Filming Video Content in Bright Sunshine: Tips for Stunning Footage

Filming video content in bright sunshine can be both a blessing and a challenge. While natural light is an excellent resource for high-quality video production, harsh sunlight can create overexposed shots, deep shadows, and unwanted glare. To help you capture stunning footage, here are some essential tips for shooting in bright sunlight.

1. Choose the Right Time of Day

The best natural lighting conditions occur during the golden hours—shortly after sunrise and before sunset. At these times, the light is softer and more flattering, reducing harsh shadows and overexposure. If you must film during midday, when the sun is at its highest and brightest, consider using additional techniques to manage the intense light.

2. Use a Reflector or Diffuser

A reflector can help bounce light onto your subject, reducing harsh shadows and evening out the exposure. If the sunlight is too strong, a diffuser can soften it, creating a more balanced and natural look. Both tools are affordable and highly effective for outdoor filming.

3. Adjust Your Camera Settings

To avoid overexposed footage, manually adjust your camera’s settings:

• Lower the ISO to the lowest possible setting (e.g., 100) to reduce brightness.

• Increase the shutter speed to compensate for excessive light.

• Use a higher f-stop (smaller aperture) to control the depth of field and light intake.

  
  

4. Use ND (Neutral Density) Filters

ND filters act like sunglasses for your camera, reducing the amount of light entering the lens without affecting colour or clarity. This is particularly useful for achieving cinematic motion blur while maintaining proper exposure in bright conditions.

5. Position Your Subject Wisely

Avoid having your subject face directly into the sun, as this can cause squinting and unflattering highlights. Instead, position them with the sun behind or to the side, using a reflector to bounce light onto their face. This technique creates a natural rim light effect, enhancing depth and separation from the background.

6. Seek Shade or Create Your Own

Filming in a shaded area, such as under a tree or an awning, can help control exposure and reduce harsh shadows. If natural shade isn’t available, use a scrim or large diffuser to soften direct sunlight.

7. Monitor Your Exposure with a Histogram

A histogram on your camera helps gauge the overall exposure of your shot. If the graph is skewed too far to the right, your footage is overexposed. Adjust your settings accordingly to maintain a well-balanced exposure.

8. Mind Your White Balance

Bright sunlight can create colour temperature issues, leading to unnatural-looking footage. Set your camera’s white balance manually to ensure accurate colour reproduction and avoid an overly warm or cool tint.

9. Reduce Lens Flare

Lens flare can add a creative touch but can also be distracting. To minimise unwanted glare, use a lens hood or adjust your shooting angle. Polarising filters can also help by cutting down on reflections from surfaces like water and glass.

10. Plan for Post-Production

Even with careful shooting, bright sunlight can sometimes cause unavoidable exposure issues. Shooting in a flat colour profile or RAW format will give you more flexibility in post-production for colour correction and exposure adjustments.

A Real-World Success: Filming Mike Phelan with Base Aura Media

Today's filming with Manchester United legend, Mike Phelan, under bright sunshine and despite the challenging lighting conditions, was a great success. By implementing these techniques—using diffusers, ND filters, and strategic positioning—we were able to capture high-quality footage that looked professional and polished. This experience proves that, with the right approach, filming in intense sunlight can still yield incredible results.

Filming in bright sunshine doesn’t have to be a challenge if you plan ahead and use the right techniques. By choosing the right time of day, utilising diffusers and reflectors, adjusting camera settings, and incorporating ND filters, you can capture stunning, professional-quality footage even in the harshest lighting conditions.

Next time you find yourself shooting under the bright sun, use these tips to ensure your content looks polished, well-lit, and visually appealing!