FAQ: Why Do You Only Book Photo Sessions in the Evenings?
In the evenings during golden hour are when we get the best light for photo sessions. There are several reasons why I book my sessions during this time instead of midday. Let me show you!
Harsh Midday Light vs. Even Golden Hour Light for Photos
Harsh Light
Take a look at this photo. At first glance, it’s hard to even see Oliver because he blends into the background. Do you see that shadow line across the center his face? Even when shooting in the shade, sun can get through the tree branches causing uneven light. Tell me, what color are his eyes? Does he have stripes or are those just shadows across him? It’s hard to tell. And those reflective bright spots… you almost need sunglasses to even look at this image.
This was taken on a sunny day around 1:00PM under a pine tree.This was taken on a sunny day around 1:00PM under a pine tree.
Even Light (Golden Hour)
Now, look at this one. You can see how Oliver stands out in the photo and doesn’t blend in. There is a nice field view behind him instead of a distracting background. The light on him is even without shadows or bright spots. His colors are more vibrant and you can tell he is striped. You can also clearly see he has green eyes. The overall image looks better because he is out in the open instead of under a shade tree. (Bonus: no pine sap in the fur!)
This photo was taken during golden hour around 7:30PM on the same day out in the yard.
Which of these photos would you rather have hanging in the house of your family? Most of us are going to say the second one. This is a true representation of what Oliver looks like at this moment in time. Same goes for your family photos. You don’t want to look back on these memories and see dark faces or distracting light spots.
How Lighting Affects Your Photo Session
Photos Taken in the Shade (Not during Golden Hour)
Some will say that the images will be just as good if you take them in a large shaded area. This is true to an extent, but even large shade trees can still let light through. In my experience, clients get less images during these sessions due to hot spots and lighting issues. There is also less variety to your images because of the limited space we’re working in. Here are some examples:
At first glance these photos aren’t bad. Oliver’s eyes are clear and you can see he has some stripes.. but look at his color. His dark and light oranges blend together on his arms and back. They aren’t clearly defined. Both images look very similar because poses are limited when working in a confined space. And those distracting hot spots… theres one on his paw that sticks out, several on the ground behind him and some on the edges of the photo.
So how many of those issues can you spot in this image?
(Other than my model not looking because he was distracted by a butterfly.. haha).
There are 2 clear shades of orange stripes, no distracting background, no hot spots and a different pose setting.
Why Book Photo Sessions During Golden Hour?
Even lighting – No harsh shadows or bright spots
Vibrant, true to life colors
Natural skin tones
Less background distractions
More image variety
Better quality images to print and share
Faster turn around time due to less editing
Best Time of Day for Photo Sessions
Actual times will vary by season, but the best time for photo sessions with 1-2 hours before sunset. If evenings don’t fit your schedule, morning sessions are also available. These are scheduled within 2 hours of sunrise.
Join the Email List to get new blog posts straight to your email!
Check out my portfolio to see photos from other shoots!
