The Best Time To Schedule Your Session
A lot of thought and preparation goes into a photo session; what to wear, what to bring, where to go, and most importantly… what time. The time of day you do your photo session is crucial! When of the biggest battles photographers have is the sun. We essentially play by the suns rules. The timing of where the sun is at in the sky determines how harsh or soft the lighting and shadows will be. Lighting and shadows play a big role in how your photos will turn out. Here are some things to consider which each time of day.
Early Morning: Could work if absolutely needed, but not recommended
- You have to get up earlier, which could leave little time to prepare if you sleep in, or if you have littles to get ready.
- The sun will rise fast, the higher it gets, the harsher it gets.
- Could be rather cold
- However, if needed, it’s a doable time to get your photoshoot in on a cooler morning if it’s summer time, or out of the way if you have a busy weekend/month ahead.
Afternoon: Absolutely not. This is the worst time of day to do a photo session. Why?
- Very harsh lighting
- Horrible Shadows
- Depending on the time of year it’s very hot
- Horrible lighting (I know I said it twice, that’s how bad it is!)
Evening: The best time, more specifically one hour before sunset. Why?
- Warm/soft lighting
- No harsh shadows
- Depending on time of year, it’s cooled off a bit
- Golden Hour
You might be asking “What is the ‘Golden Hour’? The Golden Hour is the best time of day to do your photo session. This is one hour before sunset. So if the sun sets at 5pm, the best time to do a photo session is 3:30pm or 4:00pm. This is when the sun is lower in the sky which creates flattering lighting situations. The light is warmer and softer, which not as harsh shadows as during the day.
My recommendation: in the evening, one hour before sunset. This is the best lighting and will have the best outcome for you photos. Take a look at some of the photos below that were captured during the ‘Golden Hour’.
Ready to book your next session? Contact me today!




