Is It OK To Take Maternity Portraits In The Afternoon?

Frequently Asked Questions: Is It Ok to Take Maternity Portraits in the Afternoon?

One of the most important aspects of a GREAT portrait is the lighting. When it comes to maternity portraits, the early morning or the evening are the best times to take outdoor maternity portraits. However, the afternoon can certainly be a good time for portraits as well. Here are a few things to consider on the frequently asked question of, “is it ok to take maternity portraits in the afternoon?”

The Afternoon is Not Ideal – BUT It Depends on the Location

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In general, the afternoon is not the most ideal time for maternity portraits. This is because afternoon lighting can be harsh and unflattering. The ideal lighting for maternity portraits is soft lighting. And this is often found in the morning or in the evening – when the sun is low in the sky. However, with this being said, some locations have great lighting even during the afternoon hours. Anda took her maternity portraits at Sanborn County Park – which is one of my favorite afternoon session locations. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of shade. Similar to the lighting in the morning and in the evening, shade creates soft and flattering lighting. The tall redwood trees at Sanborn County Park block/diffuse the harsh afternoon sun and allows really nice portraits at most times of the day.

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Cloudy or Overcast Days Are Actually GREAT for Afternoon Sessions

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If the day of your session is cloudy or overcast, don’t worry – this is actually a good thing! Similar to how tall trees can block or diffuse the harshness of the sun, clouds can do the same thing. Overcast or cloudy days allow for portraits to be taken in most locations without the worry of there being harsh shadows on you and your partner’s faces 😉

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Whenever Possible, Schedule The Session In The Evening

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Of course, whenever possible, ALWAYS try to schedule your maternity portraits in the evening. This is one of the best times of the day for outdoor portraits. At this time, the sun is low in the sky, the lighting is soft and flattering. And on top of this, the sun creates colors that are bright and vibrant. Many people refer to this as “golden hour” because of the color of light that occurs in the last 30 minutes before the sun sets 🙂

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Hopefully this brief article has been helpful and has given you some ideas for your own session 🙂 Thanks!