I realised the other day that I was guilty of using photographer jargon with my wedding couples. During a wedding I was chatting to the Bride and Groom about the possibility of having a great golden hour. The sun had been shining all day, not a cloud in site and I was getting so excited about the prospect of an amazing golden hour. It didn’t disappoint… but as we wandered outside the Bride said “Ahhhh I get it now… Golden hour, because the sun makes everything golden!” It hadn’t even occurred to me that they may not know what on earth I was going on about when I was getting super excited about “Golden Hour”. So, I thought i’d write a blog on it…
Candi xx
You’ve probably seen those warm glowy wedding photos all over social media. The ones where everything looks golden, soft, relaxed, and natural. Most of the time, those photos were taken during golden hour.
As a wedding photographer, golden hour is honestly one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph. Not because it’s trendy, but because the light is genuinely better, couples are usually much more relaxed by that time in the evening, and it gives me a chance to create some beautiful natural photos without dragging you away from your guests for ages.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Golden hour is just before sunset: when the light becomes softer, warmer, and much more flattering for photographs. You only need 10–15 minutes: to create beautiful couple portraits without missing loads of your evening celebrations. The light does most of the work: softer light means more natural skin tones, less harsh shadows, and relaxed looking photographs. It’s usually the calmest part of the day: giving you chance to pause together away from the noise and enjoy a few quiet moments. Golden hour isn’t just for sunny days: cloudy evenings can create some of the softest and most flattering light of the whole day. You don’t need to plan your entire day around it: a little flexibility in your timeline is usually enough to make the most of it if the light appears. |
So… What Actually Is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is just before sunset when the sun sits lower in the sky and the light becomes much softer. Instead of bright overhead sun creating harsh shadows and causing everyone to squint, the light becomes warmer and is much more flattering. It gives photos a softer feel and works beautifully for natural wedding photography.
The timing of golden hour very much depends on the season:
- Summer weddings might have golden hour around 8–9pm
- Winter weddings can be much earlier, sometimes around 4pm
Despite the name, Golden hour doesn’t actually last a full hour. Usually the best light only hangs around for 10–20 minutes.
Why Does Golden Hour Look So Good in Photos?
The short version? The light does a lot of the work for us.
Golden hour light is softer, warmer, and more flattering than the harsher light earlier in the day. Skin tones look more natural, dresses photograph beautifully, and everything has a calmer feel to it.
It’s Also One of the Only Chances You Get to Pause
Wedding days move fast. Faster than most couples expect.
Golden hour portraits often end up being one of the only times during the day where you actually get a few quiet minutes together. Away from the noise, away from the schedule, and away from everyone asking you questions.
Usually it’s just 10–15 minutes of walking, chatting, taking it all in, while I capture things naturally as they happen.
No stiff posing.
No disappearing for an hour.
No awkward “look at each other and laugh” moments.
You Won’t Miss Your Evening Party
One of the biggest worries I hear from my couples is missing part of the evening while we’re out taking photos.
Honestly, golden hour portraits are normally really quick.
Plus by this point in the day:
- you’re more relaxed, all of the nerves have settle
- You’re a bit more used to having your photos taken
- we already know each other well
- It’s all about the light and the light is doing half the work
So we can usually create loads of beautiful images in a really short amount of time before heading straight back to the dance floor.
How to Make Golden Hour Work in Your Timeline
You don’t need to build your entire wedding day around it. It really is a 10 – 15 minute task.
The easiest thing is to simply leave a little flexibility in your evening timeline. I’ll always keep an eye on the light and let you know when it’s looking good. You might catch me bouncing with excitement – I did say it was my favourite time to capture couple portraits.
A few things that help:
- Try not to push speeches too late
- Consider leaving a bit of space before your first dance
- Trust your photographer, when they suddenly appear saying “the light is really good right now”
What If the Weather Is Bad?
Ok, so we live in the UK, so honestly… we work with whatever weather we get and I can’t guarantee we’ll get a golden hour but whatever the weather we will get some gorgeous photos.
Also, golden hour doesn’t need a perfect sunset to work. Sometimes cloudy evenings actually create the softest light of the whole day. Clouds act as diffusers for the sun’s light and will help create some beautiful even lighting. They are like nature’s own soft boxes. Some of my favourite couple portraits have happened after rain or during those strange in-between weather moments where the sun suddenly appears for five minutes.
Is Golden Hour Worth It?
Absolutely… but probably not for the reasons you’d expect.
Yes, the light is beautiful, but for me golden hour is less about creating “perfect” photos and more about creating space for you to slow down for a few minutes together during a really busy day.
By that point, the nerves have usually gone, you’re more relaxed, and you’re no longer thinking about the camera. That’s often when the most natural moments happen.
And the best part? It doesn’t need to take over your wedding day. Most golden hour portraits happen naturally in just 10–15 minutes before you head straight back to your guests and the dance floor.
If you’re currently planning your wedding and wondering how to fit everything into your timeline without the day feeling rushed, this is exactly the sort of thing I help my couples with. As a Coventry wedding photographer covering Warwickshire and the West Midlands, I always help couples plan a day that feels relaxed, natural, and still leaves space for beautiful photographs.
