Here is my quick rundown and thoughts on best time to do your family photos with me!
What is the Best Time of Day for Family Photos?
The best time of day for family photos honestly depends on the style you’re looking for! Most of my clients prefer the golden hour look of sunset photos, but there is no right or wrong answer.
What Time of Day Gives the Best Lighting for Family Photos?
| Photoshoot Time | Lighting & Look |
|---|---|
| Sunrise | Soft, dreamy lighting that feels crisp yet hazy |
| Sunset | Warm, radiant, glowy lighting |
| Mid-day | Bright sun with the trending “flash” look |
Want soft, dreamy lighting that feels crisp yet hazy? You might want a sunrise photoshoot!
Hoping for the warm, radiant, glowy look? You’ll want to schedule a sunset photo session!
Love the bright sun with that trending “flash” look? You might want to talk to your photographer about setting up a mid-day photoshoot!
Does the Location Change the Best Time for Family Photos?
| Location Type | Best Time to Schedule | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Woods / heavily wooded areas | Earlier than typical sunset time | The sun needs to be higher to shine through the trees. |
| Mountaintops / high elevation | Later in the evening | Higher elevation usually keeps the available light longer. |
| Valleys / waterfalls surrounded by trees | Earlier | Lower areas with tree coverage lose direct light sooner. |
| Open fields / open scenery | Later | Open landscapes allow more light to reach the area as the sun gets lower. |
| Locations with tall buildings or trees | Usually earlier | Tall objects can block the sun before the actual sunset time. |
The time of day you want to schedule your photoshoot varies between locations. If you plan to be in the woods, you might want to plan for a little earlier than the typical sunset time because you’ll want that sun nice and high to shine through the trees.
You can book your session much later in the evening if you’ll be doing your photos on a mountaintop. The higher you are in elevation, the later you can schedule your photoshoot for. Also consider if there is anything tall-standing in the background as that plays a part (think buildings or trees).
The lower on the ground and covered by trees (think waterfalls tucked in a valley), the earlier you’ll want to schedule your session for.
The more your scenery opens up like a field and higher up in landscape you go, the later you can schedule your session.
This is why it’s so important to work with a photographer that truly understands lighting and scoping locations. They should be able to plan the perfect time for your photoshoot to produce the results you desire!
What Time Should I Schedule Sunset Family Photos?
| Location | Start Time Before Sunset |
|---|---|
| Beach or mountaintop | About 1 hour before sunset |
| Open field with distant trees | About 2 hours before sunset |
| Low valley or waterfall basin | About 3 hours before sunset |
| Forest or heavily wooded area | About 4 hours before sunset |
If you’re going to be in an open field with some trees in the distance, I like to shoot for about 2 hours before sunset.
If you’re going to be in a low valley or waterfall basin, I prefer to start around 3 hours before sunset.
If you’re going to be in the forest or a heavily wooded area, I aim to begin around 4 hours before sunset.
If you’re going to be at the beach or on a mountaintop, you can start as late as 1 hour before sunset for a 1 hour photoshoot.
Kelsey Freeman is an award-winning newborn, maternity and family photographer serving greater Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL. With 13+ years of experience and 160+ five-star reviews, she is known for her relaxed approach, easy posing and commitment to newborn safety. Kelsey is also an experienced photography educator who has taught and mentored more than 6,000 photographers through workshops, conferences and online education. Sessions start at $395.
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