The Best Time of Year for a Photoshoot in Santorini, Month by Month

The best months for a photoshoot in Santorini are May, June, September and early October: warm but not hot, long evenings, a breeze rather than a gale, and fewer people on the caldera than in July and August. That said, we photograph flying dresses through the whole season, and every month has its own light. Here is what to expect month by month, with the sunset times you will plan your shoot around, and the best time of day in each season.

The quick guide

• Best balance: May, June, September, early October.
• Longest evenings and warmest sea: July and August, with the biggest crowds and the strongest wind.
• Quietest and coolest: April and late October, with softer light and shorter days.
• Winter: calm, empty villages and early sunsets; ask us about availability for your dates.

Why the hour before sunset

Whatever the month, the most flattering light in Santorini comes in the hour before sunset: the sun is low, the shadows are soft and the white walls turn gold. We plan sunset shoots to start about an hour before, so you have that light for most of the session and the sunset itself at the end. Early morning is the alternative: softer, cooler, and the quietest the villages ever are. For the spots, see Santorini's best photo spots.

Sunset times by month

Sunset around the middle of each month, Santorini local time. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October, which is why April and November jump.

• January: about 17:25
• February: about 18:00
• March: about 18:25, then 19:25 after the clocks change
• April: about 19:50
• May: about 20:15
• June: about 20:35
• July: about 20:35
• August: about 20:10
• September: about 19:25
• October: about 18:45, then 17:45 after the clocks change
• November: about 17:10
• December: about 17:05

A sunset shoot in June starts around 19:30; in October, around 17:45. Ask us for the exact time on your date, and we send the meeting point on Google Maps 1 to 2 days before.

Month by month

April

The season begins. Mild days, green hillsides, the villages waking up and still quiet. The light is soft and the sun sets before 20:00, so a sunset shoot fits before dinner. Bring a layer for the evening.

May

One of the best months. Warm, long days, little rain, the bougainvillea in flower and the crowds still manageable. Sunset after 20:00.

June

Long evenings, warm sea, sunset around 20:35. Busier than May, especially in Oia at sunset, but Imerovigli and the quieter villages still feel calm on most evenings.

July and August

Peak season: hot days, the latest sunsets of the year, and the busiest villages. This is also when the meltemi, the dry northerly wind of the Aegean, blows hardest. A breeze is what makes a flying dress fly; when the wind is too strong for a spot, we change the village (Oia is more sheltered than Imerovigli in a north wind). Book early, choose early morning or the hour before sunset, and avoid the middle of the day.

September

Our other favorite. The heat eases, the sea is at its warmest, the crowds thin after the first week, and the light turns golden. Sunset around 19:25.

October

Soft light, mild days and quiet villages, with a sunset that moves from 19:00 to 17:45 when the clocks change. Early evenings mean a sunset shoot fits easily into the day. Bring a layer.

November to March

The quietest months: empty lanes, dramatic skies and early sunsets, with more chance of rain and wind. Many hotels and restaurants close. If you are here in winter and would like a shoot, ask us about your dates.

Wind and the flying dress

People worry about the wind in Santorini; we welcome it. A light breeze lifts the train and makes the photos. The assistant does the rest, throwing the dress at the right moment. If the wind on the day is too strong for your spot, we move to a more sheltered one: with a north wind, for example, Oia is calmer than Imerovigli. If it rains, we reschedule for later the same day or the next day when your plans allow it, and refund you if that isn't possible.

Crowds and the cruise season

Cruise ships visit from spring to autumn, and on busy days Oia fills up around sunset. Imerovigli is calmer at every hour, and Finikia, Megalochori, Prophet Elias and Columbus Beach are quieter still. Our guide Imerovigli or Oia compares the two most popular villages; if you are a cruise passenger yourself, see our Santorini cruise stop guide.

Booking ahead

Sunset sessions in June to September are the first dates to go, so book as early as you can; a 50% deposit secures your date, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before your shoot. Choose your dress at least 3 days before, with our dress guide, and use the photoshoot checklist for the rest.