The Best Times of Day for Portraits
As a photographer, creating the perfect portrait for you is my priority, whether it be for a wedding portrait, family portrait, or senior portrait. One factor that plays a crucial role in the quality of your portrait is the time of day that you schedule your session. Different times of the day bring different lighting conditions that can affect the mood, color, and overall feel of your photos. Below is my advice for helping you choose the best time of day for your portraits!
“Golden Hour”
Golden hour is the time just before sunset or just after sunrise, lasting approximately 45 minutes to an hour, when the sun is low in the sky and casts a warm, golden light. You can avoid harsh light and shadows, and you usually don’t have to worry about people squinting. This time of day is ideal for portraits with a soft, warm, and/or romantic lighting.
Even though they sometimes come earlier than you'd prefer, sunrise sessions on the water during the Spring/Fall when the water temperature is warmer than the air can also provide your photos a foggy, ethereal feel!
“Blue Hour”
Blue hour is the time just after sunset (dusk) or just before sunrise when the sky is illuminated with a with a soft, blue light that provides a dramatic and moody feel to photos. However, it doesn’t last long and often requires external lighting to make sure skin tones are exposed for.
Midday
Midday, the hours between 10 and 4 (or 9 to 5 during the long, summer days), is the time when the sun is directly overhead, providing bright (and often harsh) lighting conditions. This type of lighting is not ideal for most portrait photography, as it produces harsh shadows, washed-out colors, and squinting. However, if there is “open shade” provided by trees or buildings, the middle of the day doesn’t have to be ruled completely out! If you are planning for a photo session during this time of the day, it’s a great idea to scout out the location beforehand to identify the spots that lend themselves to the best lighting.
Overcast
If you schedule a session and the day turns out cloudy, don’t fret! Overcast days can provide some of the best lighting conditions for photos. The clouds act like a giant softbox, providing even, diffused, and shadow-free lighting. As long as it is isn’t raining, overcast days are fantastic photo opportunities!
Night
Nighttime is not the first choice for most folks, but if you can find the right location and photographer (with the right equipment), you can create some unique, creative portraits using different lighting gels, fog, and flash!
In conclusion, the best time of day for taking photos depends on the type of photo you want to capture and the mood you want to convey. Understanding the different lighting conditions provided by different times of day at your preferred location and a discussion with your photographer about your vision will allow you to choose the best time for your portrait session!
The portraits above were taken at five different times of day and in different lighting conditions (described below in order from left to right).
Just after sunrise.
Right at noon, but thankfully, I met with Stuart the day before to scout out the area and help him find a spot that was next to a treeline so that the lighting wouldn’t be so harsh! (The trees also provided me a great place to hide so that I could catch the moment when he proposed!)
An overcast afternoon.
“Golden Hour,” just before sunset.
After the sun set, using 2 flashes and a fog machine.
Kimberly Cauble is a teacher and wedding & portrait photographer in the Charlotte, NC area who has been photographing families, seniors, and weddings for over ten years. She loves capturing special moments and educating others about the joy of photography!