When clients book a session with a professional photographer they usually have an idea in their head of how they want their images to turn out. Most of the time when I meet with clients to discuss their ideas the same keywords pop up…”glowing”, “warm”, “backlight”. What most clients don’t know is that the time of day they schedule their session can be the number one factor in getting the images they desire.   I came across this blog post from photographer Jenny Miller out of Houston, TX and wanted to share it. You can find the whole post here, but I will summarize some of it for you. I am a natural light photographer which means that 99.9% of the time your session with me will take place outside. This also means that the lighting that day (sunny, overcast, rainy) will affect how your images turn out. Each time I get an inquiry about a session, or someone that has booked a session starts to discuss times with me I get a little nervous. I completely understand nap schedules, allowing time to get ready and knowing exactly when your little ones are the happiest….but I also understand the importance that lighting plays in achieving the images that I know you want. That is why I usually suggest specific times to shoot. My absolutely favorite time of the day to schedule sessions is what is known as the “Golden Hour”. This is the time about an hour before sunset when the light is soft and glowing. When you see pictures of families in a field with the sun setting behind them or rays of golden light pouring over them it was most likely a “Golden Hour” session. Jenny Miller shares some great examples in her post that demonstrate the difference an hour or two can make when scheduling your session. So the next time you book a session,  and your photographer (hopefully me) suggests a time that isn’t exactly ideal for your schedule, keep in mind that she is only trying to make your images as perfect as you are hoping they will be.