What time will your outdoor family portrait session start? | Tips from DC/MD/NOVA Family Photographer

One of the first questions I get asked after a session is booked is: “So…. what time are we doing the session?” To be honest, the answer depends on a few factors that we decide at booking, including your location, date, and what time of day works best for your family. From there, we decide what time to meet and begin your session. Today, I wanted to discuss what to consider and how to choose your family portrait session time with your photographer!  

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Session Time

When determining what time your session will be, it’s important to consider the typography of the location we’ve picked. For example, if we’re somewhere like a park with lots of trees to diffuse the glow of the sun, we can start later. But, if we’re in a city with taller buildings, we’d want more light – so it wouldn’t be close to sunrise or sunset to start our session. Knowing where we’re shooting is really the defining factor of what time we’ll start. Of course, not only does the physical space matter, but how busy that spot is will also impact what time we should be there. For my sessions in DC, I almost always begin at sunrise because it’s the best way to beat the crowds… and the morning glow is amazing! 

Exceptions to the Rule…

As with everything, there’s always exceptions. Like I mentioned with DC, certain spots are all about truly just beating the crowds. There’s also places, like the beach, where I always shoot at the true golden hour because we get the most beautiful skies. One of the reasons people book beach sessions is for the sky so we want to be sure we capture that during your session! 

An unpopular opinion… 

It’s common to hear photographers talk about having to shoot during “golden hour” which is right at sunset or sunrise, but the truth is, you don’t have to shoot then at all. Personally, I actually like shooting a little before sunset and a bit after it in the mornings for clearer skin tones. It’s an unpopular opinion for sure, but it works for me and my clients! This means we may miss the actual sunset but you’ll get my signature style and edit in the final images because I follow what works best based on locations! 

So there you have it! The time of your session really depends on where we’re going to be working, the actual topography, and your family’s needs. To find more tips about planning your family’s session, look HERE and HERE!