At Canvas Giclee Printing, we work with countless photographers who rely on giclee printing for selling photography prints as high-quality art. Over time, one element has stuck out like no other: the most popular photography employ cross lighting with the sun, a technique that enhances depth, texture, and contrast.
When used effectively, outdoor cross lighting with the sun creates visually striking images that draw in buyers, and makes outdoor photography more marketable. It also helps ensure the final piece retains its richness and detail when reproduced as a high-quality giclee.
What is Cross Lighting?
Cross lighting refers to positioning the light source — in this case, the sun — so it hits the subject from the side. This angled light enhances textures, creates dimensional shadows, and brings out details that might otherwise go unnoticed in flat lighting.
When photographers create images with cross lighting, they gain more control over contrast and visual drama, both of which appeal to clients seeking striking imagery for fine art reproduction or custom canvas prints.
How Cross Lighting Enhances Outdoor Shots for Selling Photography Prints
Cross-lighting enhances the marketability of outdoor photographs by adding depth, dimension, and visual appeal—qualities that make images more captivating to buyers. When selling photography prints, photographers need to create images that stand out and evoke emotion. Cross-lighting, which occurs when sunlight strikes the subject from the side, plays a key role in achieving this effect.
One of the main reasons cross-lit photographs sell well is their ability to create a natural sense of depth. By casting highlights on one side of the subject and shadows on the other, this lighting technique makes landscapes, architecture, and nature scenes feel more three-dimensional. This added depth draws viewers in, making the image more immersive and engaging.
Texture is another crucial factor that makes cross-lit images more marketable. Whether it’s the rugged surface of a mountain, the intricate details of tree bark, or the rough texture of a historic building, side lighting brings out these details in a way that flat lighting cannot. Buyers looking for fine art reproductions or large canvas prints often gravitate toward images with rich textures, as they add a sense of realism and artistry to a space.
Cross-lighting also enhances contrast, creating a striking interplay between light and shadow that adds drama and mood to an image. Emotionally compelling photographs tend to sell better, as they resonate with buyers on a deeper level. Sharp contrast also ensures that the final giclee print translates beautifully onto canvas, preserving the details and depth that make the image stand out.
Beyond its artistic benefits, cross-lighting lends a professional quality to photographs, making them feel more polished and gallery-worthy. Mastering light is a key skill in photography, and buyers recognize and appreciate images that showcase expert lighting techniques. At Canvas Giclee Printing, we’ve found that outdoor photographs featuring cross-lighting are among the most popular prints sold, as they not only capture the beauty of a scene but also translate exceptionally well to giclee prints and art prints on canvas.
Tips for Using Cross Lighting with the Sun
If your goal is to sell photography prints like or fine art reproductions, consider these cross-lighting techniques to capture marketable images:
Plan for Golden Hour
Cross lighting works best when the sun is low in the sky — either shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. The lower angle provides natural side lighting that enhances textures, perfect for printing on canvas.
Choose Subjects with Texture
Cross-lit images become even more dynamic when printed on textured surfaces, enhancing depth and creating a tactile quality that draws in buyers. Cross-lit images become even more dynamic when printed on textured surfaces, enhancing depth and creating a tactile quality that draws in buyers.
Balance Shadows and Highlights
Cross-lit images become even more dynamic when printed on textured surfaces, enhancing depth and creating a tactile quality that draws in buyers. Cross-lit images become even more dynamic when printed on textured surfaces, enhancing depth and creating a tactile quality that draws in buyers.
Visualize the Final Print
As you shoot, think ahead to how the image will look like as a canvas print. Cross-lit images become even more dynamic when printed on textured surfaces, enhancing depth and creating a tactile quality that draws in buyers.
Selling Photography Prints Starts with Exceptional Quality
For photographers focused on selling photography prints, offering giclee prints on canvas gives clients the opportunity to purchase high-quality, ready-to-hang artwork. Whether you’re selling through your website, at art fairs, or in galleries, large canvas prints and custom canvas prints make a strong impression — especially when your lighting techniques emphasize the natural beauty of your subject.
Ready to print your photography? We can help.
At Canvas Giclee Printing, we’re here to help you turn your beautifully lit images into stunning art prints on canvas. From large canvas photo prints to gallery wrapped canvas prints, we ensure your work stands out — giving you an edge when selling photography prints to clients who appreciate true craftsmanship.
