Plan the shoot around the sky.

Usually the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, when the sun is low and warm. That's golden hour. It isn't the only good option, though. Under cloud cover, midday light turns soft and flattering, and in winter the sun never climbs high enough to get harsh. This planner checks the sun's actual height and the day's cloud cover for the place you enter.

Not even close. Overcast skies act like a giant softbox, which gives you even, forgiving light with no squinting and no harsh shadows under the eyes. You lose the warm glow of golden hour and the sky turns into a blank gray lid, but colors in clothing and foliage often look richer.

Layers you can add and shed quickly: a long coat, knits, boots and a scarf. Warm your hands between setups, because cold hands show up red and stiff on camera. The planner suggests an outfit direction for each part of the day based on how cold it will actually feel.

As far as the National Weather Service publishes hourly detail, which is about a week. Past that, any forecast is a guess. Check back a few days before your session.

The National Weather Service, the US government's forecast service. Sunrise, sunset and the sun's height are calculated on this page for the exact spot you enter. Forecasts change, so look again closer to your session.