On this first day of April, it seems apropos to write a blog post about an ideal morning photos location. You might be wondering why I’d write a post in the Spring featuring some classic Fall images? The reason is because the number one objection I hear from families looking to book in the Spring is that the sunset time is too late for their child. This time of year, and for the next six months, sunsets range from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Golden hour sessions run for the hour before sunset and this definitely overlaps many childrens’ bedtimes or witching hours. Here’s where the morning photos option comes into play!

Although most kids do fine in the evening outdoors with a few simple tips, some parents (understandably) don’t want to risk a potential disaster. Enter: morning photos. What some parents don’t realize is that there is *also* a golden hour every morning- the hour post sunrise. Booking a morning session with me does mean waiting for a different season as the sunrise in the Spring is too early for me (5am!) but it’s at an ideal time in September and October. The other nice thing about September and October morning photos is that the morning temperatures are still tolerable…once you hit November, most mornings are too chilly for photos.

Two Fall seasons ago, I started offering a weekend of morning options and I will continue to do so moving forward. Not only is the 8am timeframe better than 6 or 7pm for most kids, it also allows you to get family photos out of the way first thing in the morning. No more worrying about who might bruise their face, get overstimulated, not nap on schedule, etc!

I have two other amazing points to share with you about why you should book a morning session next Fall. The first is that, when you’re not rushing home for bedtime, you can go out with your family for an awesome breakfast or check out a local favorite: The Donut Stand ! Trust me when I say they are the best donuts you’ll ever try!

Lastly, and this both a benefit for client and photographer, the parks and common spaces that we use for sessions are SO MUCH LESS crowded in the morning than during the evening golden hour. This means we can snag the best spots for our photos and your kids won’t be distracted by other families, dog walkers, or whatever else is going on!

Have I convinced you to try a morning session next year? If you have little ones under the age of 5 who are used to a 6:30-7:30pm bedtime, it’s truly a great option. If you haven’t already, please add yourself to my mailing list so that you can keep an eye out for Fall offerings!