Golden Hour Photography

10 Best Tips for Golden Hour Photography to Capture Beautiful Photos

Anupam Tiwari
By Anupam Tiwari | July 29, 2024 7:46 am

All of us are indeed enchanted by the soft, golden light that bathes the world during the hour before sunset and after sunrise. It's a photographer's dream! Golden hour photography transforms ordinary scenes into breathtaking images. In this blog, we'll discuss 10 essential tips to make the most of this fleeting light. And remember, AI design tools can even help you enhance your photos after the shoot! We will learn how with a little planning and experimentation we can capture awe-inspiring golden hour photos in no time. So, let’s start with the basics!

Table of Contents

What is the Golden Hour?

The golden hour is a special time for photography, occurring shortly after sunrise or before sunset. During this time, the sun is low in the sky, creating a soft, warm light. This lighting helps reduce harsh shadows and brings out rich, natural colors in your photos. It's a perfect time to capture beautiful, flattering images. If you want to enhance your photography skills and take stunning photos, shooting during the golden hour is a great choice.

When is the Golden Hour in the Day?

The golden hour doesn't have a fixed time. It changes depending on your location and the time of year. Generally, it's the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. You can use online tools or photography apps to find the exact golden hour times for your location. Some photographers also call it the "magic hour for photography".

You can even use Appy Pie's AI Photo Enhancer to make your golden hour photos stand out. This tool helps you fine-tune your images, bringing out the best colors and details, even if the lighting conditions aren't perfect. 

What Makes the Golden Hour so Special?

The golden hour is special because of its unique lighting conditions. During this time, the sunlight is softer and warmer than at any other point in the day. This light creates long shadows and a gentle glow, which can make your subjects look more vibrant and appealing. The angle of the sun also helps reduce harsh contrasts, making it easier to capture balanced and well-exposed photos. It offers a natural lighting setup that's hard to beat.

10 Best Tips for Golden Hour Photography to Capture Beautiful Photos

Till now we have understood the basics of golden hour photography. Let us now start with the best tips for capturing magical moments during this time of the day.

  1. Plan and scout your location early

    2. To get the best pictures of golden hour, you should scout your location ahead of time. Check the terrain, note the best spots for the sunrise or sunset, and consider any obstacles that could affect your shots. This preparation helps you make the most of the limited time golden hour offers.

  2. Use a wide aperture for soft backgrounds

    3. One of the essential golden hour photo tips is to use a wide aperture. A setting like f/2.8 or lower will create a soft, blurred background, making your subject stand out. This technique is especially useful for portraits, where you want to emphasize your subject against a warm, glowing background. You can even try our Background Maker to create the perfect background for the subjects in your photo in no time.

  3. Adjust your camera’s white balance settings

    4. Proper golden hour photography settings include adjusting your camera’s white balance. This helps you capture the true colors of the scene. Start with a Kelvin setting around 6000K-6500K and tweak as needed to get the right warmth in your photos.

  4. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady

    5. A tripod is essential for clicking sharp images during golden hour, especially when the light starts to fade. It helps keep your camera steady and enables you to use slower shutter speeds without introducing blur. This tip can be helpful for landscape shots where you want to shoot every detail. Moreover, it’s also important to understand the portrait vs landscape difference to make the right choice of picture format you want for your photoshoot.

  5. Capture silhouettes against the sunlight

    6. You can try capturing silhouettes to add variety to your golden-hour photography. Position your subject against the sun and adjust your settings to expose it to the background. This technique creates a striking contrast and adds a unique element to your photo collection.

  6. Shoot in RAW format for better editing

    7. Shooting in RAW gives you more flexibility in post-processing. It preserves more detail in your images, making it easier to correct exposure or color issues. This is particularly useful for golden hour photos, where the lighting can change quickly and unpredictably. To make more precise edits to your photograph, you can use our AI Photo Editor. This tool enables you to make effective corrections in your photos with the power of intuitive AI technology.

  7. Control flare by positioning the sun carefully

    8. When shooting into the sun during golden hour flare can sometimes overwhelm your photo. To control this, position your subjects so that they partially block the sun. You can then adjust your angle to let just enough light through for a balanced effect.

    Suggested read: Discover the best ways to learn photography without going to a photography school 

  8. Experiment with backlighting your subjects

    9. Backlighting during golden hour creates a soft glow around your subject, highlighting them beautifully. Position your subject between the camera and the sun, and adjust your exposure settings to keep the background properly lit. It will also help you in adding depth and mood to your photos. 

  9. Include reflections for stunning effects

    10. Incorporating reflections can add a unique dimension to your photos. Look for water surfaces like lakes, ponds, or even puddles that can reflect the warm tones of the golden hour. This technique can enhance the visual appeal of your images. You can even use our Photography Flyer Maker to showcase your best clicks across online and offline platforms creatively. 

  10. Be ready for quick changes in lighting.

    11. Golden hour lighting can change quickly, so you need to be prepared to adjust your settings on the fly. Keep an eye on the light and be ready to change your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO as needed. This adaptability will help you click the best possible photos as the light evolves.

Also read: A beginner’s guide to drone photography

Conclusion

The golden hour is indeed any photographer's dream. You can follow these tips and by experimenting with different techniques, you can capture lovely images that will impact your viewers. But always remember the key to great photography is practice and patience. So, grab your camera and start exploring the magic of the golden hour!

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