Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of the bright, natural light and stunning outdoor backdrops to create beautiful portraits. Sure, it can be hot, humid, and the bugs can be another level sometimes... but with these tips, I'll show you how to alleviate some of those concerns.

1) TIMING. Timing makes a HUGE difference in portraits. There is a big difference in how your portraits will look at 7am, 2pm, or 7pm. Depending on your skin tone, and the location, timing can make or break your portrait session. As a general rule of thumb, I always recommend sticking to between 7am-10am OR 6pm-8:30pm for outdoor sessions. These times tweak a bit based on season, but for summer these would be my go-to times for truly capturing that natural light. Have you ever heard of the {Golden Hour} light? Well, that is typically an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset, which is SO flattering. If you can't make the golden hour windows work, try to at least avoid the harsh midday times where the sun is brightest, creating unflattering shadows and overexposure causing you to look washed out or squinty. 

2) LOCATION. Choosing the right location can help make your portrait session more fun, relaxing, and ultimately deliver the images you're hoping to have delivered. A few favorites of mine during the summer are beaches/ lake access, especially at sunset. This allows for a sweet barefoot look if you like that, maybe something playful with siblings and a water splash towards the end of the session, or just a beautiful sunrise or sunset near the water. Parks or fields with fresh flowers create a lush greenery that can add a pop of color and sense of freshness to your portraits. Urban settings like cityscapes, summer activities, street art, etc. can offer a fun, candid, or energetic feel for your portraits. 

3) WARDROBE. What you wear can also make or break your portrait session in terms of comfort, flattery, and ease of movement. For example, if you're opting for a beach session, maybe leave the heels at home. You'll want to wear colors that compliment your skin tone, hair and eye color, and flatter your figure while allowing you to move. *Don't worry, I offer all types of guidance on this with my clients. Summer is a unique time to also have some FUN. For example, if we are doing a lake session, bring some towels and maybe at the close of the session, jump in and let's get some water photos. Maybe a bike ride at the park, or your kids playing at the playground... there are so many unique and fun ideas to document your moments, don't feel obligated during the summer to stick with the "norm"- whatever that may be. ;) 

Most importantly, just document the moments. Make some memories and have some FUN. Life goes by too fast, so if you're having all the family together this summer, or just realized you haven't updated your family photos in a while... summer is always a fun time to do so.

Summer is also a fun time to update Senior Portraits- especially for those who like to show that summer sun kissed glow... you can read more about my tips for Senior Portraits on the blog HERE.