Both sunrise and sunset can produce excellent family photos in Myrtle Beach. Neither time is universally better.
The right choice depends on your children’s ages, how hot the season is, how crowded the beach gets during your visit, and how the rest of your vacation schedule is shaped.
After more than 15 years photographing families on this coastline, I’ve learned that the “right” time has more to do with your family’s rhythm than with the light itself, though the light does look different depending on which one you choose.
If you have young children who wake up early, want quieter beaches, or are visiting during peak summer heat, sunrise usually works better.
If you have older kids or teenagers, want more time to get ready, or would rather not set an alarm on vacation, sunset usually fits more naturally.
Families visiting in spring or fall have more flexibility either way.
Myrtle Beach sits along the Atlantic coastline, and the beach faces east. That means sunrise photos happen directly over open water, and the light builds gradually as the sun climbs above the horizon.
The early sky often moves through soft pinks, oranges, and blues before the sun fully rises, and once it’s up, the light stays soft and low for a while, which is flattering for portraits. Weather changes this from day to day.
Some mornings bring a dramatic sky, others are more muted or overcast, so I never promise a specific kind of sunrise. What I can say is that the character of that early light, soft and low in the sky, tends to be consistent even when the sky itself varies.
Because the beach faces east, the sun does not set over the ocean in Myrtle Beach. It sets inland, behind you as you face the water.
That doesn’t mean sunset sessions are less beautiful, it just means the approach is different from a true ocean sunset you might picture from a west coast beach.
Instead of shooting toward a setting sun over the water, I work with the direction and quality of the evening light, which turns warm as it lowers in the sky. The color in the sky behind the family, the warm tone on skin, and the long shadows are what make sunset sessions distinct, not a sun dropping into the ocean.
For families with babies and toddlers, the decision usually comes down to the child’s normal schedule rather than what the adults would prefer.
A toddler who wakes at 6am is likely to be more cooperative at sunrise than forced awake early just for a photo session, and a toddler who wakes early will also usually be worn out by the end of a full beach day, which makes sunset harder.
On the other hand, a baby who naps in the morning and is more alert in the evening may do better after that nap, closer to sunset.
Overstimulation is the bigger risk at sunset. A toddler who has spent the whole day in the sun, in and out of the water, missing a nap, is working against you by the time evening light arrives, no matter how nice that light looks.
If your child is already worn down by dinnertime most days, sunrise is usually the safer choice. If your child naturally has more energy in the evening and struggles in the morning, sunset will likely go smoother.
There’s no universal right answer here, it comes down to watching how your own child actually behaves at each end of the day.
Older kids and teenagers are usually easier to work with at sunset. They can sleep in, take their time getting ready, and aren’t being asked to perform for a camera before they’re fully awake.
That said, family habits still matter more than age alone. A family that’s naturally up early every day of their vacation may still prefer sunrise even with teenagers in the group.
A family that sleeps in and moves slowly in the mornings will almost always have a better experience at sunset, regardless of the kids’ ages.
Summer is when the sunrise versus sunset decision matters most. Heat and humidity build steadily through the day, so mornings are generally more comfortable than evenings, especially for young children.
Beaches also fill up fast during summer weeks, and by late afternoon the areas near popular access points can be crowded with tents, coolers, and other vacationers, which shows up in the background of photos.
For many families, sunrise offers quieter beaches and more comfortable conditions during the hottest part of the Myrtle Beach summer.
Sunset is still workable in summer, it just means planning around heat and crowds rather than avoiding them. Sunrise and sunset times shift throughout the season, so I’ll always confirm the specific timing with you closer to your session rather than relying on a fixed clock time.
Spring and fall change the equation. Cooler seasonal conditions can make sunset sessions more comfortable than they may be during peak summer.
Sunrise still has the advantage of quieter beaches, since fewer vacationers are out early even during nicer weather. In these shoulder seasons, the decision tends to come down more to your family’s schedule and preferences than to weather or comfort, since both times of day are workable.
Crowds deserve their own mention because they’re one of the biggest practical differences between the two times, especially during busy vacation weeks. Early morning beaches are generally quieter, sometimes dramatically so, before most vacationers are up and out.
Sunset beaches, especially in summer, are more likely to be crowded, since it’s when many families head down for an evening walk or their own beach time. A quieter beach means fewer strangers walking through the background of your photos and generally more space to work with.
If a clean, uncluttered beach setting matters to you, that alone can be a reason to lean toward sunrise.
Think through the rest of your trip before locking in a time. Sunrise sessions get photos done early, which frees up the whole rest of the day for the beach, excursions, or just relaxing, and it avoids any conflict with dinner reservations.
It also means you’re not asking kids to look fresh after a full day in the sun and saltwater. Sunset sessions work well if your days are already busy and you’d rather not carve out morning time, but they do require planning around dinner plans and factoring in that everyone will have already spent hours in the sun.
Arrival day or the first full day of your trip is often a good time for a sunrise session, since it gets photos out of the way early in the vacation.
Here’s how sunrise and sunset compare across the factors that matter most for a family session in Myrtle Beach.
Choose sunrise if your children wake up early, you’re visiting during peak summer, you want a quieter beach, or you’d rather have your session done before the rest of your day begins.
Choose sunset if you have older kids or teenagers, you’d rather skip the early alarm, your family naturally moves slower in the mornings, or you’re visiting in spring or fall when the evening heat isn’t as much of a factor.
If you’re genuinely torn, think about how your family already behaves on a normal vacation day. The time you already gravitate toward is usually the one that will feel easiest for a photo session too.
Sessions I photograph as part of the broader Myrtle Beach family photography experience can be scheduled for either time, depending on what fits your family best.
Q: Is sunrise or sunset better for family photos in Myrtle Beach?
A: Neither is universally better. Sunrise tends to suit families with early risers, summer visits, and a preference for quieter beaches. Sunset tends to suit families with older kids, a slower morning pace, or visits during spring and fall.
Q: Are Myrtle Beach beaches less crowded at sunrise?
A: Generally, yes. Sunrise tends to be quieter than evening during busy vacation periods, though conditions can vary by day and location.
Q: Is sunrise better for toddlers?
A: Often, for early risers, since toddlers tend to be more cooperative in the morning than after a full day in the sun. Some babies are more alert in the evening instead, so it depends on your child’s own schedule.
Q: Does the sun set over the ocean in Myrtle Beach?
A: No. Myrtle Beach faces east, so the sun rises over the Atlantic but sets inland, behind you as you face the water. Sunset sessions work with the warm evening light rather than a sun dropping into the ocean.
Q: Is sunset too hot for family photos during summer?
A: It can still be warm and humid right up until the sun goes down. It’s workable, but families sensitive to heat often find sunrise more comfortable during the hottest stretch of summer.
Q: How early are sunrise family photos?
A: Sunrise time shifts throughout the year, so the exact start time depends on your session date. I confirm the specific timing with each family ahead of their session.
Q: Can cloudy weather still work for sunrise or sunset photos?
A: Yes. Overcast skies soften the light even further and can still produce strong portraits at either time of day, even without a dramatic sky.
Pasha Belman is the photographer behind Pasha Belman Photography, specializing in family portraits, weddings, engagements, senior photography, and professional headshots throughout Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and coastal South Carolina. Learn more about Pasha.
