What’s the big deal with “Golden Hour”?
The golden hour for photography is something that can’t be beaten for family portraits and wedding photos. The warm glow and the gorgeous colours from this time of the day are truly why golden hour is the magic hour for photography.
Other than the aesthetic, there are many other reasons why photographers love golden hour photography for portraits.
What is Golden Hour?
The golden hour, often known as the "magic hour," is typically the first hour of light following sunrise and the last hour of light before sunset, however, if you were wondering, what time is golden hour for photography, the actual time and duration changes depending on the season.
The sun is low in the sky during these times, creating a soft, diffused light that is far more flattering than the harsh midday sun.
As a golden hour photographer, it is important to know how to take pictures during golden hour, because it is the perfect time to capture the most magical portraits.
5 Reasons Why Photographers Love Golden Hour Photography For Portraits
To Avoid Harsh Shadows
To Avoid Over Exposed Images
No Squinting!
Many Golden Hour Photo Ideas
The Colours
To Avoid Harsh Shadows
So, why is the golden hour important? The reason why photographers love golden hour photography for portraits, as well as adored by many is that it provides such gentle, diffused and soft light.
But what exactly does "soft light" mean? Harsh light is the term for the intense, sharp shadows that are cast by the sun when it is above throughout the day. The term "soft light" refers to the distinct, softer light quality and longer shadows produced when the sun is at a low angle and closer to its subject during the first and last hours of the day.
Long shadows created by soft lighting give the subject depth, texture, and interest without losing detail to sharp shadows or high-contrast highlights. In the middle of the day, it is nearly impossible to take pictures with this kind of depth and richness.
An example of mid-day sun below. While I can make it work if we have a shaded area, it’s still quite harsh compared to the next photo.
In this photo, we have golden hour sun, so the lighting is much more ideal, the subject is gently lit without the overwhelming brightness that comes with mid day sun.
To Avoid Over Exposed Images
In general, it is much simpler to recover shadows in post-production than highlights. Working in an environment that provides less harsh light is one of the reasons why photographers love golden hour photography for portraits so much as it is easier to work with.
If you are anything like me, then a golden autumn evening or morning, with crisp orange and brown leaves with a warm cup of coffee, is the perfect way to enjoy a family portrait session.
No Squinting!
Photographers love golden hour photography for portraits because it means no squinting is involved! There is nothing worse than the sun blinding, not just our clients, but us as golden hour photographers too!
Yes, we love and appreciate it when the sun is beaming, but for a family portrait session, or wedding portraits, it is not ideal. So everyone is as comfortable as possible, the golden hour allows us to relax and actually be able to see properly! Plus, we avoid any unattractive face pulling!
Many Golden Hour Photo Ideas
The beauty of this time is there are many wonderful golden hour photo ideas and here are a couple of my favourites.
Backlight with the setting sun
Backlighting is a technique I love to use during golden hour. The setting sun illuminates our subjects, giving them a beautiful glow.
Another reason why this is a great technique is that you will not be looking directly into the light.
Create Dramatic Silhouettes
Golden hour portraits allow for silhouettes while the setting sun displays those vivid colours!
Image a gorgeous silhouetted image of your and your family hanging on a wall in your home, with gorgeous orange and warm tones.
The Colours
This is my top reason why photographers love golden hour photography for portraits - the colours this hour provides are unexplainable!
For anyone that knows me and my photography style, I am obsessed with autumn because of the magnificent colours you see all around, from the golden light to the leaves that fall off the trees, to the fashion! I am here all year round for those autumn vibes.
The golden hour truly brings out the warm tones, which is why I adore it so much.
Are You Ready to Book Your Golden Hour Portrait Session?
Whether you would you like to book a family portrait session for those lifelong captured memories with your loved ones, or you plan a golden hour shoot during your wedding day, don’t miss out on the best time of the day for those gorgeous shots.
Now you know why photographers love golden hour photography for portraits, we hope you do just as much.
If you would like to book a session with me, I am a Suffolk and Cambridgeshire photographer and I would love to chat!
*Disclaimer, some of these photos were taken in Asheville NC where I am originally from, but I now live in Suffolk, UK!
