The lighting can make a big difference. You want soft light, which looks like it is coming from everywhere, or from all angles.
The Sun is the worst light source as it all comes from a single direction. Which is why you see photography crews carrying around big reflectors to add light from other angles. Which is expensive but worth it.
Wedding photographers use bounce flash to reflect light off the ceiling and walls. This is the best they can do to get candid photos.
There is also the golden hour when the sun is setting. This is a great time for photos.
Where I live there are days in which my yard will be illuminated by sun reflecting off the clouds overhead after the sun has set.
This is totally different from what the yard looks like in the middle of the day!
Marion
