What Is the Best Time of Day for Family Photos?

When shooting a family photo you’ll love forever, you want everything to go perfectly. Hiring a trusted family photographer in Charlotte, NC, is a helpful first step. The professional can advise you about the best time of day for family photos.

Learn more about why your professional would suggest a certain time of day for the family photograph.

Why Time of Day Matters in Photography

While learning their craft, photographers spend a lot of time studying lighting. Having the right type of light can set the mood in a photograph while allowing certain details to pop. 

When you have soft, warm light in the photograph, it creates a glow. Many people find that this type of light flatters the skin and creates a feeling of comfort when viewing the print.

Harsh shadows from bright sunlight can generate a completely different feeling in the photograph. Most family portrait photographers try to avoid significant shadows, but it may fit well with certain themes.

Understanding the Golden Hour

When discussing the best time of day for family photos, many photographers start with the golden hour. For photography, the golden hour is the hour after sunrise or before sunset.

During this time of the day, the sun sits low in the sky. The lighting during this time generates an almost ethereal glow for the people in the photograph. Shooting during the golden hour eliminates the harshest shadows that can affect the mood of photographs.

Some clouds in the sky during the golden hour don’t negatively affect the quality of light, either.

The Morning Golden Hour

Morning sessions work nicely for finding just the right light. Because the light filters through more of the atmosphere in the sky right after sunrise, it has a pleasant softness.

For the people in the photos, this post-sunrise lighting creates a slightly reddish tint. Your photographs shot during this time will have a warmer feeling because of the red tint and golden hue.

When shooting a family portrait with beautiful landscapes as the background, the natural colors pop nicely in the morning golden hour.

You could also shoot photos just before sunrise, creating a blue tint in the light. However, this technique frequently works better for nature photography than family portraits.

Does an Evening Golden Hour Exist?

Evening sessions work nicely for family portraits, too. The evening golden hour has a similar quality of light to the morning golden hour. 

Frequently, the light in the evening will have a reddish-orange tint. This yields a feeling of warmth in the final print. 

If you decide to shoot during the evening golden hour, it’s important to arrive on time. Once the sun goes down, the session ends because of a lack of light. Sessions in the morning give you more time to shoot if needed.

Is There a Single Best Time of Day for Family Photos?

When looking for the best time of day for family photos, no one-size-fits-all option exists. Your family portrait ideas, the locations you select, and the background all play a role in determining when to shoot the photos. Lighting at certain times of the day may fit the theme of your family portrait better than at other times of the day.

Other Factors To Consider When Deciding What Time To Shoot the Family Portrait

Finding just the right lighting for your family photographs is extremely important. However, other aspects are important to consider, too. Our professional photographer can help you weigh all these decisions when seeking the ideal time to shoot the photograph.

Think About Your Family’s Personality

If you have cranky kids in the morning, the photography session might be a chore when trying to hit the morning golden hour. 

Evening sessions might not work well for a family with multiple work and recreational activities scheduled earlier in the day. You don’t want the family to be tired when they arrive to shoot the portrait.

Consider the Weather and Climate

If you have your heart set on an outdoor summer photograph, it might be helpful to avoid the hottest time of the day. Mornings can be the right choice in this case.

When shooting a photo in an area with very little windbreak, early parts of the day often have lighter breezes than the middle of the day.

Other People in the Area

If you are shooting your photograph in a Charlotte location that’s popular with the public, consider a time of the day that’s less busy. You don’t want random people wandering into your photograph or causing distractions for your kids.

Rely on Eliza Jane Photography To Make Your Family Photo Experience Perfect

Finding the best time of day for family photos is just the first step in having a great experience and result. At Eliza Jane Photography, our team can suggest the best lighting conditions and the top places for pictures in Charlotte.

We’ll help you develop the best ideas for your family photos and then put them into practice. You will have a beautiful memory of the day and a print you can cherish forever. To learn more or set up an appointment, call us today at (678) 524-4116.