What Is The Best Time To Take Portraits Outside

Like the phrase implies Golden Hour is the times of day most often painted in appealing soft and dramatic light.

What is the best time to take portraits outside. Choosing to shoot in either of these time slots will guarantee images that are delicate visually pleasing and compelling to your viewer. Believe it or not cloudy days are some of the best days to take portraits. Rather the best time depends on what you are shooting and what you hope to accomplish artistically.

These words have bellowed from my mouth a thousand times and they will surely come out a million more. What is the best camera setting for outdoor portraits. Lets say you want to make edgy portraits with low key lighting and dark shadows.

This light is the most flattering on peoples faces because the shadows become soft and diffused and warm light is flattering for all face types. This time of day produces a golden flair that will frame your subjects figure as seen in this image above. Most of my portraits are done between 120mm and 200mm.

Because of the flattering light and appealing backdrop it provides many people consider golden hour to be the best time to take photos outside. The golden hour is the best time to take portraits outdoors. Although you outdoor portraits taken with slow shutter speeds may seem sharp at first if you exam them closely on your computer or on a print you may see a lack of sharpness.

Similar to the light during golden hour the light on cloudy days is very soft and flattering. As summertime approaches and the hours of daylight increase so too do the opportunities for capturing your friends and family in excuse the pun the best light. That said sunrise sunset and twilight will likely be your best times for making great outdoor photosbut give other times of day a try as well.

The goal of this post is to answer the question. Chances are your clients will love how their photos turn out in the golden hour natural light and they will be impressed with your work. Golden hour is great for most genres of photography.