Why does natural lighting make you look so much more attractive?

Question

I feel like people in general look so much better in natural lighting; like outside in the sun or by a window. Why is that? *this picture as an example

Massageman · Accepted Answer

A couple of reasons-
1. There is natural dispersion/reflection of light in the atmosphere, in fact, that is why our sky is "blue". With this dispersed light, the face is "modeled" (shapes are revealed) more subtly, much in the way that "fill light" is used to soften up the "main light" in studio photography. The fill helps to cut the harshness of the direct lighting. This happens each fall, naturally, from sunlight. When the sun is high in the sky, lighting is very "flat" and harsh. When fall comes and the sun tracks increasingly lower in the sky, you'll notice that shadows lengthen, and objects- and especially our faces- show more of a depth and dimension than with the flatter light of summer. (People who live near the equator will always have flat light since the sun is always directly overhead.)

Model's face is enhanced with the use of fill-light to give more natural look.

2. The picture you show was likely shot late in the day. As the sun sets, the sunlight is traveling through more atmosphere. This has a tendency to allow more of the red end of the spectrum to show through than the blue end, and for just about everyone except a vampire, the result is a much more attractive rendering of their skin tones. This effect is used in restaurants, especially "romantic" ones where "warmer" light bulbs are used: they want customers to see each other in an enhancing light. It makes them happy and happy, content people spend more money. :- ) Food stores also use this effect in the where "warmer" bulbs- sometimes even PINK bulbs- are used over the meat department cases to make those graying steaks keep looking reddish. (Go ahead - check it out the next time you are shopping.)

SixFootSexy · Accepted Answer

Natural lighting is what our eyes are accustomed to. Golden hour light, when the sun is near the horizon and dust and dawn creates the most flattering light on people (like your example image) because it's coming across the face and not creating dark shadows on the eyes such as when the sun is directly overhead.

Nearly all artificial lighting can't actually create a perfect 100% full white, so certain colors and skin tones will not look correct to our eyes, and may look even a little green or sickly depending on how mismatched the spectrum of light is, which will typically show up as a green or magenta spike when measured with a color spectrometer.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I don't know why you have that preference :D.. but it is obviously very different so not weird you see a clear difference.
Also when non-professionals take photos inside the light will normally not be well distributed. In a photo studio they have control of the light and make sure it looks nice.

tatianamay · Accepted Answer

Ah welp, i look like crap in pictures regardless of the lighting 😂 Phone cameras are the worst. I look better in the mirror

DJB72 · Answer

Artificial light produces a very "flat" image most of the time. The result is an image that can resemble an arrest mug shot.

Natural light produces a softer image and brings out natural highlights in skin and hair. Part of the issue is the distance between the subject and the light source. I guess if you can put your flash 67 million miles away from the subject then it's possible for you to get as good a picture as you get from the sun...

t-8900 · Answer

depends on the girl. i've seen some scary marys out there who looked amazing under dim light... or with a jug of wine in my belly XD

Shamiah02 · Answer

Because it's just nature. We suppose to be natural so natural light makes us look out best

ohshee · Answer

For me natural is just more beautiful that's all there is to it just because you're out in the sunlight out in the fresh air and this beautiful

Lionking09 · Answer

We are supposed to be in daylight by our evolution, so our vision is adapted to sun light. Lamps don't have the full color spectrum of sun light, so it's not complete.

Wester1967 · Answer

Everything natural is more attractive. That's how humanity survived 100,000 years. That's why Brittany Renner looks like a damn ghoul all the time.

Anonymous · Answer

She just looks like her face is wet. I can almost guarantee that I would find her more attractive in a normal setting without trying to pose for a camera.

On_cloud_wine · Answer

I look better in black and white and shades of gray

TexasRed95 · Answer

Because you have shadows on your face. Indoor lighting typically removes shadows and makes your features less noticeable. Especially if you have a lot of indoor lights.

sensible27 · Answer

Because it presumably imitates what they'd look like generally when you see them maybe,?

Guanfei · Answer

Because it's natural. Aka not fake. What people like isn't the lighting itself, it's that it's natural. They know when it's fake and they don't like it.

FTnWo · Answer

I don't know, but is it just me or do females look more attractive in colder weather?

CamembertAnus · Answer

Maybe it's like with nature sounds, which tend to feel less stressful than e. g. city sounds. We haven't really evolved to like artificial lighting, whereas the sun has been around throughout our evolutionary history.

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Because that is the way we were meant to be. We all need to get back to nature. It will be better for us, and better for the planet.

Babygirl_S · Answer

Artificial light can make the skin look too white and natural light adds some colour. Eye colour also looks more vivid.

king-dom1 · Answer

I've always preferred women without makeup, it shows your comfterble with yourself and you make me look good too lol

FinalFantasyBro · Answer

It probably a way to showcase how beautiful a person could realistically be.

Fearlessegale · Answer

Because it makes the person feel you know how to take pictures and that your real.

LegendaryIcon · Answer

I'm not exactly sure. Might want to ask a professional photographer

Duskydarkie · Answer

I have no sense of photography but she is literally glowing 😇

Dinklex3 · Answer

No clue, But my skin literally glows.

CoolGuy7532 · Answer

It is due to better shading of the skin.

FilmGuy93 · Answer

Because god intended us to be outside

Frimpemmanuel · Answer

Simple. God does it best.

Wise4myage · Answer

Because it shows the real you?

Morgador · Answer

I don't know but she's gorgeous

msc545 · Answer

It doesn't reveal the flaws

malwins · Answer

I look better with flashlight

Anonymous · Answer

Camera does its magic

EaterPeter · Answer

Coz it's natural.

Joker_ · Answer

sha dows

Anonymous · Answer

But you're really ugly

Why does natural lighting make you look so much more attractive?

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Why does natural lighting make you look so much more attractive?

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