The Most Magical Time of Day for Your Photography Session

Brides, if there’s one thing to know about photographers, it’s this: we are obsessed with golden hour. It’s the magical time of day when the light wraps around you like a dream, creating soft, romantic images that feel timeless and effortless.

What Is Golden Hour?

Golden hour happens twice a day—shortly after the sun rises and just before it sets. It’s when the sun is low in the sky, casting warm, golden light that flatters every skin tone and softens the entire scene. There are no harsh shadows, no squinting into bright sunlight—just natural, glowy light that’s truly flattering for portraits.

This is why photographers plan entire sessions around golden hour. It's nature’s beauty filter, and trust me, there’s no editing trick in the world that compares to it.

Why I Always Recommend Golden Hour for Your Photos

Whether it’s your engagement session or wedding day, I always plan for golden hour portraits. These are the dreamy, glowing images that end up being your favorites—the ones you’ll frame, share, and fall in love with again and again.

For engagement sessions, we’ll typically start about 1.5 hours before sunset. This gives us time to explore your location, change outfits if needed, and make the most of the evolving light as the sun dips lower in the sky.

For wedding days, I always build golden hour portraits into your timeline. The exact timing depends on your location and season, because sunset looks different every single day. I’ll track sunset time for your wedding date (thank you, Google!) and adjust based on what’s around us—trees, buildings, hills, etc. Sometimes we’ll sneak out during dinner or just before the dance floor opens for a quick golden hour session. It's always worth it.

Trust the Light

Golden hour is one of those things that can't be replicated. It’s soft, romantic, and transforms every setting into something magical. If you're planning your wedding timeline or choosing a time for your engagement photos, trust your photographer when we say: this is the moment.

I promise, when you look back at your photos glowing with that golden light, you’ll be so glad we made time for it.

If you’re unsure when golden hour is for your date or location, I’d love to help you plan the perfect timing for your session. Let’s make the most of that beautiful, fleeting light together.