Capture the Magic: Why Golden Hour Is Every Wedding Photographer’s Secret Weapon
As wedding photographers, we live for the moments that take your breath away and tell a love story without a single word. One of the best tools we love at Black Avenue Productions is the golden hour.
This magical time window, just before sunset, has the power to transform otherwise ordinary scenes into the most extraordinary artworks.
What makes golden hour so special?
The golden hour is nature’s gift to photographers. The run sits low on the horizon and casts a warm, soft light that flatters every subject. It’s a dream-like effect that’s sure to stay with you in your memories of the day.
- Soft, Diffused Light: Unlike the harsh light of the midday sun, the golden hour is gentle and creates fewer shadows. It casts a more even tone onto the scenery,
- Warm Tones: The golden hues enhance skin tones, making couples look radiant and glowing. Couple with their looks of mutual adoration, it just makes for a perfect shot!
- Magical Backdrops: Whether it’s a quiet, sweeping landscape or a busy city’s skyline, the golden glow elevates every scene with the interplay of light and shadow– adding depth and emotion to the photos.
Planning the perfect golden hour shots
Timing is everything when it comes to golden hour photography! This special time window lasts for about an hour, but that is highly dependent on the season and location. A simple Google search would be enough to know when the day’s sunset is, so just subtract at least an hour before that and you’re good to go.
To further maximize the impact of the golden hour, scout a venue that has open spaces, reflective waters and areas with interesting foreground objects. Here at Black Avenue Productions, we communicate with our clients to add a segment during the golden hour, whether before the ceremony or reception, to fully take advantage of nature’s love-filled lenses.
posing and composition
While the golden hour is stunning on its own, how you position during this magical moment can make or break the shot. Remember to position the sun behind the couple to capture that dreamy feel.
The light will hit the lens in a way that causes flare, and that’s a bonus as well! It gives the photo a whimsical, romantic effect, as if in a dream. Silhouettes against the golden sky are also a classic, but reflectors can be used to adjust exposure if needed.
The golden hour in different wedding scenarios
- Outdoor Ceremonies: Capture wide shots of the ceremony bathed in that beautiful golden light. Include the sweeping landscapes or backdrops, like everything is a fairytale dream.
- Couple Portraits: For the bridal session, focus on the couple and let the soft love lens of nature itself highlight the couples’ love and adoration for each other.
The golden hour isn’t just a time of the day, it’s a mood, a feeling and a moment of pure magic. For us wedding photographers at Black Avenue Productions, it’s an opportunity to create timeless, ethereal images that the couples will treasure forever.
Black Avenue Productions is a team of passionate photographers and videographers who offers a range of styles that will capture your love story in the most enchanting way, however you like them. We cater to every photography and videography need you may have; from surprise proposals to anniversary photoshoots.
Contact us today and transform your wedding day into a classic that you can look back on with joy.