What’s the Best Time of Day for Real Estate Photography? It Depends on Which Way Your Home Faces
When you’re getting ready to list a home, timing matters—and not just in the market. The time of day you choose for your real estate photos can have a huge impact on how the home looks in the listing. The key is scheduling your shoot based on which way your house faces.
Why Does Direction Matter?
The direction your home faces plays a big role in how it photographs, especially when it comes to lighting. Since the front of the house is typically the most important image in a listing, we try to capture it when the light is soft, even, and flattering. For example, homes that face east tend to photograph best in the morning—waiting until afternoon can mean shooting into the sun, which causes harsh backlighting, blown-out skies, and loss of detail.
When timed right, the lower angle of the sun adds warmth and dimension, enhancing textures and accentuating details.
Of course, we’ll also photograph the back of the house, even if the light isn’t ideal. Any issues caused by the sun’s position can usually be corrected in editing—but getting the front in the best possible light makes the biggest impact.
Use This Guide to Choose Your Time Slot
These timeframes are general guidelines and will shift slightly depending on the time of year.
EAST facing homes:
Best time: Morning (roughly 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM)
Early in the day, the light is soft and flattering. By afternoon, the front may fall into shadow, making it harder to photograph well.
WEST facing homes:
Best time: Afternoon (roughly 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM)
This gives the sun time to move around to the front, casting warm, golden light ideal for showcasing your home’s features.SOUTH facing homes:
Best time: Midday to Early Afternoon
Southern exposures get the most consistent light, though shadows can be longer earlier and later. Midday usually offers the most balanced lighting.NORTH:
Best time: Late Morning to Early Afternoon
North-facing homes don’t receive direct sun on the front, which actually helps avoid harsh shadows—especially helpful on bright days.What About Cloudy Days?
What about Cloudy Days?
Overcast weather can be ideal for real estate photos. Soft clouds act like a giant natural diffuser, evening out the light and reducing harsh shadows on the home and landscaping. The result is often clean, balanced images with great detail, including inside.
And no need to worry that the photos will look dull or gray—a cloudy or overcast sky can easily be replaced with a beautiful blue one in editing. It’s a standard part of our workflow and helps ensure your photos look bright and inviting, no matter the weather on shoot day.
Still Not Sure What Time to Book?
If you’re not sure which direction your home faces, try checking Google Maps or use a compass app. Or just send me the address when booking and I’ll recommend the best time.
And don’t worry if you can’t schedule the shoot at the perfect time. Just choose the time that works for you and I’ll make it work—I have lots of experience photographing homes in less-than-ideal conditions.
Book Your Session Online, Anytime
Or feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss your project.
