The Best Time of Day for an Outdoor Family Photo Session in Amsterdam

It's that time again! Photo session season is in full swing, and Amsterdam has some truly stunning locations for outdoor family photos. If you're new here, welcome! I'm Natalie, your Amsterdam family and newborn photographer. I'm breaking down the best times of day for outdoor shoots here in the Netherlands.

If you've done a family photo shoot before you might already have a sense of timing. But Amsterdam has its own rhythm when it comes to light, and it's worth knowing before you book.

Morning Sessions

Morning is always a great time for families with little ones. Kids are rested, fed, and genuinely at their best in the morning — and honestly? So is Amsterdam. The city is quieter, the canals have a soft mist, and the light is gentle and angled rather than harsh and overhead.

I typically schedule morning sessions between 8–10am. The light isn't as dramatic as golden hour, but it's soft, consistent, and really beautiful — especially on a slightly overcast day (more on that in a second).

Morning sessions are also a lifesaver in the summer here, because Amsterdam's summer golden hour doesn't happen until around 9:30–10pm. Not exactly toddler-friendly timing!

little girl in red sweater holding stuffed animal

Golden Hour — Amsterdam Style

Golden hour is my absolute favorite time to shoot. The light is warm, golden, and soft…it does things that no other light can do, and I will never get tired of it.

Here's the thing though — in Amsterdam, golden hour timing changes dramatically by season:

Spring (March–May): around 7:30–8:30pm — workable for most families!
Summer (June–August): around 9:30–10pm — way too late for little ones, morning sessions are the way to go
Fall (September–November): around 6:30–7:30pm — this is the sweet spot, and honestly my favorite season to shoot
Winter (December–February): around 3:30–4:30pm — perfectly timed for families, and the light in Amsterdam in winter is amazing

Fall is genuinely special in Amsterdam for golden hour. The light is warm and rich, the leaves in Vondelpark and along the canals are stunning, and the timing works perfectly for families. I cannot recommend it enough. Book early though — fall sessions always go fast!

And winter? I know it sounds intimidating…but golden hour at 4pm means your kids are awake, fed, and functioning. Bundle everyone up in cozy layers, bring a thermos of hot chocolate, and let's make some magic in the moody Amsterdam winter light.

family of three with young boy sitting on bench at Spring Valley Nature Center

family of three with young girl sitting in park

Amsterdam's Secret Weapon: Cloudy Days

Aside from golden hour, I prefer clouds to sun ONE HUNDRED percent. I love the look that a cloudy day gives in photos, and I actually get excited when I wake up to find it’s going to be cloudy that day for a session.

Clouds act as a giant natural diffuser for the sun. They spread the light out evenly, eliminate harsh shadows, and make skin tones look absolutely beautiful. No squinting, no uneven patches of sun and shade, no raccoon eyes from overhead light. Just soft, even, gorgeous light — all day long.

Amsterdam is famously cloudy and honestly…it's one of the reasons I love shooting here. Some of my favorite photos I've ever taken have been on overcast days. So please — do not ask to reschedule because it looks cloudy. I promise you, it's going to be great.

Why I Skip Mid-Day Sessions

Same reason as anywhere, honestly…mid-day light is harsh, unflattering, and just not my thing. The sun is directly overhead, shadows fall in all the wrong places — think harsh shadows under eyes and noses — and kids absolutely cannot handle squinting into bright sun. They close their eyes, rub their faces, get irritable (mine included, ha)— it's just not a recipe for great photos.

And even if we find shade, the light tends to be uneven and dappled coming in from above, and I find the greens from surrounding trees can reflect onto skin…especially on little ones who tend to have lighter complexions.

So we skip mid-day. It's just not worth it for anyone involved — and I promise your photos will be so much better for it.