Fun Photo Tip (What time is it?)

A little quiz for you ...

1. What's the best time of day to take pictures outside?

2. Is it better to shoot when it's sunny, dark or overcast?

3. What is the "Golden Hour?"

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ANSWERS :

1. The best time to take pictures outside is right after the sun comes up and right before the sun goes down! It's called "The Golden Hour" by photographers because the light is golden and soft and in just the right place in the sky for photography. Think about the times you've gone to have portraits taken in a studio (even a crummy one, like Wal-Mart!) When they positioned the lighting equipment, was it directly over your head? No, of course not! Overhead lights, just like mid-day sun high in the sky, leave shadows under your eyes and nose. Have you ever taken a photo inside your house without a flash (with only the overhead lights)? Same thing - funky shadows that usually result in dark, racoon-style eyes. YUCK! So, think about a setting sun - where is it in the sky? It's low - perfect for some nice sidelight or backlight. The first and last hour of sunlight is the softest, most flattering light of the day. Try it out and see!

I'm away from the studio this weekend and don't have my kiddo pictures with me on this computer, so here's a couple of examples from a couples session I did last week. This is my friend Jennifer and her hubby CJ, about 20 minutes before sunset. Check out the awesome golden backlight! LOOOVE IT!





2. OVERCAST!! Sun is great for summer days at the pool, but bright, harsh sun is awful for photos! Why? Just like I talked about in the first answer - weird shadows on faces. Next time you're outside when it's really sunny, look around you. You'll see tons of hard shadows. While sometimes hard shadows look really cool, most of the time (especially in portraits) soft, diffused light is WAY better. Overcast lighting is GREAT! Clouds and hazy skies help diffuse the sun and give you nice, even light to work with. So what do you do if you have to shoot at noon? FIND SOME SHADE and shoot in it! :) Shade is a photographer's best friend!

3. See the first answer :)

New homework assignment coming TOMORROW!! Stay tuned!

XOXO, Sarah Q