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Debates over the best time to take photos are raging in communities around the world. Some confidently assert that the best time for photos outside is when the sun is shining brightly, filling the surroundings with warm hues. Others disagree and continue to insist that there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than drizzling rain and gray clouds slowly drifting by. But what should you ultimately choose? That is what this article will discuss.

Don’t feel like reading the whole breakdown right now? Here’s a tighter, more practical summary of what actually changed.

Key Takeaways

• Cloudy and sunny weather create fundamentally different lighting. Overcast skies produce soft, even light with low contrast, while direct sun generates harsh shadows, strong contrast, and more saturated colors.
• Overcast conditions work best for portraits and macro. Soft light hides skin imperfections and surface flaws, but can flatten the image, so reflectors and careful depth control are needed to restore volume.
• Sunny weather requires strict exposure control. Use low ISO and fast shutter speeds to avoid overexposure, and adjust aperture depending on whether you want sharp detail (f/8-f/11) or background blur (f/1.8-f/2.8).
• White balance must match conditions. Cloudy scenes tend toward blue tones and benefit from “cloudy/shade” presets, while sunny scenes may need “daylight” mode to neutralize excess warmth.
• Weather is not a limitation but a variable. Both conditions can produce strong results if you adapt settings and composition, with post-processing tools available to refine sky, contrast, and overall mood.

The Main Differences Between Sunny and Cloudy Weather

As the weather changes, so does the type of lighting you’ll be working with. The soft light that occurs on cloudy days “gently envelops” objects, making the image appear visually rich. Sunny days, on the other hand, create intense light that produces strong contrast and sharp contours. Working in this environment is much more challenging, but it has the potential to yield more vibrant shots.

Is an Overcast Day Good for Photos?

Thanks to the reduced contrast, skin imperfections and material flaws become less noticeable. It’s safe to say that these are the perfect skies for portraits and macro photography. However, in this kind of lighting, the image can appear flat and “dull” due to the lack of pronounced depth. Therefore, it’s best to use reflectors to fill in the shadows and add some depth to the scene.

Due to low light, the only way to maintain a fast shutter speed is to increase the ISO. The optimal setting will vary for each camera, so you’ll have to find it through trial and error. Start by setting it to 600-800, then adjust it based on the results you get. On a cloudy day, there is significantly less light than on a sunny day, so the aperture settings should be adjusted to higher values. For portraits, an aperture of f/1.8-f/2.8 will suffice, whereas street photography or photojournalism will require an aperture of f/4-f/5.6.

The white balance will also need to be adjusted. In cloudy weather, all subjects take on a faint bluish tint. To get rid of the cool colors in the frame, simply go to the corresponding settings menu on your camera and enable “cloudy” or “shade” mode. The blue haze will disappear, and the image will become slightly more saturated.

What’s not so easy to figure out is what the sky looks like. When you see beautiful photos of clouds in bad weather on Instagram, they were most likely taken right before a downpour or immediately after it. At all other times, the sky looks like a huge gray smudge, cobbled together from a multitude of different pieces. There’s practically nothing you can do about this on the spot, so the main work will be done during the editing phase.

First, choose a suitable photo editor. There are many options on the market, but only Luminar Neo offers specialized tools. The Sky AI module solves the problem completely by simply replacing the gray mess with any layout you like from the collection.

1. Open the photo. To start editing, simply select the uploaded image and click the “Edit” button in the top menu.

2. Select a category. A context menu with several sections will appear on the right side of the screen. To proceed to the next step, locate the “Sky” tab and open it.

3. Ready-made solutions. The available collection includes dozens of ready-made solutions. You can add a clear sky, a setting sun, or simply more aesthetically pleasing cloudy skies.

The Sky AI module is just one step in the editing process, so it can be used both before and after making major adjustments to saturation and color balance. If you can’t find the right option in the provided sky library, Skylum’s photo editor lets you add custom solutions.

Taking Great Photos on a Sunny Day

Sunlight provides high contrast, rich colors, and sharp detail, which is why certain guidelines must be followed when shooting in these conditions. First, set the ISO to the lowest possible setting: if you leave it at a medium or high level, your photos will be constantly overexposed. Set the shutter speed to between 1/1000 and 1/4000 seconds to cut out excess light.

The white balance will have a yellowish tint this time. Generally, this is acceptable when creating summer sky images, but if you want a clean image, switch the camera to “sunny day” mode. The aperture value depends on your specific vision, so you’ll need to adjust it quite often. For example, if you want to blur the background to create a soft bokeh effect, an aperture between f/1.8 and f/2.8 is sufficient. To capture the sharpest possible image, it’s best to set the aperture to f/8-f/11.

When bright skies photos seem too boring, you can still use Sky AI to replace them with something more interesting. Unlike cloudy weather, there are far more potential scenarios that will look great on a sunny day. Set the sky to “golden hour” or add a sunset to the background. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment, and then you’ll end up with mesmerizing shots more often.

What Should a Photographer Choose: Cloudy or Sunny Weather?

If you're wondering whether is it better to take pictures on a cloudy day or wait for the sun to come out, you've already lost. A good photographer never sees changes as a limitation. Rather, it’s simply a new opportunity to take a unique photo. So put your doubts aside, grab your camera, and set off on a journey to the nearest points of interest. Even if you don’t get a good shot right away, Luminar Neo has you covered.