How to Take Beautiful Photos During the Golden Hour: Tips and Tricks

The Magic of Golden Hour Photography

If you’ve ever taken a walk early in the morning or late in the evening, you’ve likely experienced the magic of golden hour. That brief period just after sunrise and before sunset when the sunlight is soft, warm, and creates the perfect glow on everything it touches. I remember the first time I truly experienced golden hour – I was out for a walk, and the way the light bathed everything in a golden hue made everything look so much more beautiful. Naturally, I wanted to capture that beauty in photos. Over the years, I’ve learned how to make the most of this fleeting period to take stunning photos. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a hobbyist looking to improve your images, knowing how to use the golden hour to your advantage can make a world of difference.

1. Timing Is Everything: How to Catch the Golden Light

The first lesson I learned was that timing is critical. Golden hour doesn’t last long – it’s the hour just after sunrise and just before sunset, and its exact timing changes depending on your location and the time of year. To get the perfect shot, you need to plan ahead. There’s no "one-size-fits-all" schedule, so knowing when the golden hour happens in your area is crucial. There are a number of apps and websites that can help you track the golden hour for any given day. I personally use an app that tells me the precise time of sunrise and sunset, and I set alarms to make sure I’m ready to shoot when the light is at its best. The golden hour is brief – it typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes – so being punctual is essential.

2. Understand the Direction of Light

One of the first things I discovered was how important it is to consider the direction of the light. When the sun is low on the horizon, the light is softer and more diffused. This makes it easier to capture photos with beautiful shadows, highlights, and contrast. It’s also the time when the color of the light is at its warmest, casting a golden or reddish glow over everything. When shooting portraits, I like to position my subject with the light coming from the side, rather than directly behind or in front of them. This creates a beautiful, warm light that highlights the subject’s features, giving them a soft, flattering glow. In landscape photography, I usually face the light head-on to capture the full effect of the golden tones on the scenery.

3. Adjust Your Camera Settings

To get the most out of golden hour, I’ve learned to adjust my camera settings to suit the light conditions. The key is to use a wider aperture (lower f-stop) to allow more light into the camera and to create a shallow depth of field. This technique helps separate your subject from the background, making them stand out beautifully in the soft, golden light. Additionally, I recommend lowering the ISO setting to prevent noise from appearing in your images. Golden hour light is often bright enough that you don’t need a high ISO, which helps maintain the clarity and quality of your photos. For me, a low ISO, wide aperture, and a faster shutter speed are my go-to settings.

4. Experiment with Different Angles

One of the most fun aspects of shooting during golden hour is experimenting with different angles. The changing light creates endless opportunities to play with shadows, reflections, and contrasts. I've found that shooting into the sun, with the subject backlit, creates stunning silhouettes. If you prefer more detail, shooting with the sun behind you can add a gentle warmth to your subject, making them appear bathed in soft light. Additionally, I love trying out different perspectives – shooting up from the ground or finding interesting foreground elements that interact with the light. The golden hour is all about creativity, so I recommend experimenting and seeing how the light works with your surroundings.

5. Use the Landscape to Enhance Your Shots

Incorporating the landscape into your photos can elevate your golden hour shots even further. I’ve found that elements like water, trees, or mountains can add depth and interest to the composition. The reflection of the sun on water, for example, can create stunning symmetry, while the soft light filtering through trees can create magical patterns of light and shadow. Another landscape feature to look out for is the sky. During golden hour, the sky often turns brilliant shades of orange, pink, or purple, which can add a beautiful backdrop to your photos. Don’t forget to capture wide shots of the entire scene, as the golden hour light can transform even the most mundane landscapes into something breathtaking.

6. Don’t Forget Post-Processing

Although the golden hour provides natural, beautiful lighting, post-processing is still an important part of the process. After capturing my photos, I usually fine-tune them using editing apps. The warm tones of golden hour can sometimes be enhanced even further by adjusting the temperature or contrast. For me, subtle adjustments such as enhancing the saturation or tweaking the exposure can really bring out the golden tones in the image. However, I always make sure not to overdo it – the key is to keep the photo looking natural and true to the feeling I had when I captured it.

Golden Hour for Portraits and Landscapes

Golden hour is a versatile time for photography, and it works equally well for portraits and landscapes. For portraits, I focus on soft, flattering lighting, using the sun to create a glowing effect on the subject’s skin. One trick I love is to have my subject face slightly away from the sun so that their hair and skin catch the light without squinting. This results in a gorgeous, natural-looking glow. For landscapes, I prefer capturing wide shots that take in as much of the scenery as possible. The golden hour light makes everything look more vibrant, and the shadows add depth and texture to the scene. I find that shooting wide and capturing the full breadth of the landscape during golden hour is the best way to showcase its beauty.

Conclusion: Capture the Beauty of Golden Hour

Golden hour is truly a magical time for photography, and I’ve learned that patience and preparation are key to capturing its beauty. By planning ahead, understanding the direction of light, experimenting with angles, and adjusting your camera settings, you can create stunning photos that truly showcase the magic of this special time of day. Whether you’re photographing landscapes or portraits, golden hour will always add a touch of warmth and charm to your images. So, next time you see that golden glow in the sky, grab your camera and take full advantage of this amazing opportunity. You won’t regret it!