Best Time of Day for Outdoor Family Photos in Calgary
Tips from an Experienced Calgary Family Photographer
post updated September 20, 2025
I moved to Calgary over 20 years ago and what I love about Calgary, Alberta (and its surrounding communities) is that it boasts a wide array of stunning outdoor locations for family portrait photography sessions. From the urban energy of downtown Calgary to the serene beauty of Reader Rock Garden or a scenic mountain drive to Quarry Lake Park, there’s a backdrop to suit many different types of outdoor family photo shoots. If you’re seeking a Calgary photographer to photograph your update outdoor family portraits, you’ll find that the city’s unique landscapes make for breathtaking outdoor family photos.
Why timing matters for outdoor family photos in Calgary?
Choosing the right time of day is key to having your Calgary photographer capture flattering light and warm, natural color tones in your family photos. Timing is a key ingredient in outdoor family photography because the light changes everything—softens skin tones, reduces harsh shadows, and creates the mood that matches the moment.
If you’ve just booked a family session with me and aren’t quite sure why the time of day for your session matters, think of it as choosing the backdrop for your memories. Midday sun can cast strong shadows, cause squinting, and wash out colors. This can result in photos that feel less cohesive with your planned session wardrobe and create distracting elements in your portraits. By selecting a time when the sun is lower in the sky, your photographer can capture cohesive tones across all backgrounds, true to life skin tones, and provide a calm, relaxed atmosphere that lets your family’s true personalities shine during the session.
For many families, Calgary photographers recommend either early morning sessions that take place approximately 60 minutes after sunrise to leverage the soft, diffused light that mirrors the golden hour’s glow or 90 minutes prior to sunset referred to as the golden hour that provides a gorgeous natural warmth, where skin tones appear more even, and shadows are gentle. This will result in creating flattering, timeless portraits without harsh contrast.
The lower sun angle will also create a cinematic backdrop with long, dreamy shadows and rich colors that enhance outdoor settings from parks to cityscapes. For families, this timing also tends to be quieter and more relaxed, helping kids stay engaged and smile more naturally. With family photo sessions held during these times, photographers in Calgary can capture cohesive tones across wardrobe and scenery, resulting in images that feel both intimate and professionally polished.
Sunrise Sessions: Quiet, Photogenic, and Pet-Friendly
Scheduling a family photoshoot at sunrise can be a wonderful way to start the day together as a family. It's a special opportunity to bond, enjoy the beauty of nature, and create lasting memories that you'll cherish for years to come. Just like later in the evening, early mornings are typically quieter and more peaceful, with fewer people around and have less ambient noise which can also be preferred if you are including family pets in the outdoor family session. This serene atmosphere can help everyone participating in the outdoor family photo shoot to feel relaxed and comfortable during the family photo session, resulting in more natural and authentic expressions in your family pictures.
Sunset Sessions: Warm, Luminous, and Family-Friendly
Sunset sessions are my personal favourite for outdoor family sessions especially if you are included extended family member such as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Just before sunset, the light becomes soft and warm, casting a flattering glow that smooths skin tones and minimizes harsh shadows—perfect for natural, timeless portraits without the need for heavy editing.
Sunset sessions also tend to be calmer and less crowded, allowing your family to relax and engage naturally in front of the camera, which translates to authentic smiles and candid moments. The cooler evening temperatures compared to the heat of midday make the portrait photography experience more comfortable for kids and older relatives, reducing fatigue and helping everyone stay engaged. For Calgary families and photographers, the combination of flattering light, comfortable conditions, and crowd-free environments makes sunset the ideal window for outdoor family photos, delivering warm, inviting images that feel both intimate and professionally polished.
Planning Outdoor Family Sessions by Seasons
From June through September in Calgary, sunsets come later, often delaying evening outdoor family photo sessions starting at 8:00pm. If these late starts are challenging or you have young children who settle for bed early, I typically recommend a sunrise session as the alternative. Morning light in Calgary stays low on the horizon, delivering soft, flattering illumination with minimal shadows—perfect for natural, timeless outdoor family photos. Many children under five are early risers, so a sunrise shoot can be more comfortable and enjoyable: kids are rested, well-fed, and ready to explore, which helps capture genuine smiles and relaxed family moments.
Tips to optimize your outdoor family session in Calgary
Planning a successful Calgary outdoor family photo shoot starts with clear goals and practical preparation. It’s best to start by selecting a location that matches your family’s vibe, whether it’s a city park or a riverside trail and share this vision with your Calgary family photographer so they can tailor timing and lighting.
Timing is key in Calgary’s seasonal climate, so aim for golden hour or a calm sunrise when the light is soft and flattering, reducing harsh shadows on everyone. Coordinate your wardrobe in advance with soft, complementary colors that photograph well in natural light and avoid loud patterns that can distract from expressions. It is also best to arrive early to beat crowds and give kids time to acclimate, which helps capture natural, candid moments rather than rushed snapshots.
If pets are joining, plan extra time and bring treats or toys to keep them engaged without disrupting the session. Work with your Calgary photographer to set realistic expectations for weather contingencies and backup locations in case of wind or rain. By following these simple tips, you’ll maximize light, minimize stress, and enjoy a cohesive, weather-ready Calgary outdoor session that yields beautiful, lasting memories.
The Magic of Blue Hour Photography
As a trusted and experienced Calgary family photographer, I often advise clients that blue hour—twilight just after sunset or just before sunrise—offers a uniquely magical window for outdoor family photos. I will usually only recommend we extend our session time during this time of day if we are photographing older children and adults.
The light is so beautifully soft and diffused, reducing harsh shadows on faces while delivering a moody, cinematic sky that can elevate cityscapes, parks, and architectural backdrops. During blue hour, the sky transitions to deep blues with hints of purple or indigo, and indirect sunlight still bathes the scene, creating flattering skin tones and rich color harmony without the need for heavy editing.
Families will benefit from a calm, slower pace, less wind, and a quieter environment, which helps to keep teens engaged and parents stay relaxed. When planning your Calgary outdoor family session, consider blue hour as a complementary option to the more common golden hour and sunrise: each offers distinct mood, color palettes, and storytelling potential. For the best results, coordinate with your photographer on timing, location, and wardrobe to ensure your session captures the tranquil glow and cinematic tones that blue hour provides.
For Calgary photographers, blue hour presents exciting opportunities to experiment with ambient color, silhouettes, and creative silhouettes against illuminated horizons, all while maintaining natural, authentic expressions from children and families.
Ready to plan your ideal outdoor family session?
Contact the studio below to book a discovery call and to reserve your outdoor family session in my calendar!
Jillian Faulkner is a professional portrait and event photographer based in Calgary, Alberta offering portrait photography sessions outdoors and in her Calgary photography studio located in the historic Hudson Lofts. Jillian Faulkner Photography was established in 2010 and is an active member and Ambassador for the National Association of Portrait and Child Photographers. She is also an accredited member and Alberta Director with the Professional Photographers of Canada.