The time of day can make a world of difference in the feel and quality of your photos. For the most dreamy, soft lighting, shooting at the right time is essential, especially if you’re looking to capture natural beauty in all its warm and glowing detail. Let’s dive into the details so you can pick the perfect time to shoot and know how to adjust if weather conditions change.
Golden Hour: We've all heard of it. So what is it?
Golden hour—typically the hour just after sunrise or before sunset—is renowned among photographers for a reason. During this time, the sun is low in the sky, casting a warm and soft light that creates gentle shadows, natural highlights, and a beautiful glow that flatters skin tones and brings warmth to any scene. This effect is especially stunning on clear evenings, giving your photos a timeless and cinematic quality.
A perfect example of golden hour sunlight is Ruthie and Michael’s wedding at Marina Beach in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Their ceremony was perfectly planned and captured right during golden hour. The warm sunlight kissed the waters of the Riviera Marina Beach and lit up the mountains, creating a beautiful natural glow that highlighted every detail of their special day. This kind of light is perfect for intimate moments and dreamy outdoor settings, offering a soft, flattering touch to any scene.
Adjusting for Cloudy or Overcast Days
Cloudy days create a completely different lighting environment and require a bit of adjustment. Clouds act as natural diffusers, scattering light evenly, which can be beautiful for photos since it eliminates harsh shadows. However, because sunlight is diffused, cloudy conditions generally make the light softer but less vibrant, reducing that golden warmth.
If you’re planning a shoot on an overcast day, it’s usually best to move your photoshoot up slightly—earlier in the evening or later in the morning—to take advantage of what sunlight you do have. This helps prevent your photos from looking too dark or flat, especially as the day progresses and the light begins to fade.
Lesly Blignaut's graduation photos are a perfect example of overcast lighting. We had to adjust her shoot time to earlier in the day because the weather had been unpredictable in Rexburg, Idaho (anyone who's lived there will absolutely understand.) If you look to the bottom of her gown and near her shoes, you'll be able to see how soft and diffused the light is because of the clouds. As long as it's not rainy or windy, even and overcast lighting is definitely an advantage if you want some soft, diffused lighting for your portraits.
Why I Avoid Midday Light
Midday light can be challenging for portraits due to its harshness and tendency to create strong shadows. As a portrait photographer, I typically avoid scheduling shoots at midday altogether. However, if an event requires midday coverage, I look for shaded areas to provide more even light and select angles that minimize facial shadows. While midday has its uses in certain situations, I find golden hour much better suited for achieving the soft, flattering light that enhances every portrait.
Planning Around Seasonal Light Changes
The time of golden hour changes with the seasons. In the summer, the sun sets later, giving you a longer window to work with. In winter, golden hour comes earlier in the afternoon. Checking sunrise and sunset times can help you plan, ensuring you arrive at the best time for your location and the look you want.
Tips for Maximizing Your Photoshoot Lighting
- Arrive Early: This gives you time to get comfortable with the setting and observe how the light changes.
- Consider Your Shooting Direction: Positioning your subject with the light at an angle rather than facing directly into it allows for better depth and richness in golden hour lighting. This also avoids straining their eyes, which can make it hard for them to relax naturally.
- Watch the Weather: Planning around weather is key to adapting. You can still create gorgeous images on cloudy days with the right adjustments to timing.
By choosing the right time and being mindful of lighting, you’ll be able to capture photos that feel timeless and radiant!