What time is the best time of day for outdoor Charleston engagement photos?
What time is the best time of day for outdoor Charleston engagement photos?
Congratulations on your engagement! It is one of the magnificent and memorable milestones of your love story. Capturing this memory so you can remember it for years to come is the paramount goal of an engagement session. As it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you naturally want to share it with the whole world. Since it is an exciting time, you might have many questions about the location, trends, and when to take the photos. As a Charleston engagement photographer, our clients often ask us about the best timing for outdoor engagement photos. So, based on our experience, we have shared a few tips and ideas below!
Best Time to Schedule an Outdoor Engagement Session
Depending on the type of lighting you prefer, there are different times of the day to schedule your shoot.
Early morning & Evening Sessions – The Golden Hour
The early morning or evenings are perfect to complement your love with the golden glow. It is the best time to schedule sessions as the sun is lower in the sky and soft. Golden hour is 1 hour just after sunrise and before sunset – when the earth creates a warm, gentle glow to everything the light touches. As Charleston wedding photographers, we love this time as the light is less harsh than during the middle of the day.
Usually, we don't always have the luxury of capturing the golden hour portraits on the wedding day, so we have the freedom to schedule these on the engagement session. We encourage our couples to take advantage of the outdoor engagement session to get impeccable shots!
Mid-Day Time Sessions
Mid-Day seems to be the most readily available time for many couples. During this time, the sun shines directly above, and the lighting tends to be very strong. It often creates unflattering shadows, and the outdoor engagement photos don't appear too well.
Night Time Sessions
Many couples prefer their outdoor engagement photos to be captured at night. But this can be challenging as there is insufficient light to work with. It could lead to blurry images that might not come out as per your expectations. The quality might not be superior as compared to daytime shoots. If you still prefer an engagement shoot at night, don't forget to hire a professional and experienced photographer. They can do wonders and deliver captivating images based on their expertise and professional skills.
Tips for your outdoor engagement photos
When scheduling an outdoor engagement session, don't forget to consider the weather and season. They play an essential role during the planning process!
If you plan to shoot around sunrise or sunset, meet your photographer 90 minutes before. This way, you can plan, discuss your ideas and be comfortable in front of the camera. Your engagement shoot will be the first time you will work with your photographer, so it will take time to get familiar with each other. It will be like a small meet and greet, and you will be super comfortable with each other when the ethereal golden hour glow comes.
Engagement photos are a meaningful way to make announcements of your wedding plans. Also, they are memorable keepsakes to cherish this special time in your relationship. Therefore, it is good to have some professionally taken images, which can be used during the wedding planning for making announcements. Many people often feel uncomfortable having their pictures taken but worry not! As experienced Charleston wedding photographer we will ensure you feel at ease in front of the camera and start feeling confident.
We hope our insight will help you plan the perfect outdoor engagement photos! For more inspiring content, visit our blog page. If you want us to capture your memorable and candid moments, don’t hesitate to contact us!
