The short answer
Indoors, the best time is usually when plenty of soft, indirect daylight comes through your windows. For many homes that means late morning to early afternoon, but the real answer depends on which direction your windows face, the season, and the weather. A room that is bright at 10 AM may be dim by 4 PM, and the reverse is true for other rooms.
Window direction decides the best time
The sun moves across the sky, so each window gets its best light at a different time. As a general guide in the northern hemisphere (flip it in the southern hemisphere):
- East-facing windows: brightest in the morning.
- South-facing windows: strong light for much of the day, often with direct sun that may need softening.
- West-facing windows: brightest in the afternoon and evening.
- North-facing windows: steady, soft, indirect light throughout the day, which many photographers like for portraits and still life.
Spend a day noticing when each room is brightest. Taking a quick test photo every hour or two is a simple way to learn your home’s light.
Direct sun vs indirect light
Strong direct sun can create hard shadows and bright patches, and make people squint. Indirect light, from a window the sun is not shining straight through, is softer and generally more flattering. To tame direct sun:
- Hang a sheer white curtain over the window.
- Move your subject a little back from the window, out of the sun patch.
- Shoot when the sun has moved off that window.
Is 2 PM a good time?
It can be, indoors. Early afternoon is often bright, and a window that gets indirect light then may be ideal. The issue is the same as always: a south- or west-facing window may deliver direct sun in the afternoon, so check for harsh patches. If the light looks too contrasty, diffuse it or move to a different room.
Golden hour indoors
The low, warm light near sunrise or sunset can look lovely coming through windows, especially from a side angle. It is also short and moves quickly, and rooms can fall dark soon after. If you want to try it, see our overview of the best time to take photos and our guide to morning photos for timing basics.
Overcast days
Cloudy weather lowers the amount of light coming in but also softens it. You may need a higher ISO, a wider aperture, or a slower shutter speed, which risks blur if people move. Placing your subject close to the window and using light-colored surroundings can help. Many photographers prefer to reschedule an indoor session rather than shoot in very dim, stormy conditions. For ideas when the sky is grey, see our cloudy day photo ideas.
Set up the room
- Open blinds and curtains fully so no stripes fall across faces.
- Use light-colored bedding, walls, or blankets, which bounce light back into shadows.
- Remove clutter that will be visible in frame.
- Keep subjects near the window, rather than in the middle of the room.
- Turn off overhead lights if you are relying on daylight, as mixed light can cause color casts.
Camera and phone settings
- On a phone, tap on your subject’s face to set focus and exposure, and lift exposure slightly if needed.
- On a camera, choose a wide aperture and keep the shutter speed fast enough for the subject. For people, see shutter speed for portrait photography.
- Raise ISO only as much as needed, since high values add noise.
- Use a tripod for still subjects when light is low.
Lamps and mixed light
If daylight is not enough, lamps help, but warm bulbs next to cool window light can leave odd color. Try to use one type of light, or fix color in editing; a free tool such as Snapseed can do this, as covered in our common photo editing apps guide. Our guide to taking professional photos at home covers background, gear, and light edits.
Why you may not look like your photos
Some people feel they look better in person than in pictures. Lens distortion from close cameras, harsh or low light, awkward angles, and the fact that we are used to seeing our mirror image all play a role. Soft window light, a camera at eye level, and a little distance often produce more natural results. This is not a measure of how photogenic you are, and practice with posing and light usually helps.
The 20/60/20 idea
You may see a “20/60/20 rule” mentioned in photography discussions. It is not a standardized rule and is used in different ways, so treat it as an informal rule of thumb about taking many frames and choosing the best.