natural-light-management

name	natural-light-management
description	Use when shooting with windows / sunlight. Natural light is free but variable.

Natural Light Management

Natural light: free, beautiful, changes constantly. Use diffusion + bounce + scheduling for control.

Best natural light

1. Golden hour (1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sunset): warm, soft
2. Blue hour (twilight): cool, soft
3. Overcast day: nature's softbox, even light
4. Open shade: protected from direct sun, soft
5. Window light: indoor, north-facing best for consistency

Controlling natural light

1. Diffusion — sheer curtain, scrim, white sheet
2. Bounce — bounce sun back as fill (white card)
3. Negative fill — black absorber to deepen shadows
4. ND filters on lens — too much sun
5. Schedule — shoot at consistent time daily
6. Cloud-watching — wait for diffusion vs direct sun

Window light interview setup

Window on subject's side:

1. Light from window = key light
2. Bounce card on opposite side = fill
3. Optional fill light if shadow too dark
4. Diffuse with sheer curtain if too bright
5. Schedule for consistent time (morning/afternoon)

Cheap, beautiful, professional look.

Where this fits in the X3 empire

Natural light strategy for CardPrepAI shoots.