Best Time of Day for Outdoor Family Photos
Calgary Family Photographer | Outdoor Family Photography
Our incredible city of Calgary and our surrounding communities offer numerous unique and picturesque outdoor locations to take stunning outdoor family portraits of your family! Whether we stay in the heart of the bustling downtown core, head to one of the many incredible parks our city has to offer such as Reader Rock Garden or Riley Park, or take a quick drive out to the mountains, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. With all that being said, there are still optimal times of day to have your outdoor family photos taken that will produce family photos that you will fall in love with!
Is early in the morning the best time of day for outdoor family photos?
Some benefits of scheduling outdoor family photoshoots during the early morning hours just after sunrise is that the light is similar to the golden hour just before sunset! The light during and post sunrise is also soft and diffused, creating a flattering glow that minimizes harsh shadows. This soft light can enhance skin tones and create a warm, inviting atmosphere in your photos. Just like later in the evening, early mornings are typically quieter and more peaceful, with fewer people around and have less ambient noise which can also be preferred if you are including family pets into the outdoor family session. This serene atmosphere can help everyone participating in the outdoor family photo shoot to feel relaxed and comfortable during the family photo session, resulting in more natural and authentic expressions in your family pictures. Sunrise also tends to bring out the color tones in stunning landscapes and create dramatic skies, especially if you're shooting in natural settings such as parks, beaches, or mountains. The changing colors of the sky and the soft, golden light can create breathtaking backdrops for your family photos. Scheduling a family photoshoot at sunrise can be a wonderful way to start the day together as a family. It's a special opportunity to bond, enjoy the beauty of nature, and create lasting memories that you'll cherish for years to come.
Is the evening the best time to have photos taken outdoors?
There are several benefits to scheduling outdoor family photos in Calgary just before sunset. The light in the evening is softer and warmer, which creates a flattering glow and minimizes harsh shadows. This soft light can make skin tones appear smoother and more even, resulting in beautiful, natural-looking family photos. Since many people prefer to schedule outdoor activities earlier in the day, you're likely to encounter fewer crowds and distractions during a family photo shoot at golden hour. This will allow you and your family to relax more in front of the camera and enjoy the outdoor family photo session without worrying about other people getting in the way or being a distraction. By scheduling your Calgary family photo session outdoors just before sunset, you can also avoid the heat of the midday sun, especially during those warmer summer months. The cooler temperatures and softer light can make the experience more comfortable for everyone involved, especially if you have young children or elderly family members that have a harder time with the heat.
So when is the best time of day to have your outdoor family photos taken?
Truly, you cannot go wrong with either of the above options! The best time of day for outdoor family photography is during what family photographers call the "golden hours," which occur about 90 minutes before sunset and 90 minutes after sunrise. During this magical time, the sunlight is softer and therefore creates a warm and flattering glow that enhances the colors and textures in your outdoor family photos. This softer light reduces the harsh shadows that are more apparent when your family photos are taken mid-day and having the sun lower in the sky also helps to avoid squinting, which can result in more uncomfortable and unnatural-looking family portraits. Additionally, the golden hours provide a beautiful backdrop with warm tones throughout the location where you have decided to have your outdoor family pictures taken that help to complement your family's clothing choices and add a touch of magic to your photos.
From June until September the sun in Calgary can set quite late meaning that a family photo shoot in the evening might not have a start time until around 8:00pm. If scheduling around these later evening sessions is challenging or you have young children that are usually in bed fast asleep by that time, I will usually recommend the early morning session option instead. Because the sun at this time in the morning is still low on the horizon, we are still working with beautiful soft light with little to no harsh shadows. Most young children under the age of five are often early risers and ready to start their day first thing in the morning. This can make for a more pleasant outdoor family photo shoot because they are well rested, fed, and ready to take on the day!
What about blue hour?
Another spectacular time to take stunning and creative outdoor family photos is during a time that professional outdoor family photographers call blue hour. It’s a magical time for capturing stunning images due to the soft, diffused light and the captivating colors in the sky. During this time, cityscapes, landscapes, and architectural features can be particularly striking against the backdrop of the blue-hued sky. The blue hour is a period of twilight just before where the sky takes on a deep blue hue with a hint of purple or indigo. It occurs when the sun is below the horizon, but its indirect sunlight still illuminates the atmosphere.
When hiring a professional family photographer to photograph your family, both early morning and late afternoon photo sessions offer ideal times for capturing outdoor photos of your family. Each time of day brings its own unique advantages, from the flattering glow and vibrant colors of sunrise to the soft, gentle light and warm tones of sunset. By carefully choosing the timing of your family photoshoot, you can create beautiful, timeless images that perfectly capture the essence of your family and the natural beauty of your surroundings. If you prefer the tranquility of dawn or the magic of dusk, the best time for outdoor family pictures is ultimately the time that works best for you and your loved ones, allowing you to enjoy a memorable and meaningful experience together.
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Jillian Faulkner is a professional portrait photographer based in Calgary, Alberta offering portrait photography sessions outdoors and in her Calgary portrait photography studio located in the SW community of Signal Hill. Jillian Faulkner Photography was established in 2010 and is an active member and Ambassador for the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers. She is also an accredited member with the Professional Photographers of Canada.