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As a photographer, one of the most common questions I get is: “When’s the best time of day and year to take photos?” And the honest answer? It depends—on the season, your location, whether we’re indoors or outdoors, and what kind of mood you’re going for in your images.
Marin offers stunning natural backdrops year-round, but the quality of light can vary dramatically depending on the season and time of day, and also whether the lighting is affected by the mountains/hills. A lot of people don’t think about this, but there might not be a “golden hour,” at a certain location if the sun is hiding behind Mt. Tam!
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your session around the best lighting possible.
No matter the season, the hour before sunset (often called Golden Hour) is typically the most flattering light for outdoor sessions. It offers soft, warm tones that are beautiful on skin and ideal for dreamy, natural portraits.
However, there’s one important exception:
If we’re shooting in the shadows of Mount Tamalpais or any other large hilly areas in Marin, the sun often dips behind the ridgeline well before the actual sunset time. That means we may need to schedule your session 30–60 minutes earlier than expected to catch the light in time. It also means there might not be a golden glow!
If you love the look of golden light towards the end of the day, I recommend doing a session in northern Marin like San Rafael or Novato. We could also do the session somewhere south of Mt. Tam, like Rodeo Beach.
Thinking About Your Style Preferences
Choosing the best lighting for a photoshoot also depends heavily on your personal style and the mood you want to create! Some clients prefer dramatic lighting to add boldness and stylishness, while others opt for soft, even lighting for a more natural and flattering look. The key is to match the lighting to the story you’re trying to tell. You can mention this to me when you’re reaching out about a photoshoot!
This session had a little bit of both because the lighting was harsh when we first started, and then it began to tuck behind the hills.
At this session, we were able to do both indoor and outdoor photos in the late morning because their yard was very shaded. We had beautiful, even light inside and out!
If you’re not sure when to book your session or what time would work best for your dream location, don’t worry—that’s what I’m here for! I’m always happy to help you choose the perfect time and place to get that glowy, natural light that makes photos shine. Ready to book or have questions? Get in touch and let’s find your perfect window of light!
- Molly H.
She was so helpful in preparing us for the day and was amazing at keeping us relaxed at the shoot. Day of, she helped us find the best poses and enthusiastically incorporated our photo ideas. Though it felt like our son cried the entire time, she captured his best moments, and the final photos were precious :) Looking forward to working with her again!
"We worked with Taryn for newborn photos and couldn't have been happier with the decision.
- jessica t.
Oh my goodness! We absolutely LOVE all the pictures you took! I feel like this gallery really captures us so well. And I can’t believe you managed to shoot all those smiles and funny faces of our son! He was playing super hard to get ;) You have a gift! I am so, so pleased with how they turned out, and how the actual photo shoot experience was. We had such a fun time. Thank you a million! You were the perfect person to capture these moments! So grateful for your talents and lovely personality."
"You were the perfect person to capture these moments! So grateful for your talents and lovely personality.
- liz m.
Taryn is such a joy to work with! She is so warm and easy going, it's very easy to feel comfortable around her. My husband hates taking photos but Taryn makes it so easy and carefree! She has a great eye for detail and can pick out photo spots that I would never think of. She is also so great with babies. She somehow made my 8 month old smile in nearly every shot. I highly recommend Taryn for family portraits, newborn shoots or anything you might need."
“It’s very easy to feel comfortable around her...
My fiancé and I were lucky enough to have Taryn take our engagement photos, and everything about the experience was truly incredible. In the past, my fiancé and I had always felt a bit ‘awkward’ while posing together, but Taryn had a way of making us feel SO comfortable, at ease, natural, and confident as she took our photos. She hyped us up throughout the shoot - and it showed in the results. Not only did she capture our genuine smiles and laughs, but she *created* those smiles and laughs through her warmth and infectious excitement.
It’s evident how thoughtful Taryn is in capturing beautiful moments for her clients, and she goes above and beyond to do so. When we got the photos back, I immediately was brought to tears. Not only was I in awe of how stunning they were, but seeing the way my fiancé looked at me made me reflect on how thrilled I am to marry him (a heartwarming reminder that’s easy for a bride to forget during the wedding planning phase). These images are more than just “engagement photos”, but these are sweet, special memories that will be used at our upcoming wedding, forever framed in our home, and shared with our future grandkids one day.
- Shay C.
“Taryn had a way of making us feel SO comfortable, at ease, natural, and confident as she took our photos...
- jen p.
All I can say is wow!! You are a miracle worker. The photos are beautiful and I can’t believe the turn around time. Not only are you incredibly talented, but you made the process fun. My kids had the best time!! You have clients for as long as you stay in California!!! The kids will be so thrilled when they see the photos. Thank you so much."
"You are a miracle worker. The photos are beautiful and I can’t believe the turn around time.
...and I can’t tell you how many compliments we’ve been getting on the pictures. Not only did Taryn make us feel so good about ourselves, but she knew exactly how to pose us and get the best shots. And I honestly can’t believe how much fun we had during the session. It’s going to be so hard to choose just one photo for our ‘Save the Dates.’ We’re obsessed with all of them!”
- ALYSSA E.
“The whole experience was just magical...
don't just take my word for it.