Tuesday Tip

This Tuesday's Tip was inspired by a question I received last week from a friend of mine. She asked, "When is the best time of day to take outdoor pictures/schedule sessions?" 

Typically I schedule sessions at 10 o'clock in the morning. Why? Well ... this particular time of day has so much to offer! Allow me to elaborate ;)

1. Soft Sunlight : My first concern is always the sun (the sun and I have a serious love-hate relationship). In my opinion, images look the best when they are taken in a softer light. Mornings and evenings are obviously when you can catch the sun at its best for photography purposes. Anything between 12 and 3ish is way too harsh for my liking. Although I always go straight to the shade (to prevent face shadows, squinty eyes and washed out skin tones), I usually plan for morning sessions. 

2. Happy, Well-Rested, Non-Hungry Children : From my experience as a mother, teacher and photographer, children feel their best during the morning hours. They have had a full night of sleep and have eaten breakfast- rested children who have been fed always  feel better than those who haven't. Evening sessions with children tend to be a little more challenging. Trust me ;)

3. Temperature : I find that morning temperatures are more enjoyable than evening temps, especially during the summer months in southern states. 

4. Just Enough : 10 o'clock is early enough to spend the first few minutes discussing outfits and developing a plan for the session. I'm usually shooting by 10:30. If I start shooting at 10:30 I have just enough time to get the shots I need before the sun gets too high (no bueno).

Although I prefer morning light, I want to add that evening sessions can also be great. It all depends on the client. I find that engagement sessions are nice in the evening (I plan for 5, shooting by 5:30). Evening hours set a more romantic mood. 

Below I've included 2 images. The first is from a morning maternity session and the last is from an evening wedding. I hope this helps :) Happy shooting!