Some things in life are only done, or experienced occasionally. Weddings. Bar Mitzvahs. Vacations. Birthday parties. Extended family reunions.
And photoshoots.
Meticulous planning goes in to each event. For some occasions, the clothing has to be just so. For others, the venue has to be perfect. And for most, the timing has to be perfect. Nobody is going to plan a beach holiday in Scotland in December, a birthday party on erev Yom tov afternoon, or a wedding at the crack of dawn. It’s just not done often enough to risk spoiling.
Same with your photoshoot. Your kid’s schedule doesn’t matter. I’ll say it louder for the people in the back. Their bedtime is irrelevant. If the ideal time for your session clashes with their routine, it doesn’t matter. Because photoshoots are special occasions.
If you type in to google, ‘Best time to take outdoor photos’, the thousands of pages of results will all say the same thing. They might call it Golden hour, Magic hour, or just sunrise or sunset. But pro or not, everyone agrees the time is ideal then. That’s because the light around that time is beautiful. There are is no harsh sunlight glaring into the people’s faces, and the low setting sun gives a magical glow to the skintones.
In the winter, that would be between 3 to 4pm, and in the summer, anything from 6pm onwards. My favourite shots were taken in June or July, after 8pm. The light is surreal then and the results show it!
The country we live in needs no explanation when it comes to weather. We are pretty famous for multi seasonal climate we have. If you have booked or had an outdoor session with me in the past, chances are we had to reschedule it on short notice due to the weather. Even if it isn’t raining, heavy clouds can ruin a photo, cold winds will mess up hair, and low temperatures will mean cranky children.
So while I aim to give you the best possible results, whatever time of day it is, and whatever the weather is, remember that when I suggest scheduling your session for the evening, or rescheduling for a warmer day, it’s not because it’s convenient for me to go out and shoot then. Believe me, I want to be at home at that time! It’s entirely for your benefit! I want your images to be absolute masterpieces.
Bedtime aside. Routine aside. You don’t do this every day. Put the little ones down for a nap in the afternoon, and give the kids an evening out! A treat!
They will bounce back the next day, but the images will be there for eternity.
See you at sunset!