Finding the Light: A Guide to Golden Hour Portraits

Golden hour — the stretch of soft, warm light just after sunrise and just before sunset — is the most forgiving, flattering light a photographer can work with. The sun sits low on the horizon, so the light comes in at an angle rather than straight down, which means fewer harsh shadows and none of the squinting that comes with midday sun.

Plan around the sun, not the clock

Golden hour shifts throughout the year, so I always check the sunset time for the shoot date rather than assuming a fixed hour. Arriving thirty minutes early gives time to scout the location while the light is still building.

Position your subject with the light behind them

Backlighting during golden hour creates a soft rim of light around your subject's hair and shoulders. Pair it with a reflector or a lighter background to keep faces from going too dark in silhouette.

Keep the session moving

The best light only lasts twenty to thirty minutes, so I keep a loose shot list and move quickly between poses and locations rather than lingering on any one setup.

Golden hour will not fix every photo, but building a session around it gives you a real head start — less editing, more usable frames, and portraits that feel warm without any extra effort.