Natural light and off-camera flash solve different portrait problems. Compare their look, control, cost, and ideal conditions before you choose a setup.

Five common posing habits that leave portrait subjects looking stiff — squared shoulders, idle hands, flat feet, tense chins, and word-only direction — plus simple fixes you can apply in camera.

One window, a white board, and twenty minutes of good daylight are enough to make portraits at home that look like they came from a studio.