Time of day is important for photographs

As an outdoor pet photographer the time of day when I photograph is really important as it will affect the outcome of your photos.  I'm part of a blog circle in a pawsome community of pet photographer and this week's topic is "why I shoot at specific times of day".

Some people say to me, 'Isn't it better if you photograph during the middle of the day when it's bright and sunny?' This certainly isn't the case and I never recommend having your session in the middle of the day. 

I only shoot early in the morning right at sunrise (and maybe up to 2 hours after) or later in the afternoon/evening around 2 hours before sunset as these are the times when the sun is low in the sky. This is what we call the 'golden hour'. 

This is when you get the beautiful soft light and avoid getting those harsh shadows and light in your photos. When the suns up high, especially in the middle of the day, you get really harsh shadows in the photos and it doesn't create flattering images. During the golden hour we also get these warm golden light 

I sometimes like to extend my sunset session to go longer after the sun has set while there is still a bit of light and the colour of the skies are usually stunning then. This is what we photographers like to call the 'blue hour' although most of the times it doesn't last as long as an hour but you can get beautiful dramatic photos and some silhouette shots which I love.

If I do have to photograph around midday or when the sun is still up high, then I would only do it in location that has large shaded areas that can block the sun. I do occasionally use off-camera flash to balance out the light, compensate for the bright sun and soften the harsh shadows. However, this sometimes may limit the variety of images I can produce for you.

Another reason why I like to photograph around sunrise and sunset is because it's usually cooler around that time of day. The middle of the day isn't great for pet photography session especially in summer because of temperature at that time. Your pets are not able to sweat like we do and the way they regulate their body temperature is through their respiratory system. Dogs do "sweat" through their paw pads, but to help regulate their temperature and circulate the necessary air through their bodies they pant. This is why they tend to have their tongues out a lot when they're hot. So, when we shoot during midday, the photos of your dog will most have their tongues out in all, if not most of them. Plus, your dog's safety is my number one priority and shooting during a hot day could potentially cause issues and discomfort to the dogs. 

I want to make sure my clients are happy and have the best pet photography experience. And this means shooting when the lights are the best and flattering for your photos. 

Interested in booking a photography session for your dog? Book an obligation free phone call to discuss your ideas and start planning your personalised pet photography session.