support and portable transport for outdoor shooting
When shooting portraits outdoors with natural light, a tripod can be incredibly useful. It minimizes camera shake, resulting in much sharper images, especially in low-light conditions.
For studio work, portability isn't a major concern. As long as the tripod provides solid support, even a heavier model will suffice. However, if you often shoot portraits outdoors, you’ll need a tripod that’s both sturdy enough to support your gear and lightweight enough for easy transport.
Carbon fiber tripods are a great investment despite their higher cost. They offer strength without the bulk and can make location shoots much smoother. The Moman CA70 Travel Tripod is one reliable option worth considering.
Lighting equipment and accessories: Outdoor portrait photography equipment to make use of or supplement natural light
Reflector: Properly lighting outdoor portraits is challenging without a reflector unless conditions are perfect. Even beginners should invest in one, as they’re affordable and extremely useful. Reflectors come in various colors—white, silver, gold, black, and translucent—with 32" or larger being ideal. A two-sided version with white and silver or gold offers great versatility. Avoid the cheapest options, as their reflective coatings may peel after minimal use.
Off-camera flash: While not essential, using flash outdoors gives you more flexibility and can save a shoot when natural light falls short. It’s especially helpful in situations like backlighting (to avoid silhouettes), overcast skies that create shadows under the eyes, or when your subject is in shade but the background is brightly lit.
Battery-powered LED video light: It is a convenient lighting solution for outdoor portraits, offering consistent, portable illumination without the need for a power outlet. With adjustable brightness and color temperature, they help blend artificial light with natural sunlight for natural-looking skin tones. Their all-in-one, cable-free design reduces clutter and improves safety on set. Models like the Aputure LS-300x Bi-Color and Lume Cube provide long battery life and flexible mounting options, making them ideal for versatile and creative outdoor photography.
V mount battery: Optional choice to power cameras, LED light, monitors, and more
Though not essential, a V-mount battery is a reliable, high-capacity power solution for outdoor portrait photographers, especially when access to mains electricity is limited. It proves especially useful in powering cameras, LED lights, and monitors, offering greater capacity, versatility, and durability than typical camera batteries.
For example, Moman Power 99 is a compact 99 Wh V-mount battery weighing just 560 g, making it flight-safe and palm-sized for easy on-location use. It offers dual D-Tap, USB-C (65 W), and USB-A outputs, delivering up to 15A/20 W continuous power to lights, monitors, or cameras. Its smart battery management supports over 1,000 charge cycles, ensuring durability in the field. For outdoor portrait shoots, the Power 99 reliably keeps lighting kits and on-camera accessories running all day.
Weather sealing: An essential tool to protect outdoor portrait photography equipment
Whether it's constant rain in the Pacific Northwest, swirling desert dust, or ocean salt spray, outdoor environments pose many risks to your camera. Therefore, it’s advised to use durable, weather-sealed equipment. For example, a reliable rain cover helps protect your gear while allowing you to keep shooting in harsh conditions.
Camera setting tips for outdoor portrait photography
It's best to use manual mode for outdoor portrait sessions, as it gives you complete control over ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
ISO: When shooting outdoors, you can typically maintain a low ISO—ideally between 100 and 400. You might need to raise it slightly if a faster shutter speed is required, such as when capturing active subjects like children.
Aperture: Your aperture selection should be guided by both the lighting and the subject you're photographing. For individual portraits, an aperture between f/2 and f/4 works well, while f/5.6 to f/8 is better suited for group shots. Be cautious when shooting at very wide apertures like f/1.8 or f/1.4. It's easy to get the eyes in focus while the nose or other facial features fall out of focus. If you're not fully confident in your focusing accuracy, it's safer to opt for a slightly narrower aperture, such as f/2.8 or f/4, even for solo portraits.
Shutter Speed: There’s no strict rule for choosing shutter speed in outdoor portrait photography, but it typically falls between 1/200 and 1/15 of a second. When photographing children, however, you’ll need faster speeds—starting around 1/125 or higher—to freeze motion effectively. Using a tripod opens up creative possibilities with much slower shutter speeds, especially for nighttime portraits. Exposures of a second or more can produce striking results. Adding an off-camera flash gives you even more flexibility.
White Balance: White balance plays a key role in setting the mood of your outdoor portraits. You can use presets like Daylight or Shady based on the lighting, but manual adjustment is often more accurate if you're mixing natural and artificial light. Remember: warmer light has lower Kelvin values (e.g., golden hour at 2800–3000K), while cooler light has higher ones (e.g., blue sky at 10,000K). Generally, warmer tones flatter skin better than cooler ones, though you can deliberately choose an unusual white balance for creative effect, depending on the shoot’s intent.
