Let’s be honest—when the forecast calls for grey skies, it can feel like a total bummer. But cloudy days? They’re actually one of my favorite lighting situations to shoot in. The light is soft, even, and super forgiving (hi, perfect skin tones), and the vibe? A+ for cozy, romantic, and cinematic moments.
If you’re heading into a shoot and the clouds are rolling in, don’t panic. Here are my go-to tips for making the most out of those moody skies.
1. Use the clouds like a giant softbox
Cloudy days are basically nature’s free diffuser. There’s no harsh light, no squinty eyes, no trying to find the one tiny sliver of shade that kinda works. Just soft, even light—everywhere.
Pro tip: have your subject face toward the brightest part of the sky. It’s like free studio lighting without hauling gear around.
2. Flat light? Add contrast in post
Cloudy days = soft light, but sometimes also = kinda flat looking photos straight out of camera. To fix that:
- Slightly underexpose if needed, then pull up shadows in editing
- Add a touch more contrast and blacks than usual
- If it feels right, go for a moody black and white edit. It works
- Increase saturation just a touch
And if this stuff still feels confusing, I’m putting together a course to break down camera settings without the overwhelm—join the waitlist here and I’ll send you all the details when it’s ready.
3. Let color and texture do the work
Since the light’s more neutral, bold colors and cool textures really stand out. Think brick walls, pine trees, florals, colorful jackets, flowy dresses, movement in fabric—anything that brings some life and dimension into your frame.
And yes, cloudy days are ✨chef’s kiss✨ for fall sessions.
4. Adjust your white balance
Clouds tend to make everything look a little cool-toned or blue. You can warm things up by setting your white balance to “Cloudy” or just tweak it later if you shoot in RAW. I almost always warm it up just a bit in post, especially for skin tones.
5. Lean into the vibe
Cloudy doesn’t have to mean dull. It can be romantic, cozy, dramatic, peaceful. Let the weather help tell the story. Some of my favorite images have been couples running through drizzle, snuggling under blankets, or just laughing like goofs while we embrace the weird weather.
It’s not about perfect light—it’s about feeling.
6. Tweak your settings
You’ll likely need to:
- Open up your aperture (f/2.8 or lower is your friend)
- Slow your shutter (but keep an eye on movement blur)
- Bump up your ISO a little—but keep it reasonable to avoid grain
Want help understanding how all three work together? Hop on the course waitlist—we’ll be unpacking the exposure triangle with zero math headaches, I promise.
7. Bring a reflector or small light if you need it
If things are really dark (looking at you, late fall sessions at 4pm), don’t be afraid to use a reflector or a small LED panel to bounce some light onto your subject. You don’t need anything fancy—just enough to fill in the shadows.
I keep this one in my trunk just in case.
8. Ditch the idea of “perfect” and go with it
Some of the most genuine, storytelling images happen when things don’t go as planned. Let it be real. Let it be playful. Embrace movement, wind, a little drizzle—whatever the day gives you. Cloudy skies might not scream Pinterest-perfect, but they are real-life beautiful.
PS: Cloudy day photos are perfect editing practice
The soft light gives you so much flexibility to play with style, contrast, and mood. Want to get more confident in Lightroom or manual mode? These types of sessions are the best for experimenting.
Final thoughts
So yeah—don’t cancel the shoot just because it’s cloudy. Pack a cozy jacket, grab your gear, and go make some magic. Moody days are where storytelling shines.
And if you want more nerdy tips like this—or you’re finally ready to conquer your camera settings once and for all—sign up for my beginner course waitlist here. It’s going to be packed with everything I wish I knew when I was figuring all this stuff out.
Talk soon (and may your SD cards never corrupt),
Chel 💛
©Cheleana Rowan, with Cheleanamarie Photography, 2015-2025. Unauthorized use and or duplication of this material without express and written consent from Cheleana Rowan is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full clear credit is given to Cheleana Rowan with Cheleanamarie Photography with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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