So you are ready to book your outdoor photo session and a crucial question comes up…When is the best time of day for outdoor photos? Well, my short answer is…it depends. As an Austin photographer, here are the top factors I encourage my clients to consider when choosing the most suitable time for their photo session.

What is the Best Time of Day for Outdoor Photos?

If you try a simple Google search with the keywords “best time of day for outdoor photos”, the first answer that will populate are two words: Golden Hour. Now you may wonder, what exactly is golden hour? Let me explain it in simple terms along with some guidance to decide which time of day would be best suited for your family.

Meaning of Golden Hour in Photography

1. As Defined by Oxford Languages, golden hour is the period of time just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light is infused with red and gold tones.
2. In photography, it is also referred to as the “magic hour”, which would simply means the hour right before sunset and the hour right after sunrise.

Benefits of Taking Outdoor Photos at Golden Hour

The Time of Year

Let’s be honest. If you have lived in Austin for a little while, you knowhow painful being outside in the Texas summer heat can be. Can you imagine dressing up in your pretty outfits only to start sweating profusely 5 minutes into your photo session? As an Austin photographer, I think all my clients would agree that’s a big NO!

Shooting during golden hour gives you an opportunity to enjoy cooler weather. And doesn’t this sound like a much pleasant experience already? I would say so :).

Now, if you are thinking of a Fall or Winter photo session, you may be wondering if this matters as much. The answer is yes, it actually does. Keep reading to find out more.

The “Glow”

There is no denying that golden hour gives you a very special glow. The truth is you will not be able to reproduce it when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Can your photographer make some edits in Photoshop? Yes, they may be able to. Will it give you the natural, dreamy vibe that you would have achieved if you actually did have your photos taken at golden hour? Probably not.

As an Austin photographer, I exclusively shoot with a light and airy style. For that reason, golden hour is definitely my top choice! Check out my portfolio to see more of my work at golden hour.

Sunrise vs Sunset: Which One Should You Pick for Your Outdoor Photos?

At this point, we have pretty much established that golden hour is THE hour to take photos. But how do you decide whether a sunrise or sunset session is the best fit for you? As a mom of two littles (8 and 2), here is what I recommend you consider:

Sunrise Photo Session

• Families with little kids. Are you in this season of life where nap and snack time are crucial to your child’s happiness? Then this is probably for you! Most parents would agree that their littles are typically happiest when they have had a good night sleep and some food in their tummies.
• Summer time. Are you scheduling your outdoor session during a brutal Texas Summer? Then this is also probably for you! Mornings in Texas typically offer the coolest temperatures, making it an ideal choice if this is a primary concern for your family.

Sunset Photo Session

• Families with older kids. If your kids are a bit older and our of the nap stage, you now have a bit more flexibility. A sunset session may be more suitable depending on your schedule. Kids are done with school, the work day came to an end, and your evening timeline is not as restricted.
• Couples. Similarly to the comments made above, couples may prefer a fun and relaxed evening session before heading out for a dinner date. You already dressed up, so why not?!

What else should you consider?

As a light and airy photographer, there are two more things I would recommend you take into account when choosing the best time of day for outdoor photos.

The Location

Depending on where you choose to have your photos taken, the location may or may not be the best fit. As an Austin Photographer, I have a list of go-to locations that I share with each client to help them choose.

• Sunrise sessions. My favorite location for sunrise sessions in Austin, TX is Katherine Fleischer Park. The park offers lots of open shade, shielding my clients from direct sun, yet allowing for beautiful, glowing light to peek through the trees. Check out this blog post to see beautiful highlights from a morning senior session at Katherine Fleischer Park.
• Sunset sessions. This one is a no-brainer for me. Brushy Creek Lake Park for the win! Located in Cedar Park, TX, this beautiful park is a wonderful choice for a sunset session. With a huge open field of tall grass across the lake, paired with a beautiful tree line, this location never disappoints! Check out this blog post about a Fall family session at Brushy Creek Lake Park.

The Wardrobe

Ok, you may be wondering what the wardrobe has to do with choosing the best time of day for outdoor photos. No, it indeed does not directly impact your decision. Yet, it is still a crucial consideration for the overall look and feel of your photos. Keep reading to learn why.

In my style guide, I also cover how your wardrobe does matter so, so much to achieve your overall vision. Imagine that you booked a sunset session. Now you are planning for the family’s outfits and choose to go for a navy blue color palette. You want your outfits to match, so you pick a navy blue outfit for every single family member. You are excited about your golden hour session and cannot wait to see the beautiful light and airy vibe in your photos. Then you receive your final gallery from your photographer and…It’s not light and airy! Your photos look so dark and you are disappointed that your perfect vision was not achieved.

So what happened?? You see, to achieve a particular style in your photos, three pillars need to fall into place: the light (time of day matters here), the location, and the wardrobe. When one of these pillars misses the mark, chances are the style that you were hoping for will not reflect in your final images.

If you’d like more tips on how to choose the perfect outfits for your photo session, grab my free style guide here!

Let’s Find the Perfect Time for your Next Photo Session!

Prior to all my sessions, I speak with my clients to understand their vision and ensure that my work is perfectly tailored to it. This includes finding the best time of day for their outdoor (or indoor) photos based on their family needs.

Whether you choose a sunrise or sunset session, I would be so honored to create stunning images for you and your loved ones.

Let’s chat!

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