You’ve probably figured this out by now, but taking photos in bright sunshine isn’t the best for portraits. Squinty eyes, harsh shadows and the wrong colour temperature mean that while you can most definitely capture moments, great portraits aren’t going to happen. Good ones, maybe, but not great ones. Light really is King when it comes to photos. If I have to take portraits on a sunny day, I’ll opt for shade or make sure to position the light behind my subjects.
If I can help it or control it, I will make sure that I take photos during the “golden hour.” I could get all technical on you with light in degrees of Kelvin, but it’s simply that hour or so before sunset and a little bit afterward, where colour is warm and the light is pretty.
It is the same with before and after the sunrise, but I prefer to be sleeping when the sun rises at 5 a.m.
This applies to photos of my kids as well. Some of my all-time favorite photos of them were taken during the golden hour.
Being outside at that hour doesn't always work. If we're taking photos outside midday, I will position everyone in the shade, if possible.
Do you run outside during the golden hour to take photos like I do? Or make use of available shade? It really does make all of the difference.
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