Come on in and enjoy a story! I promise there will be pictures…
What is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is a very magical time for photography, and many photographers won’t book sessions outside of it (yeah…it’s that good)! Golden hour describes the period right after sunrise and right before sunset when the sun is very low in the sky, making the light quite soft and often warm in its hue. Photographers love it because it’s very flattering and lovely in photos.
Just think about this: The sun in the middle of the day is pretty equal to your 2 year old right before bedtime on a day when he missed his nap. The sun at golden hour is that same 2 year old right when he wakes up from a really wonderful nap and is jovial and a friend to all. The sun can be so wonderful and sweet. But at the wrong time of day the sun is an absolute beast (for photos at least!).
So why is the mid-day sun so awful for photos? Squinting in photos is obviously not ideal. Additionally, the harsh sunlight overhead will cast shadows under your eyes (and who needs that?!). Overall, it just doesn’t give you the most flattering photos. And I want you to have flattering photos!
If you book an outdoor photo shoot with me, I’ll check sunrise and sunset times on the day you’re scheduling and give you recommended start times for our session. Due to the longer summer days, I typically recommend later photo session start times in the summer than in the spring or fall. Keep in mind that golden hour happens both at sunset and at sunrise! If your little one gets cranky in the evening, consider booking a morning session!
But even when scheduling a golden hour session, you never quite know what you’ll get. On a clear and sunny day, you can typically expect some of those golden rays right before sunset. Some days the sky really lights up, and other days it doesn’t. On an overcast day, that warm hue may never come at all. That being said, overcast days are beautiful for photos! The results are just different. And you never quite know what the sun will do until it does it.
Scroll down to see some examples of golden hour sessions that are all really different from one another!
David & Katie’s maternity photo session took place on a warm and sunny summer day. Here you can see that golden hue from the sun right before it set.
Unlike David & Katie (previous photo), Justin & Abbey had the golden sun behind them in this photo.
Due to Layla’s cheery disposition in the morning, the H Family opted for an early morning session. It was an overcast day which turned out so beautifully!
The P Family enjoyed some lovely overcast weather the day of their photo session. The lighting was beautiful and soft come sunset.
Dan & Stella fought off a few sprinkles on the day of their photo session, but despite some rain clouds earlier in the evening, the sky turned bright pink and purple as we were heading to our cars. We stopped for just a few more photos with this cotton candy sky.
How Old Should My Baby Be for Newborn Photos?
Okay, so you’re thinking about booking a newborn photography session but you’re not sure when to reach out, how old your baby should be, and how scheduling works in general (there are so many unknowns!). Or maybe you’ve already had the baby and you’re debating if it’s “too late” for a newborn session. Well I am here to answer those questions!
Q: How old should my baby be for newborn photos?
A: The reality is that different photographers will give you different answers! Photographers who specialize in very posed and sleepy newborn photos may recommend that you schedule a session within the first 7 days of birth. As a lifestyle photographer, I recommend scheduling your newborn photos within 4 weeks of birth - the earlier the sleepier typically. Some parents really want to get some awake photos though! The reality is that brand new babies aren’t as expressive as slightly older babies. And slightly older babies may not sleep as well as really young newborns. There are pros and cons to every age. And the reality is that your newborn may stay asleep or stay awake or cry or poop during a photo shoot no matter his or her age! And that is okay!! When it comes to lifestyle photography, I come to capture moments. I come to take photos of life as it is - beautiful and imperfect and sometimes sleepless or exhausted or chaotic. Whatever your story is, let’s tell it. It’s going to be beautiful!
Q: What if my baby is older?
A: So I like to recommend photos to be taken within 4 weeks of birth, but that’s just a guideline. Lifestyle photos can be taken at absolutely any age! So if your little one is 6 weeks or 6 months or 6 years, we can capture some beautiful lifestyle moments of your family. I actually get so many requests from moms of 6-9 month olds who regret not hiring a newborn photographer and decide to reach out for photos of their family in their current stage. Awesome!
Q: How does scheduling work? And when should I reach out?
A: It’s never too early to reach out and let me know you’d like to book a session. If you’re 1 month pregnant or if you already had the baby - go ahead and reach out! It’s always nice to have a little notice, but it’s okay to contact me later in your journey too. If you haven’t had the baby yet, I’ll just ask when your due date is. We can either put a tentative date on the calendar or we can wait until you’ve given birth and then pick a date.
Q: What if my newborn is in the NICU?
A: If your baby comes a little early or has some complications, we’ll just wait for him or her to be ready to come home. Then we’ll schedule a date. No problem! And if you want some photos in the hospital - that’s a great option too! Just let me know you’re interested in that, and we can chat about it.
Q: What if I have a C-Section?
A: I recommend giving yourself a couple weeks to recover. We can book your session a little further out.
When it comes to timing, remember that there is flexibility and grace. If your baby is especially fussy the day/week of our session, let’s talk about pushing it out a week. Or if you had an unplanned C-Section and just need some more recovery time, I want to work with you and find a better time for your session. Let me take the stress out of it.
Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out through the “Contact” tab. I’d love to chat!
Baby Eliza decided to stay awake for the first part of her newborn photo session - and we loved seeing her beautiful eyes!
Baby Ezra surprised his mommy and daddy a bit early and spent some time in the NICU. Once he arrived home, we took some beautiful photos!
I was taking some photos of Baby Wyatt and his daddy, but when I stepped away for a minute, I noticed Wyatt’s beautiful momma just admiring them in such a sweet way. I snuck a shot of this little family enjoying a moment together.
Baby Eleanor enjoyed her photo session about 2 weeks after her birth. Her parents already knew how to make her smile, which was so much fun to see!
Baby Eleanor {Pittsburgh In-Home Newborn Photography}
Sleeping infant. Joyful parents. Cozy home.
Just a family being a family – How lovely to savor these little moments! Better yet to be able to keep them forever <3
Brittany is one of those people who lights up a room with her enthusiasm and positivity - she makes everyone feel like a friend. Her husband J.R. is amazingly similar in his warmth and kindness. It was so sweet to see them together, delighting in the joys of parenthood. Sweet baby Eleanor is already so adored by her mommy and daddy. Love just radiates in this home!
It was so hard to pick, but here are some of my favorites from the K Family’s in-home lifestyle newborn photography session!
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”