Day Lighting Calendar | Cache Valley Photographer
Lighting is very important for photography! It can set the tone of the entire photograph. Depending on the time of day, the style of photos can be different. For my style, I like to shoot 1.5 hours after sunrise and before sunset. This is the best time for Rembrandt Lighting, an angle of light most flattering for portraits. There are many types of lighting depending on angles throughout the day. I've created a lighting calendar for ideal lighting during the day in the summer! This is assuming a sunrise of 6:00am, a sunset of 9:00pm, and a location not shaded early by mountains.
6:00am - 8:00am Rembrandt Lighting provided by the sun, the most flattering lighting. This lasts until about 8:00am. Perfect for morning sessions! I like to start right at 6:00am for optimal lighting.
8:00am - 11:00am Mid-morning lighting. This lasts until about 11:00am. During these times for photo sessions, I try to stick to the shade since the sun is a bit harsh.
11:00am - 4:00pm Mid-day lighting. This lasts until about 4:00pm. This is the least ideal time for flattering lighting, but perfect for harsh light shots. These have been more popular recently. This is when the sunlight is the harshest.
6:00pm - 8:00pm Rembrandt Lighting provided by the sun, the most flattering lighting. This lasts until about 8:00pm. Perfect for evening sessions! I like to start evening sessions at about 7:00pm for perfect lighting.
8:00pm - 9:00pm Golden Hour. This is the best lighting! Golden Hour is when the sun is just about to set and it creates a golden glow all over. When I book a client for Golden Hour, I have to stress that they can't be late, or there won't be any more lighting! After 9:30 it is too dark for photos with natural light.
I hope this day calendar helps you! You can convert all of the times depending on the time of year by adjusting the sunrise and sunset. Contact me here to book a session, and please don't hesitate to leave your questions and comments below!
