Golden Hours: The Best Time of Day to Capture Stunning Photos
What are the Golden Hours?
The “golden hour” is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset.
During the golden hours, the angle of the sun is low in the sky, which creates soft, natural lighting for photos. This is why many photogs prefer to capture clients during this time frame!
Why do you recommend a golden hour session?
I can go on and on about why the golden hour is the most magical time for portrait sessions, but I’ll leave you with three things to consider:
My editing style
People often use the words “natural, bright, true to color” to describe my work. Although I have over a decade of experience to navigate a variety of lighting situations, the golden hour provides dreamy and soft look that pairs perfectly with my editing style!
Many of the images featured on my website and social feeds were taken within this time frame. By scheduling your session at another time that doesn’t mean you won’t have beautiful images. However, there is a chance they will not have the signature look that caused you to connect with my images in the first place.
Less Traffic
These days I’m working predominantly in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding areas. Fun fact: GSMNP is the most visited National Park in the USA!
This means we experience a ton of foot and vehicle traffic at times, especially during peak months (June, July, August, October). Though a golden hour session won’t help you avoid traffic entirely, this is a time when there numbers are reduced.
cooler temperatures
That worst thing to be during a portrait session is uncomfortable. If you’re feeling it, more than likely I can see it in every frame I snap. The temperature from late spring to early fall can be extremely warm and sometimes unbearable in East TN. No one wants to be sweaty and drained by the end of a portrait session! While the heat is sometimes unavoidable, I find that photographing clients during the golden hour helps quite a bit!
What if a sunrise/sunset session doesn't work for me?
I work with a lot of families that have busy work schedules, nap times to work around, etc. Taking photos can already be stressful enough and I want everyone to be in the best mood to ensure you have a fun session and beautiful memories to look back on!
In the event that a golden hour session isn’t possible, I recommend choosing a location with plenty of options for shade or a natural light studio. I can help you explore options for both!
What if there isn't a "golden" hour?
Sometimes we envision a golden sky or beautiful sunset, only to be met with a totally cloudy day. No worries! Overcast skies can provide beautiful natural lighting for photography as well. If I’m being honest, if I had to choose between the golden hour and an overcast day it would be a pretty tough decision to make!
