Golden hour and sunset wedding photos

Not so long ago, I ran an Insta poll to uncover my couples’ must-have wedding photos. This was the winner, but there was also a proud runner up …

Golden hour portraits!

Nearly 25% of couples said their most-treasured wedding photos were pictures of the two of them taken during golden hour. 

Now, golden hour is any photographer’s dream. (Think ‘Days of Heaven’ – or Tom Cruise on his motorbike in Top Gun.) But I was surprised it made my couples’ hit list too. So I dug a little deeper and asked for more deets …

“I am so glad you pulled us for our golden hour portraits! They just feel very romantic and relaxed. I didn’t know I wanted them before we got married but if I was to do it again I would definitely have them on my must-have list!” Steph, one half of an SVP couple.

I couldn’t agree more, Steph! Golden hour photos make me giddier than a weeble on a roundabout.

So, what exactly is golden hour?

Don’t recognise the name? Well, you’ll definitely recognise the light …

Golden hour is the period of time leading up to sunset, when the sun is going down but hasn’t yet dipped below the horizon. It gifts us a honey-coloured soft light, giving everything an effortless natural glow-up. 

(It also happens just after sunrise, but don’t worry, I’m not going to knock on your door at 5am!)

Now, slip your lab coat on!

Here’s the science bit …

Why is the light softer during golden hour?

When the sun is lower in the sky, the light has to travel further through the atmosphere to reach us. The distance reduces its intensity, and creates the signature soft light.

Where does the golden colour come from?

Remember your physics lessons? Different colours have different wavelengths. Blue is short, red is long. When sunlight enters the atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths get ‘scattered’ first, which is why we see blue sky in the daytime when the sun is closer.

But as the sun goes down and the wavelengths have to travel further, the blue light is absorbed before it reaches us. So we see more red and yellow light instead.

How does golden hour sun compare to midday sun?

Golden hour sunlight is the polar opposite of midday sunlight. During golden hour the light is gentle, dewy, and radiant. In the middle of the day, it’s harsh as fudge. So you’ll usually find me running away from the midday sun, and towards the golden hour sun. Heck, I’d even run past the cake table for golden hour light! (And I’m not a runner. And I love cake.)

What’s so special about sunset wedding photos?

If I was wedding planning now, I’d make golden hour portraits a priority. In fact, I’d make them my main portrait session. 

And if the photos alone aren’t enough to convince you, consider this …

The signature look

Look at any golden hour photo (wedding or otherwise) and you’ll spot one commonality … The amber tones. That warm colour palette enhances the scene, and gives a dreamy look to photos that Photoshop can only dream of.

Then there’s the creativity. When the sun’s behind you, it creates a glowing ‘rim light’ (like a halo) around you. That’s to be coveted because it makes you ‘pop’ against the background. And there’s more to play with … striking silhouettes, whimsical lens flare, sparkling sunbursts, and long shadows. It’s a great way to make dynamic photos – but in a natural rather than superficial way. 

And let’s not forget golden hour wedding photos are better than any Insta filter. Trust me, I’ve tried them all! The glorious light will give you a natural tan, and blur imperfections. 

What more could you want?

How about …

The relaxed feeling

Maybe it’s because all the formalities are over. 

Maybe it’s because the party’s about to begin. 

Maybe it’s Mayb …

Maybe it’s the alcohol. 

Maybe it’s being more used to having a photographer around. 

Maybe it’s the more comfortable temperature.

Maybe it’s (golden hour) magic. Watching a sunset is romantic at any time. But on your wedding day? It’s extra special. There are various scientific theories that say watching a sunset can relieve stress. And my own scientific study (of one – me) agrees. Being immersed in nature – and each other – will help take your mind off the camera so you look more relaxed. In the absence of Harry and Hermione rocking up in the middle of golden hour, there’s nothing more magical. 

But golden hour photos aren’t all magic. 

Behind every photographer’s wand is a master plan …

How to plan golden hour portraits

Sold on golden hour photos?

There are two main things to work out: When, and where.

Let’s start with ‘when’.

The best only time for golden hour photos

• Getting married between late autumn and early spring? Golden hour will most likely fall during your drinks reception. Maximum goodness for you!
• Tying the knot in early or late summer? That usually means popping outside between courses during your wedding breakfast or between speeches 
• Marrying in midsummer? Golden hour will happen later in the evening so capturing it may not be possible unless you book extended evening coverage

But it’s not quite that simple.

Monicas, brace yourselves.

The word ‘hour’ is a myth.

And whoever named it, had a strange sense of humour. Because usually, golden hour is as little as 20 minutes. And if the clouds get involved, it can be even more fleeting. The sun does what it wants, when it wants. So we’re at nature’s beck and call. Even I, The High Priestess of Planning, cannot control it. 

Which means golden hour photos come at a price. And that price is flexibility. We might be working with a very small window of time and the sun won’t wait – even if it is your wedding day! So when the time comes, we’ll need to move fast to catch it. 

And what about ‘where’?

The best location for golden hour photos

There are two ways to choose the location for your sunset wedding photos. You can let me pick, or you can share your initial ideas with me and we’ll choose the setting together.

Ideally, we want a spot …

• where you can see the sun until the final seconds before it hits the horizon – to give us as much time as possible
• with some interest in the scene – like hills, trees, or a garden – which gives the light something to shine on and sparkle through to create that signature look

Pretty much every venue will have somewhere that shines (literally) during golden hour. But if not, we can look further afield. Maybe there’s a field, park, or beach nearby. 

Ready to make detailed plans?

I’ve got you.

Top tips for golden hour wedding photos

Be ready ahead of time. If you finish your conversation, top up your lippy, change your shoes, take out your veil, hunt for a missing earring … you might completely miss your golden hour photo opportunity.

Work golden hour portraits into your timeline. 15 minutes is ideal as that gives you a little time to relax into things and wait for any clouds to pass. But allow for flexibility on the day – if you’re happy to go with the flow, chances are we can make it happen. (And remember to add on travel time if we’re using a location that’s not at your venue.) 

Brief your suppliers before the day. Tell your catering team, wedding planner, and anyone else who needs to know you’d like to have some golden hour photos. That way, they can help make it happen.

Tell me your priorities. How important are golden hour wedding photos to you? Do you want me to interrupt you mid-conversation with a guest? Pull you from dinner between courses? Ask your planner to push back a speech? If you’d rather not stop the flow of the day, that’s totally okay. Just tell me in advance so I know whether or not to fight for your right to golden hour.

Be open-minded. Mother N is in charge here! And she often changes her mind in seconds. The sun could be hazy one minute, bright the next, popping briefly behind a tree, before peeking through the branches …. then the clouds get involved … So try not to set your heart on anything specific. Instead, we’ll make the best of what we have on the day. You’ll be delighted whatever happens!

All that said, life will be life. Your speeches might overrun, your partner might disapparate, your great aunt Florence might not stop talking … Things don’t always go to plan. But that’s okay. I’ll just rock in the corner for a bit, give myself a good talking to, and then capture that glorious light dancing across your venue.

Sold on golden hour portraits for your wedding day? 

Email me and I’ll add them to your photography plan.