One of the most common questions I receive from portrait session clients when booking is a pretty straightforward one, but the answer is a bit nuanced – what time of day should we schedule our session?
While there’s no single perfect answer that works for everyone, there are certain times of day that consistently provide the most flattering light for photos.
And if you’re considering booking a photo session with me, I prefer certain times of day to capture the lighting you’ll see in my images. So let’s walk through the options!
Early morning and late afternoon – the golden hours
If you’ve browsed through my portfolio, you’ve likely noticed that many of my images have a warm, golden glow with beautiful lighting – this is intentional timing, and is my preferred photography style!
For the most consistent results and that signature warm look, I recommend scheduling your session either:
🌞 Early morning (before 10am start time): When the sun is still low in the sky
🌙 Late afternoon or early evening: About 1-2 hours before the sunset
During these golden hours, the sun sits lower on the horizon – creating softer, more directional light that’s universally flattering. The light during these times has a naturally warm quality that adds beautiful dimension to photos.
The midday challenge
I don’t typically recommend sessions during the middle of the day, and there’s a good reason: when the sun is directly overhead, it can create harsh shadows on faces, particularly under the eyes, nose, and chin. This intense light can also cause squinting and create high-contrast conditions that are less flattering for most people.
That said, as a professional, I’m equipped to work in all lighting conditions. If midday is genuinely the only time that works for your schedule, we can absolutely make it work!
If we do schedule a midday session, I’ll generally recommend an urban or city background for your session (so we can take advantage of bounce lighting from sidewalks), but if you’re committed to a park or natural setting, I’ll look for:
- Shaded areas under trees or architectural features, or
- Open shade areas where you’re protected from direct sunlight but have plenty of ambient light
But what about cloudy days?
Honestly – cloudy, overcast days are a favorite for some photographers! The overcast sky provides an even light, so you don’t typically have to worry as much about squinting or weird shadows. I’ve photographed many, many sessions in cloudy, overcast, and rainy weather, and they can be just as beautiful as sunlit images.
Although I don’t have a specific preference in weather conditions – and many times, like in weddings, we don’t have a choice! – I’m always happy to reschedule our session if it lands on a cloudy day and if you’re hoping for images full of natural light.
Sometimes, different light works beautifully
While my portfolio showcases a lot of that golden, backlit style many clients love, I don’t believe in rigid rules for photography.
Some of my absolute favorite images have come from breaking conventions and playing with different light directions and qualities.
Sometimes, we might use:
- Front lighting for lovely color and detail (like in the image above!)
- Side lighting for dramatic dimension
- Dappled light through trees for creative effect
I always make sure that no matter what lighting we’re in – backlit, open shade, midday, overcast, directional – your images are intentional and thoughtfully posed and lit, and your personality and connection shine through.
And while lighting is important, real life doesn’t always align perfectly with ideal photography conditions! When planning your session, we’ll consider your schedule and availability, the age of your children (if it’s a family session) and their typical best time of day, the location and how light interacts with it at different times, and the season (sunset times vary throughout the year in Austin).
While I’ll always recommend those golden hours for the most consistent and flattering results, the most important thing is finding a time that works for you and your loved ones. As a photographer, my job is to work with whatever lighting conditions I’m handed and create beautiful images regardless.
When you book with me, we’ll discuss the best timing options for your session goals, location preferences, and practical needs. Together, we can find the perfect balance between ideal light and real-life logistics.
Ready to book your session or have more questions about timing? Let’s chat!
