Photographing Portraits in Early Morning Light

Why Early Morning Light and the Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 Are My Go-To Combo for Dramatic Indoor Portraits

As a photographer, photographing portraits in early morning light is one of my favorite ways to create images that feel cinematic and alive. Light is the real storyteller in any image—the way it floods a room, kisses a cheekbone, or spills across a wall can make the difference between something flat and something unforgettable.

That golden window right after sunrise can transform an everyday space into pure magic—especially when working with indoor natural light photography. And when I want to capture that feeling indoors, I reach for the Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD, my go-to lens for natural, dramatic portrait work in low light.

By Guest Contributor: André Costantini

What You’ll Learn in This Post

• How I use early morning light to create cinematic indoor portraits
• Why the angle of light makes or breaks the mood
• How I expose for the highlights in contrast-heavy scenes
• Tips I use when shooting in darker spaces
• My approach to using windows as part of the scene
• Why timing is everything with natural light
• Indoor photography lighting techniques you can apply anywhere

Why I Love the Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 for Low Light Portraits Indoors

The Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 lens for Sony E-mount (also available for Nikon Z mount) has become one of my most trusted lenses, especially for indoor portrait work in natural light.

Here’s why it works so well for me:

• Wide aperture: With a max aperture of f/2 at the wide end, and f/2.8 at the tele end, I can shoot comfortably in low light while still getting sharp detail and creamy background blur.
• Incredible zoom range: This lens allows me to go from wide environmental portraits to tight headshots without ever moving my feet.
• Stunning image quality: Even wide open, I get edge-to-edge sharpness and a really pleasing fall-off in the background.
• Creative flexibility: The compression at the longer focal lengths gives me a lot of storytelling options in terms of how I frame and isolate my subject.

If you’re looking for the best lens for indoor portraits, this one checks all the boxes.

My Favorite Tips for Photographing with Early Morning Light

TIP 1. Pay Attention to the Angle of Light to Add Drama

The angle of the light is key when I’m working with early morning sun. If I shoot with the light behind me, the subject is evenly lit—which can be nice for detail, but sometimes it’s too flat.

I prefer shifting my angle so the light hits from the side or even behind the subject. That creates contrast, shadows, and a more dramatic, emotional image —perfect for capturing moody portraits.

TIP 2. Use Windows as a Framing Element

In the early morning, the exposure difference between inside and outside is often minimal, so I can include windows in the composition without blowing out the highlights.

I’ll use window frames as graphic elements or shoot with the light pouring through them to add context and texture. It feels natural and adds visual interest without needing extra gear or editing. When conditions are right, soft natural window light can elevate a portrait beautifully.

TIP 3. Move Fast—Because Light Moves Fast

One thing I’ve learned is that natural light doesn’t wait for you. It can shift dramatically in just a few minutes. So if I see beautiful light, I start shooting right away.

Sometimes I get lucky, and it gets even better—but I don’t count on it. I’ve missed moments by hesitating, and now I try to stay ready and keep shooting while the light is good. When photographing with morning light, timing is everything.

Still Life, Same Light? Apply These Portrait Techniques

TIP 4. Always Expose for the Highlights

Early light can be intense, with bright highlights and deep shadows. If I let the camera meter the scene, it often overexposes and flattens the image.

So, I shoot in manual mode or underexpose just a touch to preserve the highlights. I want to keep the detail where the light is falling and let the shadows go dark. That contrast is what gives the image soul. This is one of my go-to manual mode exposure tips for low light portrait tips, also perfect for still life images.

TIP 5. Look for Dark Rooms—or Make Them Dark

The room I shot these images in had stone walls that didn’t reflect much light, which really helped create a moody feel.

If I’m working in a brighter room, I’ll use dark fabric or backgrounds to absorb some of that light. The darker the space, the more pronounced the directional light becomes, which gives me more depth and contrast to play with. This is one of my favorite indoor photography lighting techniques to control contrast for both portraits and still life shots.

Final Thoughts

There’s something magical about photographing portraits (or still life images) in early morning light. It’s honest, moody, and full of depth—especially when paired with a lens like the Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 that lets me work fast and fluidly.

Whether you’re capturing moody portraits or experimenting with creative portrait lighting, early morning offers endless opportunities for compelling, natural light imagery.