Photography is all about lighting. And when shooting outdoors there is one light to rule them all--the sun. Sunlight can be one of the most useful and yet the most annoying light of all. However, it all depends on the time of the shoot! Most humans are out and about during the middle of the day. That time right between sleep cycles. But for photography, the best times to shoot are either right before dawn or right before sunset. Let’s dive a little deeper.
The Magic Hour. It’s not just a phrase, it’s an actual term. Golden Time of Day (by Franky Beverley and Maze) isn’t just a song, it’s a real thing. Shooting closer to Golden Hour provides a number of benefits. The sun is lower in the sky and essentially closer. This provides softer light and long shadows that don’t fall on the face as much. It also provides for better dynamic range. In other words, there will tend to be less overly bright spots and and deep shadows.
The opposite of course is shooting during the middle of the day. Shooting during the middle of the day causes shadows in unflattering places like under the eyes and you may find yourself squinting more than you’d like. There are ways to fight harsh sun (which we at RSWeddings are fully capable of doing), but if at all possible, it should be avoided.
