What’s the Best Time of Year for Brand Photography in the UK?
There isn’t really a wrong time of year…
What is the Best Time of Year for Brand Photography in the UK?
If you’re already asking yourself what time of year is the best for your brand photography then let me congratulate you on your forward thinking! Which season is best for your photoshoot depends on a few key things, like planning ahead for seasonal campaigns, amount of sunlight, and seasonal changes for outdoors shoots. What you might not know however, is that there isn’t really a wrong time of year.
There, I’ve said it. I may have just contradicted a lot of other advice you’ve read, but the honest truth is there is always light. Sometimes a little less, but also, sometimes the sunniest times of year are not as ideal as you think.
A digested video of this article:
When do Seasons Matter for Photography?
For Photographing Seasonal Change
When you’re wanting to embrace the seasons in your photography, you have two options. You can either fully embrace the seasons outdoors, or you can bring them indoors using props to signify season. The latter is infinitely more preferable if you’re planning ahead of time (think seasonal campaigns) and the outdoors isn’t so pivotal to your images. Having said that, there’s no reason why spring light can’t symbolise summer in the right setting, or why shooting in winter has to look cold and wintry.
Outdoor UK Seasonal Shoots:
Outdoors you’re at the mercy of the weather whatever the time of year (never a given in the UK, although rarely an issue on any shoot I’ve scheduled). You can embrace the season as it blossoms in situ, and take your photography outdoors to enjoy the flowers and foliage in their seasonal glory.
Indoor UK Seasonal Shoots:
Or, you can bring the seasons indoors a few months earlier and introduce seasonal elements using props (again I do like to use florals) that signal the seasons. Christmas being the most obvious one with firs, pinecones, darker tones and candlelight all evoking a very particular feeling of winter warmth and cosiness.
Planning Ahead for Seasonal Photo Campaigns
A seasonal campaign – whether it’s done with the season in mind visually or to coincide with a launch date – needs to be planned well ahead of time. Factoring in the editing and delivery of your photos, plus planning and preparation means at its shortest, really you’re looking at a 4 week lead time to having the photos ready to drop into your marketing materials.
Which Season Has The Best Light for Brand Photography in the UK?
Benefits of Spring and Autumn for Photography
low glinting sunlight and natural glory
Honestly, spring and autumn have long been my favourite times of year, for low glinting golden sunshine. You notice the change in seasons mostly around spring – with its blossom trees, daffodils blooming – and autumn. The very word conjures up rich oranges, yellows and crisp red leaves on the ground.
Both seasons have plenty of sunlight and though it might not last until 9 o’clock at night, there’s no need for late evening sunshine on a brand shoot.
Summer Sunlight and Brand Photoshoots
most guaranteed for dry weather
Summer sunshine is always beautiful. However it is also bright, so while there’s little cause for concern about the weather affecting daylight at this time of year on your shoot day, it’s more about managing the midday light than celebrating its abundance.
There’s always scope for maximising strong shadows in harsh sunlight, so if you’re up for going with the flow and getting creative, there is fun to be had. But it’s not always a case of more sunshine = best time of year. It’s just different.
Winter – Is It Really So Bad for Your Photos?
shorter daylight hours mean location is key
Finally, winter. Ahh, the time of year when the pre-Christmas calendar is ridiculously busy and photoshoot concerns are laid aside for the urgency of getting everything done before the arbitrary end of year deadline.
January and February might feel gloomy, but given we’re in the UK, not the far north of Scandinavia, we do still have daylight hours in which it’s not impossible to fit a full day shoot. My main concern for shooting in winter would be securing a south facing location – once you have a natural light filled location winter really isn’t an issue.
(I’m lucky in that my studio happens to be south east facing and enjoys light for all of my shooting hours – given that the early morning is getting ready time anyway).
Choosing the Best Time of Year for Your Brand Photography in the UK
Honestly, despite the very differentiated seasons we have in the UK, there aren’t many reasons why you would need to pick one season over another for your brand photography shoot. The reason you would choose one time of year specifically is because you want the natural elements of the season to feature in your photoshoot. Or, because of marketing deadlines. In that case, seasonal elements can be introduced in other ways, as you’ll likely be shooting several weeks beforehand.
Daylight isn’t a Limiting Factor – Location is.
Think about what your concern really is. If it’s doubts over sufficient sunshine, a good photographer can work with light. I use natural light in almost all my photography and while shoot hours are more limited in winter, they are also the hours most people want to work anyway. Make your choice based on location rather than season, if daylight is your concern. You can download my brand photography pricing brochure for all the details and next steps for your photoshoot.
