When is the Best Time to Take Pictures Outside?

Golden hour which is one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset is generally the best time to take pictures outside.

At these times the sun is low in the sky, and the light turns a golden colour and is softer.

This means your photos won’t have dark black patches where the shadows are, or blown-out white patches in the bright parts.

These fantastic conditions for photography can be difficult to come by.

It requires a clear sky so the clouds don’t block out the sun and a relatively flat landscape to make the most of the light.

For this reason, you should also learn what to do when the golden hour light is unavailable to you and how to make the most of any lighting condition.

In this blog, we aim to give travel photographers and all lovers of photography the tips and tricks we have obtained through years of travelling worldwide experiencing all types of photo subjects, weather conditions and lighting.

We will cover topics such as:

• What is golden hour?
• Why do photos look great during golden hour?
• Can you only take photos during the golden hour?
• What to do on a cloudy day?
• What to do if you can only take photos during midday?

What is the golden hour?

After reading many technical blogs explaining all the scientific reasons that golden hour is the best time for photography, we’ve decided to give you the short and sweet answer. 

Golden hour is when the sun is just about to set or has recently risen and it’s the perfect time to take pictures outside!

Usually an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. Provided you’re not located far up in the northern hemisphere. 

During this time the sunlight turns a golden warm colour, which is like dragging the colour temperature slider all the way over to the yellow side of your photo editing app. 

It also isn’t very strong light so the shadows that are created are not pitch black and you can still show detail in shadowed areas while the light is shining on highlighted areas.

Basically, as a general rule, outdoor photos look much better at this time compared to shooting them in the middle of the day. 

Question 1 – What are you shooting?

Your photo subject can dictate the best time of day for outdoor photography.

The best time to take pictures outside will vary hugely depending on what you are photographing.

There is a big difference between the time of day you would shoot in a forest or shoot a waterfall.

For instance, if you want to take a photo of a waterfall that’s located deep inside a forest, then shooting at sunrise will mean your photo hasn’t got much natural light resulting in a less vibrant image. 

The photo above was taken at 8:30 am, almost 2.5 hours after the sun had risen.

The National Park did not open until 8 am and then there was a short hike to the waterfall.

Despite the strong light, we were still able to produce a great image. This is a good example of how great images can be taken outside the confines of the golden hour.

However, if you’re taking some outdoor portraits or having a family photo shoot on the beach then provided the sun is setting over the sea, you can use every last second of perfect golden light. 

As a general rule, if you’re taking photos in a covered area like a forest or a valley, you should take photos an hour or so after sunrise around 7-9 am or early afternoon at 3-5 pm. 

Later in the morning can also be a great time for mountain photography because the sun will have risen over the mountains casting light onto the scene.

If you’re near the coast then you just need to check the sunrise or sunset times and make sure you’re there for golden hour. 

Check out the section “Tools to plan for golden hour” for more info on this.

As you can see the best time to take pictures outside can vary greatly depending on what you are taking photographs of.

Question 2 – What is the weather like?

Photography on a cloudy day can be challenging but it is achievable.

On a cloudy day, you can wave goodbye to the idea of spending an hour or so shooting during golden hour. 

The best time to take pictures outside on a cloudy day is during midday light if it’s completely overcast.

Golden hour at sunrise

Sunrise in our opinion is the best time of day to take photos outside.

In colder climates, early morning mist can mix with sunlight to create some beautiful effects. 

But most of all the simple fact that other people won’t be stepping into your photos leaves you plenty of space to get the perfect composition. 

Although the sun is out it will still be relatively dark during golden hour. So you will need to make sure you’re set up to get the best photos.

Remember to capture the best attributes of the golden hour such as;

• Long shadows
• Contrasts between areas the light hits and areas in shade 
• Side lighting of people’s faces for portraits 
• Purple and red hues in the clouds and sky
• Water reflecting dramatic skies
• Light mixing with patches of fog 

Shooting at Blue Hour

Once the sun has fully gone beyond the horizon there is still around an hour of daylight left. Whilst there is no direct sunlight you can still get some amazing photos during this time.

Named Blue Hour for the blue/purple colour of the sky as well as the blue colour cast by the very last light. 

The Golden Ten Minutes

This is a term we have coined ourselves which we often experience.

When there are clouds in the sky then there is a good chance the early morning or late evening sunlight will be blocked by them. But there is a brief moment where the sun sits in between the clouds and the horizon.

Midday Light

You will most likely have heard that a photographer should put away their camera between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm. 

This is because the sunlight is so strong that your photos will come out extremely bright with pitch-black shadows. This can look especially bad when photographing portraits.

If you have no choice but to shoot portraits in the middle of the day try and find a shaded area to photograph your subject. 

There are however some instances where you might want a very dark striking shadow. It can be seen often in black and white photography.

But as a rule, try and avoid this time. Enjoy your lunch and wait for the softer afternoon light to roll in. 

There is, however one caveat.

On completely overcast days midday light can appear soft due to the light being diffused by the clouds.

And so, on an overcast day, it can be better to wait for the midday light to start shooting.

Late morning and early afternoon photography

If you’re relatively new to photography or you just want to take great photos in an auto mode then this is the best time to take pictures outside. Between 7-10 am and 3-6 pm.

As we have been traveling the world for the last year we have realised that the vast majority of our photos are taken either late morning or early afternoon.

Due to opening times and bus schedules, we can rarely arrive somewhere before sunrise unless we hire a private driver.

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Night time photography

Nighttime brings a whole new dynamic to photography.

In the absence of natural light the street lamps, neon signs and billboards create a vibrant world of colour to captivate the viewers of your photos. 

Tools to help you plan golden hour

The sun will rise and fall at different times depending on your location in the world. In places far up in the northern hemisphere like Iceland during winter the sun rises at 11 am and sets at 3 pm.

In places near the equator, the sun will rise and fall around 6 am and 6 pm throughout the year.

The best photography gear for taking pictures outside

There are a few items of gear that will make taking photos outside easier compared to working in a studio or taking photos in the garden.

Taking photos outside covers a plethora of different types of photography all with different types of accessories and gear.

So for simplicity, we will just cover the very basics. 

A good camera or your mobile phone – Choosing the right camera can feel overwhelming, but once you find one that suits you, your photography skills will naturally improve. That said, modern smartphones come equipped with excellent cameras and numerous built-in settings to help you capture stunning photos with ease.

Backpack – A good camera backpack will help you safely carry your camera around with you and protect it from the elements. Try to find one that is waterproof in case you get caught out in the rain, or pack a good poncho that will go over you and your bag. 

Camera strap – a sturdy camera strap is great because it allows you to always have your camera in hand and not packed in your bag. This means you’re more likely to take a photo when the opportunity presents itself. You can also get a neck strap for your mobile phone which will have the same effect.

Tripod or camera stand – A tripod or camera stand will be very useful for taking photos during low light. By stabilising the camera you reduce the likelihood of blurry photos due to camera shake. It also allows you to use lower ISO which will result in a clearer image.

Spare batteries – If you’re taking pictures outside and especially if you’re out in nature make sure to take at least one spare battery. There’s nothing worse than missing out on photos because you were caught short. 

UV filter – We always use a UV filter on our lenses to protect the glass of the lens from damage. They are relatively inexpensive compared to the lenses they protect and if they get scratched you can easily replace them. We don’t even use a lens cap on our cameras when we’re out shooting so that we’re even more ready to take a photo if something interesting occurs.

Conclusion

The best time to take photos outside depends on many factors.

But Golden Hour definitely takes the top spot if you want dreamy golden light and soft shadows in your photos. 

The worst time of day to take pictures outside is between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm when the sun is highest in the sky which makes photos look washed out with very dark shadows.

Remember that this isn’t always the case, an overcast day can produce great images during these times.

If you’re new to photograph,y then we advise taking photos between the hours of 7 am-9 am and 3 pm-5 pm.

As you are using your camera in auto mode, at these times you are more likely to get consistent results compared to sunrise or sunset. 

Having a tripod will allow you to shoot earlier and later in the day. This is something to consider if you want to start shooting in manual mode and you’re interested in landscape and nature photography.

We hope this blog has provided you with all the info you need to head out and capture the photos you’ve always dreamed of!