How to Choose the Best Time for Family Portraits

How to Choose the Best Time for Family Portraits

Clients often ask me when the best time for family portraits is. The reality is that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take portraits. Instead, it’s about the look you’re going for in your photos. If you’re a family that wants flowers and brighter colors, spring is best. If you prefer something more muted or prefer darker colors, maybe fall (or winter) is better. There’s no right or wrong – it’s all about the feel you want in your photos. 

However, when it comes to the time of day for your family portraits, I have a few recommendations! 

Timing for Family Portraits

Sessions typically last about an hour and a half, and when we can, I love to begin sessions at two different times of the day. Since I tend to shoot in a hybrid style (meaning I shoot with film and with my digital camera), I prefer to shoot around 10 am and 2 pm, where there is plenty of light to work with. I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise are also an ideal time to shoot if that’s better for your family. We’ll still work within the location that you want for your family’s photos. But the time of day is important, so we can have the most beautiful images possible! 

I schedule sessions for what I believe will be the best light of the day, so it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we finish shooting, and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets harsher as it rises. Lighting truly does matter more than anything for your family photos! If you want portraits with beautiful, even light, it’s important to work during these times of the day. I know with little ones, it can feel tricky! But, there are lots of ways to work around them – and as a mom myself, I know how to move quickly and make sure we work within the window they’re happiest in. 

 

Ready to Book A Family Photography Session in Nashville?

If you are ready to book a Nashville or Franklin Family Photography Session, I’d love to help you plan a session that feels calm, beautiful, and connected. If you want to take the pressure off and feel extra confident walking in, my hair and makeup packages are a great add-on, with everything clean, bright, and timeless.

Want a little extra help as you plan? Download my free Family Photography Session Style and Planning Guide so you can feel prepared and excited for your photos.

AND, if you are a mama looking for a MINI Session version of a motherhood session, I usually announce all of my motherhood minis here. 

And to my fellow photographers, if you’re juggling client work and trying to stay consistent with marketing, The Family Photographer’s Marketing Society was built to help with exactly that. It includes monthly tools, prompts, and guidance to help you stay visible with Instagram and email marketing without burning out

Whether you’re a Nashville family looking for a studio session in Franklin or you’re searching for a Franklin, TN photographer who can guide you through a polished, relaxed experience, I’m so glad you’re here. And I hope that reading this blog was inspiring for you to figure out what your ideal family photography session would be!

I can’t wait to help you capture something beautiful!

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