The much debated question and probably most asked question by my clients, “Should I do sunset or sunrise for photos?” My response: there are pros and cons to both so it depends on which you prefer. Here are my two sense so you can decide for yourself.

SUNRISE PROS: The most obvious, the beautiful sun rays that will spill into your images. Sunrise on the beach in South Florida is a pretty spectacular time. Assuming it isn’t a cloudy day, you will get the most beautiful rays of light in your images that are like no other. Another big pro is there usually aren’t many people out during this time either, so we will have the beach to ourselves, which means there won’t be random beach goers walking around in the background of your images. Also, beach parking is pretty easy at sunrise (and sometimes we don’t even have to pay for it because it is too early). Lastly, weather is a bit more predictable in the morning than in the afternoon in Florida. Locals – you know what I’m talking about.

SUNRISE CONS: You have to wake up early. It is what it is. Sometimes, waking up early is the price you pay for beautiful photos. With that said, it can be hard to get your hair and makeup professionally done so early in the morning. But, if that is something you are interested in, let me know because I have some hair and makeup peeps that will gladly wake up to get you all dolled up for your sunrise session!

SUNSET PROS: You don’t have to wake up early. LOL What?! It is a pro. Another pro, the light is typically much more even, allowing for perfectly exposed skin tones and no washed out tones (which can sometimes happen when it is super bright about 30 minutes after sunrise). Some people don’t like all of the sun rays and haziness that takes place at sunrise, so if that is the case, sunset is perfect for you.

SUNSET CONS: There is a much higher chance for weather to affect your shoot. Typically, in South Florida, afternoon thunderstorms and wind pick up later in the day rather than first thing in the morning. Also, depending on the location, sunset shoots can get busy with other photographers or just random people enjoying the scenery, which can lead to busyness in the backgrounds of your photos and an editing nightmare for yours truly. Yep, I said it. Also, parking tends to be tougher during these busier times of day. Lastly, sunset is a much more popular time to take photos, so photographer availability is harder to come by. If you are interested in a sunset shoot, make sure to book far enough in advance to secure your spot!

Hopefully this info will help you make your decision, but if you are still unsure which is best for you, scroll through these photos to get a better idea of what your final images could look like. The left side is sunset on the beach and the right side is sunrise at the beach. Enjoy!

XOXO, Savannah