the golden hour
It's that time of year when we all start to dream ahead to the lighter evenings and longer days - and the good news is that before we get to the midsummer there is lots of opportunity to capture golden hour and some beautiful golden sunsets at a more reasonable time for little ones!
Now what exactly is Golden Hour? According to Google:
golden hour
noun
- PHOTOGRAPHY
- the period of time just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light is infused with red and gold tones.
To us photographers it is truly a magical time of day where photographs and the environment you're shooting in just comes alive. The light is just stunning and you can create images with depth and beauty that is unearthly. As Google alludes it is more than just an hour but really does depend on the time of year but also the setting and how much light is infused through the trees or clouds. Every time it is a little different and this only adds to part of the beauty.
Golden hour photo shoot tips
Don't panic if the sun goes in!
Aside from the window being changeable depending on the time of year and weather the exact location you shoot in might be up against it with the time the spot 'looses' the light. I try to do a little scoping ahead of our shoot to find the perfect time to shoot. But as with everything to do with nature and the weather we are at it's mercy and we go with the flow. The images below were all captured on the same evening where the light was changing rapidly. Even without the golden hour sun (middle image below) we were still able to create some stunning images.
Forget the bedtime routines
As always with children - sleep and routines will be on your mind. It's really fun to kick the routine once in a while and make the most of the warm sunny evenings and make memories with your little ones. You'll be amazed how chilled and curious most little ones end up being when you're out in a new environment. Good to know is that we always go with the flow and take breaks when needed to feed or snuggle.
how do I know when it's golden hour?
If you fancy trying to capture photographs yourself at golden hour there are apps that can help you calculate it depending on your location and the time of year. I recommend checking those out but I recommend using your gut instinct to when the light feels perfect - just go for it! You won't regret capturing special moments.
don't be afraid to backlight your subject
One of my favourite things about golden hour is illuminating my subject with the sun directly behind. This often creates a really magical and ethereal feeling that is perfect for golden hour photo shoots - so don't miss the opportunity to play around with this idea and create beautiful silouttes.
If you have any other questions or would like to book a golden hour photo shoot in Henley, Oxfordshire or in the Cotswolds please get in touch I have so many ideas to create magic with you!
