Planning Golden-Hour Photography

Tips · 3-minute read

Photographers chase golden hour for a reason — and a little planning with sun times turns "I missed it" into a shot you nailed.

What golden hour is

Golden hour is the spell just after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun sits low (roughly below 6° above the horizon). The light travels through more atmosphere, so it is soft, warm and directional — long shadows, gentle contrast and a golden cast that flatters almost any subject. There is also the cooler "blue hour" just before sunrise and after sunset.

Plan the shot

• Check the tool's morning golden hour (it runs until a time after sunrise) or evening golden hour (it starts before sunset) for your location.
• Arrive early to scout and set up — the best light moves fast.
• Note day length across the year: golden hour is longer and gentler near the solstices at high latitudes.

More: Solstice vs equinox, or the Sun Times blog.