Maternity Portraits at Sunset WITHOUT Flash Photography | Canon R6 Mark II

Today, I’m shooting without flash, no assistant, and not even a reflector. It’s just me, my Canon R6 Mark II, and a couple of lenses: the 28-70mm and 135mm. I’m going to share some key camera settings, a secret trick, and editing tips that might just surprise you. And yes, there’s a little freebie waiting for you at the end, so stick around!

Step 1: The Canon Secret

First things first, let’s talk about a small but powerful secret I use for sunset shots. It’s not just about editing—though that’s crucial—it’s also about getting things right in-camera. I’m using the Canon R6 Mark II, and here’s where the magic happens: head over to the menu, navigate to the red camera setting (red camera number two), and find ‘Highlight Tone Priority.’ I like to set it to ‘Enhanced’ because I know I’m shooting with the sunset in mind.

What Highlight Tone Priority does is tell the camera to capture as much detail in the highlights as possible. This feature helps in retaining those beautiful colors in the sky and the soft light on the subject’s face. One thing to note: with Highlight Tone Priority enabled, you won’t be able to drop below ISO 200, but trust me, it’s a small price to pay for the results.

Step 2: Let the Shoot Begin

Now that we’re all set up, it’s time to get shooting. One of the things I love most about maternity sessions is the opportunity to capture those tender moments, like when a mom-to-be gazes down at her belly or when she’s playing with her hair while smiling softly. These moments are what make maternity sessions so special.

During this session, I guide my client to create gentle poses that highlight her beautiful form. I often ask her to play with her fingers as if she’s playing a piano, or to move her hair with a light touch. This helps create separation between her arms and body, which is key for flattering angles.

As we move through different poses, I’m constantly adjusting my composition to include as much of the sunset as possible. The warm glow of the setting sun adds a dreamy atmosphere that enhances the overall feel of the photos. Even without flash, you can capture the beauty of the scene by focusing on natural light and carefully framing your shots.

Step 3: Editing – Bringing It All Together

Now, let’s talk about editing. When you first see these photos straight out of the camera, they might look a bit underexposed, or the lighting might seem off. But don’t panic—this is all part of the process.

The goal during the shoot was to capture as much detail as possible in both the highlights and shadows, which sometimes means underexposing the subject a bit to keep the sky from blowing out. In post-processing, I’ll bring those details back to life.

If I had exposed for the skin tones and my subject, the sky would have been completely blown out, losing all that beautiful detail. Instead, by exposing for the highlights, I preserved the sky and can now enhance it during editing.

Using Lightroom, I start with adjusting the overall color tone to match the mood I’m aiming for. I usually warm up the image slightly and then move on to the adaptive presets. One of my favorites is the ‘Fiery Sky’ preset, which intensifies the sunset colors without making it look too artificial.

After applying the preset, I’ll fine-tune the colors, saturation, and contrast until I’m happy with the result. The beauty of shooting this way is that all the details are already in the photo; it’s just a matter of bringing them out through careful editing.

Final Thoughts & A Special Freebie

By following these steps—using Highlight Tone Priority, shooting with intention, and carefully editing—you can create stunning maternity portraits at sunset without needing any additional lighting. It’s all about understanding how to work with the light you have and enhancing it in post.

Now, as promised, here’s a little freebie for you: I’ve put together a preset that I use specifically for sunset maternity sessions, and I’m offering it for free to my blog readers! You can download it below and try it out on your own photos.

Remember, the key to beautiful sunset photography without flash is all in the details—both in-camera and in post. Happy shooting!