With mid-afternoon sun you have to be extremely conscious of what you are doing. It isn't my first choice for lighting. Like most photographers, I would rather work during the fringe hours of the day or transitional lighting during afternoon light.

There are times when one has to shoot in full sun (like during summer ceremonies outside) or to create a certain look no other light will do. First, I would say be very aware of your camera angles. Even in full sun, there are pockets of excellent light. As one moves around one's subject, there are certain angles that will definitely be more flattering. Find those angels and wait for (or help direct) the moment to happen.

My second tip would be to make sure your exposure is as close to right on as possible. When dealing with high contrast situations there is not much room for error. Give yourself as much image detail in your highlights and shadows to work with in post will allow a lot of flexibility and time savings in post.