What Does the Time of Day Mean for Your Photo Session?
Golden Hour vs. Full Sun
If you’ve ever booked (or thought about booking) a photo session, chances are you’ve heard the term “golden hour” tossed around. It’s that dreamy, glowy light that happens shortly after sunrise or just before sunset—basically, photographer heaven.
But is it really the only good time to shoot? And what happens if golden hour doesn’t show up?
The Wildcard otherwise known as the sun
The number one thing I want you to know is this: the weather, and more specifically the sun, is totally unpredictable. We can plan for that beautiful golden light and end up with clouds. We can schedule a mid-day session and get full shade instead. Mother Nature keeps us on our toes, always.
As an experienced photographer, I'm completely comfortable shooting in all lighting situations. The key is to go into your session with realistic expectations about how the light might look and what kind of look it can create.
Golden Hour – The Classic Favorite
There’s a reason golden hour is so popular. For so long it has been nearly the onlyyyy time a lot of photographers have been promoted—it’s soft, warm, and is so flattering.
However, golden hour typically means later evening sessions, especially in the spring and summer, sometimes easily going into 8pm. For families with young kids, that can sometimes feel a little daunting. I completely get it—as a mom of two little ones myself, I know how valuable bedtime routines are. As mama’s the evenings once the kids go to bed is sometimes the only time we get alone is after bedtime, before we crash ourselves.
If you're really wanting that golden hour glow and your kids can swing a later evening just this once—it can totally be worth it. We can make it fun, fast, and relaxed so no one's melting down by the end (including you , or dad!).
Full Sun – Sometimes very Underrated
A lot of people shy away from mid-day sessions because of the bright sun—but it can actually be really fun! Full sun lets us play with dramatic shadows and interesting light. Plus, many locations have beautiful pockets of shade that still allow for light to peak through.
The trickiest part of full sun? Avoiding squinty eyes from looking directly into the sun. But don’t worry—I know how to work around it. We’ll move, shift, and find the best angles so that no one is staring into the light and wishing they brought sunglasses.
What time is best for you?
It really comes down to the vibe you’re going for and what works best for your family. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Golden Hour: Soft, warm, romantic. Best for dreamy, glow-filled images.
Mid-day / Full Sun: Bright, bold, energetic. Great for adventurous families or those with tight evening schedules.
Cloudy Day: A hidden gem in my opinion. No shadows, no squinting, just lovely neutral tones. While these can’t really be scheduled, I am usually NEVER one to reschedule due to clouds because the cloudy days can make the most wonderful session!
At the end of the day (pun intended 😉), every type of light has its own beauty. I will always make the most of whatever light we are given —so you can relax and enjoy the experience, love your family and get photos that you are able to look back on in the years to come!