The early morning hours are a time when the world awakens with a gentle glow, providing moments of tranquillity, offering the perfect backdrop for family photos.
Scheduling an early morning photo session may be the last thing you want to do when you have to get yourself and your family dressed and put-together before the sun is up. But there are several reasons why sunrise family photos, especially during the summer, are not only worth waking up for but can also become cherished memories for years to come.
Magical Lighting:
As the sun rises over the horizon, it casts a soft, golden light that bathes everything it touches in warmth and radiance. This ethereal quality of light creates a magical atmosphere, enhancing the beauty of your family photos and adding a touch of warmth to every frame.
Similar to evening sessions, there is a morning golden hour—the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset—renowned for its soft, flattering light and warm tones. By scheduling your family photoshoot during this magical time, you can take advantage of the golden hour glow, which adds a natural, romantic allure to your photos and makes everyone look their best. But to get the soft blue skies, light pink clouds, and warm glow, you have to be ready to go within minutes of the sun rising.
Cooler Temperatures:
Summer days can often be scorching hot, making outdoor evening sessions uncomfortable (or dangerous) especially for young children and elderly family members. By scheduling your family photoshoot at sunrise, you can take advantage of the cooler temps before the sun reaches its peak, ensuring everyone stays comfortable and relaxed throughout the session. Not to mention, less sweaty or grumpy.
Serenity and Solitude:
While popular photo spots can be crowded during the day (and really popular during Golden Hour), the early hours of the morning offer a sense of serenity and solitude. With fewer people around, you can enjoy a more intimate and peaceful photoshoot experience, allowing your family to connect with each other and the natural surroundings without distractions. The only people you may encounter are people out for a run or walking their dog. So if your family is shy or your kids are easily stimulated, a morning session is the best way to provide a quiet, private experience.
Natural Beauty:
Nature is at its finest during the early hours of the day, with dew-drops on grass, birds chirping, and sun-kissed landscapes. By choosing sunrise for your family photos, you not only capture your loved ones in their natural element but also showcase the beauty of the world around you. Often times, the morning atmosphere evokes a sense of wonder and appreciation in little kids, too.
Unique Perspectives:
Sunrise offers a unique perspective that is often overlooked in favor of sunset photos. By opting for sunrise family photos, you can capture moments of quiet contemplation, tender embraces, and joyous laughter against a backdrop of dawn’s early light, resulting in images that stand out and tell a story all their own.
A location can look entirely different in the morning due to where the sun rises above trees or buildings, casting different shadows that may be present later in the day. In fact, some locations may be better for sunrise photos because of where the sun shines.
Energetic Mornings:
Children are often at their most energetic in the mornings, full of enthusiasm and curiosity for the world around them. By scheduling your photos in the morning, you can harness this natural energy, good moods, and excitement, ensuring that your little ones are alert, engaged, and ready to participate in the fun. And they’ll be ready for nap time after all their exploring.
Natural Explorers:
Young children are natural explorers, always eager to discover new sights, sounds, and experiences. Sunrise provides the perfect backdrop for their adventurous spirit, offering a world filled with intriguing shadows, sparkling dewdrops, and the promise of new beginnings. Encourage your children to interact with their surroundings, whether it’s chasing butterflies, picking wildflowers, or simply basking in the beauty of nature.
Flexible Schedules:
Young children often have early bedtimes, which means they’re accustomed to waking up early as well. By scheduling your family photoshoot at sunrise, you can take advantage of their natural sleep-wake cycle, ensuring that they’re well-rested and alert for the session. Plus, completing the photoshoot early in the day leaves plenty of time for other activities and adventures, allowing your family to make the most of the summer sunshine.
