Why is Golden Hour the Best Time for Photos?
People talk about Golden Hour like everyone knows what it is and understands what makes it great, but a lot of folks don’t actually know why Golden Hour is the best time for photos! Even if you aren’t a photographer, you probably recognize that there’s something magical about this time of day and love the vibe it brings. When you work with a photographer they will probably tell you that they only have sessions during Golden Hour. So what is Golden Hour and why do photographers love it so much?
What is Golden Hour?
Golden Hour actually happens twice a day, although most people only think of the second occurrence - the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset are the official “Golden Hours” of each day. You’ll probably find that your photographer will want to start a little before the official Golden Hour start times. This gives us time to adapt to the location and gives you time to get comfortable in front of the camera before the perfect light is happening. That way when that light is juuuuuuust right, we will all be in the groove and ready to capture some amazing moments.
The #1 Reason Golden Hour is the Best for Photos
Soft light! If you're anything like me, you're probably thinking "okay, Kay, but what does that actually MEAN?" Soft light basically means the sun is positioned in a way that it won't cast shadows in an unflattering way. Soft light is flattering for everyone and it does wonders for the skin. Shadows make blemishes show, so anything from a zit to a wrinkle is going to be more noticeable in harsh light. Soft light doesn't cast dark shadows, so blemishes are less noticeable and your skin will have that nice golden tone to it that makes it look like you got the perfect amount of sun rather than feeling like you're super pale or sunburnt or anything like that!
Other Reasons to Take Photos During Golden Hour
No squinting! Soft light means you won't be shading your face with your hand, wishing for sunglasses, or squinting in the bright, harsh, midday sun.
Temperature! Golden hour means you can beat the summer heat! This is most effective with a morning start, but waiting until the evening Golden Hour can also help you keep cool during your session since the worst of the heat will be long gone by the time the sun sets in the summer. Evening Golden Hour can also be helpful if you're doing outdoor photos in the winter because you can make the most of any warmth in the day.
Less people! If you are brave enough to go out for the morning Golden Hour, you'll find that you have your location all to yourself, which means you won't be shifting around to keep people from being in the background of your pictures!
The Golden Hour Glow
The soft, glowing light of Golden Hour is so magical that I couldn't resist sharing all of my favorite Golden Hour photos with you in this post!
