Practical Tips to Elevate Your Photography on a Cloudy Day

BySteffan Updated on

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Photography on a cloudy day has a reputation for being less than ideal.

Many people assume that photographs taken on a cloudy day will not look very good.

The lack of light, lack of blue skies and gloomy conditions can make it difficult to produce a vibrant image.

Sure, photography on a cloudy can be challenging and may deliver a different type of image to the one you had in mind.

But is a cloudy day good for taking pictures?

In short, the answer is a resounding YES! 

We live in the UK, so our weather is cloudy 95% of the time.

Yet we have managed to capture some stunning images even with minimal light and a moody atmosphere!

In this blog, we will cover:

  • How to take photos in cloudy and overcast weather
  • What the best settings are for photography on cloudy and overcast days
  • Tips and tricks to create more interesting photos on cloudy and overcast days
  • Why cloudy days can produce the best work in your portfolio
  • How to edit cloudy and overcast day photos
  • How to find out what the cloud cover conditions will be on the day of your shoot

To begin, let’s define the often confused definition between a cloudy and overcast day.

An overcast day is anything about 95% cloud cover and a cloudy day can be anything above 50%. 

Photography on overcast days is completely different.

The sunlight will be completely blocked by clouds. Whereas on a cloudy day, you will have some sun shining through and this is very important.

A photograph taken on a cloudy day of a long boardwalk into the ocean with a thatched roof open palapa at the end with dark grey clouds in the sky
A burst of light comes through the clouds at sunrise
Camera Settings – ISO-125, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, 24mm

Why do Photographers prefer cloudy days?

  • They say a landscape photographer’s worst enemy is a clear blue sky. Cloud formations can be magnificent and add drama and interest to complement a dramatic landscape. Landscape photography on overcast days often creates beautiful images!
  • Midday harsh light can make shooting difficult due to extreme contrasts in light and shadow. The clouds on an overcast day can act as a giant filter for the sunlight, softening the shadows and diffusing the strong sunlight to create a more appealing aesthetic. This can allow you to shoot at midday which usually isn’t possible when the sun is too strong.
  • A break in the clouds can sometimes create a pool of light or even better a light ray which are some of the most coveted natural occurrences in cloudy weather photography.
The cobbly path from the Cwm Idwal car park bordered by orange wild grass with a foggy mountain in the background.
The path creates a leading line and a point of interest despite the overcast sky
Camera Settings – ISO-400, f/10,1/40 sec, 26mm

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Camera settings for cloudy day photography

Shooting on Auto Settings

If you’re shooting on auto settings then your camera software will choose the best settings to expose an image. 

This can be very helpful if you are unfamiliar with the manual functions of your camera. 

Unfortunately, it’s not perfect so most cameras have an exposure compensation function built in. 

This will allow you to brighten or darken an image if it’s not looking right on your viewfinder/display screen.

An ocean view in Bali at sunset with dark grey clouds and orange light. A silhouette of a temple in the distance and rocks with sea weed in the foreground.
Final rays of golden light juxtaposed against the dramatic storm clouds

Shooting in Manual Mode

If you’re shooting in manual mode, aperture or shutter priority mode then here are some tips for the best camera settings for cloudy days.

The best ISO cloudy day photography settings

Unfortunately, there is no best ISO setting for cloudy days or overcast photography. But generally, you will be working with less light on an overcast or cloudy day.

For this reason, you will need to crank up your ISO for cloudy days to compensate for the reduced ambient light.

Results can vary from camera to camera but we find that any number less than ISO 1600 will produce an acceptable image (especially now with Denoise AI).

Chichen Itza temple in Mexico - a tall grey pyramid with white clouds in the sky and green grass in the foreground
Soft white clouds add to the scene at Chichen Itza in Mexico

What shutter speed is best for cloudy days?

Generally, your shutter speed will depend on what you are taking a photo of and not the lighting conditions. If you’re shooting still subjects then a tripod will help you slow down the shutter speed without introducing a camera shake into the image.

💡What is shutter speed? Are you confused about the term shutter speed? Don’t panic! We have a simple, easy-to-read guide breaking down everything you need to know to elevate your photos using shutter speed!

Aperture Settings for cloudy day photography

If you are taking handheld photos, you will need to use a wide-open aperture to allow as much light to reach the sensor as possible. 

Our lenses are usually F2.8 and on cloudy days we will walk around with our cameras on that setting all day and only change it if there is a specific shot we’re trying to achieve.

💡What is aperture? Not sure what aperture is? Don’t worry! Check out our easy guide with simple explanations and plenty of photo examples to help you understand!

Tree and grass covered volcanos with green fields surrounding them and a dark moody cloudy sky, taken in Mexico
A pool of light landing perfectly on the subject of the photograph, the green volcano

Shooting in RAW

To make it easier for users to get a good photo out of the box, all cameras will come automatically set to take JPEG files. 

These files have a built-in edit which will add contrast, saturation etc to the image file that the camera has captured. 

The downside is that some of the data the camera captures will be lost in the process which will give limitations to how much the image can be pushed and pulled in the editing process.

The Old Man of Storr in Scotland - Giant rock formations in the distance surrounded by green grassy slopes and a body of water in the background with a foggy sky.
Using editing to emphasise the minimal light filtering through the overcast sky

Changing the format your camera takes photos in from JPEG to RAW will allow you to capture all of the image data the camera is capable of which gives you much more flexibility when editing. 

But the image straight out of the camera can appear flat and unsaturated. 

The editing process for cloudy weather photography can be as simple as opening the photo in an editing app and pressing the auto-edit button.

So even as a beginner, don’t be afraid to shoot in RAW.

Most cameras can take photos in JPEG and RAW at the same time so you can get a pre-edited JPEG file as well as a RAW file in case you want to edit it.

Green rugged cliffs with a small white lighthouse known as Neist Point in the distance surrounded by ocean. The cliffs in the foreground are covered in bright green grass.
Using layering in the photo to create interest in the absence of light due to an overcast sky

iPhone camera settings for cloudy days

Iphones are pretty exceptional at producing correctly exposed images in all lighting conditions. 

The iPhone will pre-determine the settings and also use a more advanced editing algorithm to make the best use of the camera it has. 

The pro and max models can shoot in RAW which is an unedited image file. Shooting in RAW will give you more flexibility when editing an image. 

There are also apps you can download onto your mobile which will give you full control of the camera settings and allow you to adjust the ISO, Shutter and Aperture on your phone camera and follow the tips for camera settings in this blog.

Emma peeping around a white cottage with red doors looking on at a grey mountain in the background with a cloudy sky. Long grass and a large tree are also in the scene - taken in Glencoe in Scotland.
This photograph was set up whilst we waited for a break in the clouds and luckily it came!

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A collage of six vibrant photographs capturing cultural and natural beauty. The top left showcases lush green rice terraces bathed in golden sunlight, with a mountain in the background. The top right features a baby orangutan clinging to its mother against a blurred jungle backdrop. The middle left displays a collection of colorful traditional hand fans arranged in an intricate pattern. The middle right shows people waving massive, rainbow-colored kites under a clear blue sky. The bottom left highlights terraced rice fields with rich greenery, palm trees, and soft lighting. The bottom right portrays an elderly craftsman seated at a wooden table, surrounded by intricate shadow puppets, as his work casts a silhouette on the wall.

Cloudy Day Photography Tips

1. Long-exposure photos on cloudy days

A gloomy day or overcast sky can be brought to life using an ND filter on your lens to create a slow shutter speed. 

This means that any stationary object in the photo will remain sharp while moving objects will blur which often creates cool effects that illustrate movement. 

Water will become smooth and glassy and the movement of the clouds will form elaborate patterns in the sky. 

An ocean view with colourful clouds at sunset in the sky reflecting in the water - taken on The Isle of Skye in Scotland
Cloud formations and colours are reflected in the water below

During our landscape photography trip in Scotland, we often faced cloudy and overcast weather. By using long exposures and choosing interesting compositions, we still got some very nice shots of the places we visited.

Generally, for long exposure, you will be dropping the shutter speed down to anything from 0.3 to 30 seconds. 

For these exposure times, you will need to use a tripod to keep the camera perfectly still for the duration of the shot.

Three tiered small waterfall surrounded by rocks and green fields with mountains in the background covered in fog. A photograph of Fairy Pool in Scotland.
A long exposure creates a swirling effect in the clouds circling the mountains in the background
Camera Settings – ISO 160, f/13, 8-second exposure, 24mm

2. Light Rays and Sun Rays

A break in the clouds can allow fleeting rays of golden light to filter through. 

Early morning and late evening are the best time of day to capture light rays due to the light needing to be stronger and creating too much of a disparity between light and dark for your camera to capture. 

Light rays can really bring a sense of magic and etherealness to your images.

We absolutely love them and this is one of the reasons we love photography on a cloudy day.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace in Bali - tall green rice paddies surrounded by palm trees with light rays shining down onto the scene
Whilst leaving this spot after a disappointing overcast morning, the clouds parted to make way for stunning light rays
Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/6.3, 1/320 sec, 24mm

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3. Best lens for photography on a cloudy day

Photography on a cloudy day can be as much about capturing the sky full of clouds as the land beneath it. Using the right lens can make or break your photos.

A wide-angle lens can help you capture the foreground, and midground and include the dramatic sky above.

A green field with yellow wild flowers and a lone tree in the background with a cloudy sky
Focus Stacked Image using a wide lens on a bright yet cloudy day
Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/10, 1/50 sec, 16mm

It can be tricker when it comes to photography on overcast days. 

Consider cutting the sky out completely using a telephoto lens and really focusing on your subject.

A young boy with his hands in the prayer position wearing a purple shirt on the shoulder of a man wearing an orange top with his head painted yellow. Taken at a Tamil festival.
Candid travel portrait taken during an overcast day at a festival using a telephoto lens
Camera Settings – ISO-250, f/2.8, 1/500 sec, 180mm

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4. Include a person in your photo

Cloudy weather photography can be challenging when there is no light. To liven up the scene you can use a person to bring purpose into an image. 

A great tip is to try to get your model to wear a contrasting colour to the rest of the environment to make them stand out.

Emma wearing a red skirt and white shirt with long brown hair and green hills of tea plantations and trees in the background displaying how a person can transform a photograph and make it more interesting.
The red skirt contrasts with the dark greens of the vegetation on a cloudy day
Camera Settings – ISO-640, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, 70mm

5. Light Pools

Light pools are created when the sunlight shines through large gaps in the clouds. 

These created dappled patches of light on the landscape that can be particularly stunning in the early morning, highlighting certain areas and darkening others. 

It creates stunning soft contrasting patches of light in the early hours and this is why we love photography on a cloudy day the most!

A hilly green landscape of trees and fields with both shadows and light created by a cloudy sky. Taken from a high vantage point looking down into the valley of farmland and fields.
Highlighted patches of green grass in this high-contrast photo
Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/14, 1/160 sec, 45mm

6. Cloud reflections 

Another way to make the best of photography on a cloudy day is to find a lake or water feature to reflect the sky. 

Llynnau Mymbyr is one of the most beautiful photo spots you can visit in North Wales.

Even though we didn’t get the light we wanted that morning, we got a pretty nice shot of the reflected clouds in the lake. 

You can easily create a well-balanced image because the sky will be perfectly reflected in the water.

To create a perfect reflection even on the windiest day use an ND filter to smooth out the water and make it look like a sheet of dark blue glass.

Large lake surrounded by mountains with a reflection of the clouds in the lake and a grey rock in the foreground.
Cloudy sky reflected in the lake below
Focus Stacked Image – Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/8, 4 seconds, 35mm

7. Can you get a golden hour on a cloudy day?

You may be thinking that if it’s cloudy then golden hour shots will be practically impossible. 

When we visited one of the photography spots on the Isle of Skye, driving there at 5 am in the rain we thought it was all over. 

Luckily we caught the sun bursting through a gap in the clouds whilst photographing these mountains which is one of our best landscape shots to date!

The sun rising over green jagged rocky mountains with grey clouds in the sky and a grey winding road through the mountains. Taken on the Isle of Skye to demonstrate how a few moments of light can transform a photo,
An unexpected ray of light coming through the storm clouds during the golden ten minutes
Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/16, 1/13 sec, 35mm

If you have chosen to visit a coastal photography spot, then golden hour on a cloudy day can present some amazing photo opportunities. 

We like to call it the golden ten minutes, this is the time when the sun has risen and is between the clouds and the horizon.

On days like this, it is very important to plan your shot and get yourself in position while it’s still dark, ready for that brief period, the images you will capture will be some of your best!

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8. Try monochrome photography on a cloudy day

Although when shooting your camera will capture images in colour, when you come to edit try clicking the Monochrome option in the photo editor. 

A black and white image of rolling hills and fields with a fence running across the image - Scotland
A black-and-white image can still create a dramatic shot

Black and white photography can allow you to focus more on light contrast, textures and shapes. 

It’s also a good method to get reasonable images even when the weather conditions aren’t in your favour.

A white and gret building framed by a round arch way with steps leading up to it. Portmeirion in Wales.
An image focusing on textures, contrast and shapes
Camera Settings – ISO-100, f/3.2, 1/640 sec, 50mm

9. Focus on Colour Contrast

Can you still get good outdoor photos on a cloudy day? Of course, you can.

Just remove the cloudy day from the equation!

On a cold grey afternoon, visiting different photo spots in Snowdonia National Park, we stumbled across a beautiful waterfall which was too good not to shoot.

So I got Emma to put on her bright red raincoat and stand in the midground of the scene and we got some really nice waterfall photographs.

Emma in a bright red coat and black trousers looking at a waterfall surrounded by mossy covered rocks and walls - Dolgoch Falls
Emma’s bright red coat contrasted against the yellow greens of the moss surrounding the waterfall
Camera Settings – ISO-640, f/8 1/80 sec, 30mm

When there isn’t much contrast in the light then you can either look for or create your own contrasting colours in an image.

If you’ve forgotten your brightly coloured raincoat then fear not. As long as you can find vibrant colours you will still be able to produce something spectacular. 

This can be particularly useful in the Autumn when there are colours everywhere.

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10. Waiting for the right moment

Patience is a virtue and this is especially true in regards to cloudy day photography.

We have been in situations where we have seen a spot of light or a break in the clouds in the distance and prayed that it would come our way.

Whether the light comes your way or not is down to chance and as Forest Gump would say,

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get”

Photography is all about being in the right place at the right time and a perfect pool of light radiating down on your subject is likely to be one of your best photos of the year.

It’s always worth waiting a little longer.

A beige mansion building surrounded by dark green trees in the distance with a body of water in the foreground.
Duncraig Castle on a cloudy day in Scotland

How to edit cloudy day or overcast day photos?

Adjusting Colours

The same rules apply to editing photos from your mobile or camera. 

Just be aware that if you have not shot your images in RAW format, you can only make slight adjustments to the editing sliders in your photo editing app.

Generally with photography on a cloudy day, your photos will come out with a cold hue (who would have thought it?)

An ocean view with sea weed and pebbles in the foreground and a bay of water with mountains in the background. A small colourful rainbow is present through the cloudy sky.
A colourful rainbow adds life to a cloudy scene on The Isle of Skye

Adjusting the temperature slider in your photo editor towards the yellow/warm side will neutralise the colours and take the blue tinge out of the whites. 

Going a step further you can use the saturation slider and reduce the blues further to change the sky to the grey colour that your eye sees. 

We always reduce the luminance in the blues too, this is an easy way to get some contrast in the clouds.

An orange sweeping driveway lined with dark green hedges with a manor house in the distance. Dark grey clouds in the background.
A dramatic cloudy sky makes for a scenic backdrop

Sky Replacement

We couldn’t write about cloudy weather photography without mentioning the controversial topic of sky replacement. 

This is a feature within adobe photoshop that allows you to use AI to identify and replace the sky in an image.

Landscape photography on overcast days can be pretty boring and even disastrous if you’ve put a lot of effort and money into a photography trip. 

There’s nothing worse than driving for hours to a landscape photography spot that you can only realistically visit once only to be faced with a completely lifeless grey sky.

Two identical photographs side by side of a white lighthouse in Wales with a path running up to it with Emma in a red coat walking up the path. Set on a green hill. One has a blue sky and one has a cloudy sky to show the difference sky replacement can make to a photo.

As professional travel photographers, we (and many others) occasionally use sky replacement. Some sky replacements can be more deceptive than others. 

We tend to only use similar types of skies to create a more interesting photo rather than applying a dramatic sunset to an overcast day.

Still water shot with rolling mountains in the background and a small white cottage in the middle of the scene surrounded by tall green trees.
A long exposure photograph taken on an overcast day at Loch Lomond in Scotland

How to check the weather and cloud cover before you shoot

Accuweather

We always use the Accuweather website to check cloud cover. 

Accuweather gives hourly reports of the cloud cover up to three days in advance. However, we find it best to check again the day before, in case anything has changed. 

If you see there is 50% cloud cover and you’re out to shoot the next day then you know that good things are coming your way! 

If you see it’s 95% cloud cover then maybe skip sunrise and enjoy a couple extra hours in bed before rocking up around 10 am for the filtered midday light.

Single tree in middle of the lake with green mountains in the background and a cloudy grey sky
The Lonely Tree in Snowdonia National Park on an overcast morning

Questions about Cloudy Day Photography

Can you take pictures on a cloudy day?

Yes, you can. Cloudy days can present some of the best photographic opportunities.

Do photographers prefer cloudy days? 

Yes! If you’re shooting anything with a sky in it then photography on a cloudy day is much more appealing than photography on a clear day.

A small stream running through green marsh land with mountains in the background and a cloudy sky
A dramatic Glencoe in Scotland on a cloudy day with pools of highlighting the mountains in the backgroud

What to photograph on a cloudy day?

Dramatic landscape shots particularly lend themselves to cloudy days. 

However, portrait and street photography do tend to require some light to prevent the images from looking flat and lifeless.

Are cloudy days good for photography?

Photography on a cloudy day when shooting landscapes often creates dramatic and stunning images that are impossible to create in a cloudless sky.

Making use of sun rays, light pools and shadows can create moody images with bags of atmosphere.

Mountain in the background with a foggy cloud above and green marsh lands with tall dark green hedges There are lots of white rocks scattered around and small wooden bridge in the fields as well as small bodies of water.
Glencoe in Scotland on a cloudy day

Are overcast days good for photography?

Landscape photography on overcast days can be challenging.

One benefit is that at midday there can be enough light coming through the clouds which allows you to shoot at times that otherwise would be impossible.

Portland Bill lighthouse which is red and white striped lighthouse shot at sunset with grass in the foreground next to a large white building with grey skys and orange light shining through
The setting sun projects colours across the clouds

Final thoughts on Photography on a cloudy day

Photography on a cloudy day can be spectacular. Whether you’ve caught the sun bursting through thick rain clouds in the golden hour (or ten minutes). 

Or a momentary break has sent a golden ray of light directly onto the subject of your photo. 

You will find that your cloudy day photos are often the most dramatic and who doesn’t love a bit of drama!

Photography on an overcast day will likely be less inspiring. But there is always a chance of a good photo and these days can also be used to practice. 

Just remember, if you’ve planned a perfect sunrise shot and the cloud cover is 100% you may want to spend the morning in bed sipping coffee and planning for your next outing instead.

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Steffan, a bearded man with long, curly hair tied back, stands on a white wooden bridge holding a professional camera with a large lens. He wears a blue and green insulated jacket, a yellow bandana around his neck, and carries a black backpack with photography gear. Behind him, colorful houses in shades of pink, green, and blue are built on a hillside, with bright natural light casting a warm glow on the scene.

I’m Steffan, the founder of InWanderment, a travel and photography blog dedicated to sharing my experiences and insights from around the world.

I’m a self-taught photographer with a passion for helping others explore the outdoors through photography. My goal is to make capturing the beauty of nature feel accessible to everyone — whether you’re shooting with a professional camera or just your phone.

Now back in the UK after 18 months of travel across Asia, I’m focusing on creating new content, editing thousands of photos, and sharing everything I’ve learned along the way to inspire others to get outside and start shooting.