The Best Time of Day for Family Photoshoots: Golden Hour & Beyond
When it comes to family photoshoots, timing is everything. Choosing the best time of day for your photography session can make all the difference. Today I’m diving into why golden hour is considered the best time for family photos, how the lighting of different times of day can dramatically affect the look and feel of your portraits, and answer the question “what exactly is golden hour?”
Why Timing Matters in Family Photography
The lighting you choose for your photoshoot directly impacts the visual mood, tone, and quality of the images. As a luxury family photographer, I strive to create portraits that not only capture your family’s love but also showcase you in the most flattering, artistic light. By understanding how the time of day affects your family photos, you can ensure your session is tailored to produce stunning, timeless images.
What Is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun’s light is soft, warm, and diffused. The light during these times creates a magical, almost ethereal effect that adds a natural glow to your skin and gives photos a soft, inviting atmosphere.
Why is golden hour perfect for family photography?
- Soft, flattering light: The light during golden hour is diffused and warm, avoiding harsh shadows and the overexposed highlights that can come with midday sun. It’s the ideal light for capturing natural beauty, especially for outdoor professional photography portraits.
- Enhanced depth and texture: The low angle of the sun creates long shadows and highlights, which adds dimension and richness to your portraits.
- Warm tones: Golden hour light adds a beautiful, natural warmth to photos, making it perfect for creating cozy, intimate family photos.
Golden Hour vs. Midday Sun: Which is Better for Family Photos?
While the midday sun might seem like an easy option, it often results in photos with harsh shadows, overexposed skin, and squinting eyes. The midday sun (typically between 11am and 3pm) is high and direct, which creates less flattering lighting for family portraits (think: harsh under-eye shading with tricky eyelash shadows and everyone squinting even when not facing the sun).
In contrast, golden hour’s low and diffused light eliminates these issues, producing softer, more flattering images. The light during golden hour helps to avoid the unwanted “shiny face” or “squinting” effect that can happen when you’re shooting under the harsh midday sun. As a luxury family photographer, I often recommend clients book their sessions around golden hour for the best possible results.
That being said… there is certainly a time and place for midday photography sessions and as an experienced photographer, I love the creativity that can come from the challenge of direct sun – think: dramatic and intentional shadow play and seeking out locations with tree-filtered lighting. Full-sun sessions are equally beautiful, simply with a different visual mood.
How to Plan for Golden Hour Photography
If you’re planning to book an outdoor family photoshoot, here’s how to make the most of golden hour:
- Know the Time: The general rule of thumb is one to two hours before sunset / one to two hours before sunrise. The exact times vary based on the season and your location. In Iowa, sunset times and golden hour shift by as much as three hours between summer winter! Using an app or checking a weather website can help you find out exactly when the sun will be in its golden hour phase during your session – or let me know when booking that you have your heart set on golden hour and I’ll guide you from there!
- Maximize the Natural Beauty of Your Location: Golden hour often works best when you’re in a location that offers beautiful, natural backdrops like fields, beaches, parks, or forests. These areas benefit from the rich, soft lighting that golden hour provides and often offer fewer harsh shadows compared to more urban environments.
- Dress for the Light: Golden hour tends to enhance warm tones, so earthy, soft colors like creams, rusts, and pastels look particularly gorgeous in this light. Avoid bright, neon colors that might reflect harshly in the sunlight and take away from the warm tones you’re trying to highlight in your photos.
Beyond Golden Hour: Beauty In Overcast Days
Golden hour times are so specific, so it’s understandable that not everyone can make this time work for their family. For those seeking the softness of golden hour but logistically unable to make that timeframe work, it’s worth mentioning the other time of day that can deliver similar results: overcast days. If the weather isn’t perfect and the sun is hiding behind clouds, don’t worry. Overcast days actually offer some of the best lighting for family portraits because the cloud cover diffuses the sunlight, reducing harsh shadows and creating even, soft lighting across your faces.
How to Book Your Family Photography Session
If you’re ready to create beautiful, timeless portraits of your family–whether you schedule during golden hour, a sunny afternoon, or an overcast day–I’m here to help! I aim to keep your session a stress-free and enjoyable experience while ensuring I capture the best possible lighting to create heirloom art that your family can cherish for generations.
