Hey everyone,

I've been trying to shoot some portraits with strong backlighting (usually during golden hour), but I keep running into the same issue: either my subject ends up underexposed or the background gets totally blown out. I’ve tried spot metering on the face and using reflectors, but the results are still inconsistent.

I’m shooting with a Sony A6400 and usually use a 50mm f/1.8 lens. I prefer natural light but am open to using minimal gear if it helps preserve the atmosphere.

How do you handle exposure and focus when shooting directly into the sun or with very strong backlight? Do you use fill flash, HDR techniques, or something else entirely?

Would love to hear what works for you—thanks in advance! golf hit