The Best Times of Day to Take the Perfect Photo
Hello there!
As you may know, my name is Taylor and I am the Creative & Content Coordinator for Peachy Keen Social! I have loved photography ever since I was in middle school and while I was growing up - I used my dad’s Nikon more than he did.
As a photographer, one of the main questions I get asked is:
What time of day is the best to go out and shoot?
To that I say:
It all depends on what mood you’re looking for!
Sure, you have your typical “golden hour” light that makes everyone look like a sun-dipped angel, but have you ever tried shooting early in the morning or even at noon when the sun is the highest? Experimenting with different lighting situations makes photography that much more fun (and in some cases, a little difficult). If you are up for a challenge or just want to take photos with different lighting scenarios, here are my favorite times of day to pick up a camera and shoot!
*disclaimer: photos taken by me unless otherwise stated!
1.) Morning Light
Obviously for this lighting situation, you are going to want to do some planning in advance (i.e., look up when sunrise is). You also will want to pick a prime location for your shot. Since you are waking up before the sun, you want to try and get the most magical photo ever (or maybe just a cool selfie). Either way, look up some areas where you think you can get the best shot of whatever you are choosing to capture! For a sunrise scenario, I usually stick with landscape photos because the way the light hits the Earth is one of the most beautiful things to see at 6 A.M. Once the sun starts to rise, you will be met with soft undertones of orange, yellow and red. As the sun continues to soar into the sky, the colors will start to grow more intense, but only for a split second up until it finally fades into a washed out hue. If you are looking to take breathtaking landscape photos, try taking them at the beginning of the day!
2.) Mid-Day Light
Noon is one of those pesky times that are really not ideal for photographers. The sun is at its peak and because of this, harsh shadows are apparent (especially when it comes to portraits). Sometimes, though, you find yourself needing to take photos during this time, so you have to make do with what you have! If you are shooting architecture or landscapes, I suggest using shadows to your advantage. When I find myself taking photos around noon (especially if faces are involved) I look to find the shadiest spot I can and place my subject there. Shade during this time is pretty ideal for portraits, but make sure you are not putting the subject under a tree or something that can reflect weird shadows onto their face. If shade under a tree is your only option, invest in a reflector and your mind will be blown! My reflector has been my saving grace all these years, especially when I am shooting in harsh light. By using the white side of the reflector, you soften any harshness that is made apparent by shadows. I got my reflector off of Amazon for really cheap, so if you are going into photography, I highly suggest getting one!
3.) Sunset or “Golden Hour”
Ah yes, a photographer’s dream lighting situation. Whether you are taking portrait’s of a friend or close-up shots of your cat, golden hour is the prime time to shoot anything and everything. The reason why this is such a coveted shoot time is because the harshness of the sun is dwindling down, which in turn creates a soft, magical light situation that can make any ordinary photo stand out. Golden hour is one of the only times you can face towards or away from the sun and look good in either direction. With that being said, though, if you want your subject to look like a literal beam of light, place them with their body facing away from the sun and towards you. The light will encompass your subject in a golden halo, and you will pat yourself on the back for taking such a magnificent image. You can never go wrong with shooting during golden hour, just make sure you give yourself enough time depending on the time of year!
Photography is super fun and even though there are “rules” to shooting, they should definitely be broken! Experiment with different lighting settings, subjects, lenses and props and just have fun with it!
Photo by Peachy Keen Social
Photo by Peachy Keen Social
