Capturing Golden Hour Portraits: Tips for Stunning Photography

If you’ve ever looked at a photo and thought, “How is the light so magical?” chances are you were looking at a golden hour photo. That dreamy, warm glow that wraps your subject and makes every scene feel like it belongs in a movie isn’t luck — it’s golden hour photography. In this guide, I’ll show you how to shoot golden hour photos like a pro.

We’ll cover the best tips for capturing the perfect golden hour photos :

What golden hour is and why photographers love it
Camera settings, lenses, and gear for golden light
Creative golden hour photography tips
How to plan, scout, and capture stunning photos
FAQs to answer all your golden hour questions

By the end, you’ll not only understand the magic hour but also have the tools to capture it beautifully using natural light.

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What Is Golden Hour in Photography?

Golden hour refers to the short window of time just after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon. The word feels softer, warmer, and honestly more magical.

The light isn’t just technically “good.” It feels alive. Shadows stretch long across the ground, everything is bathed in golden hues, and the air itself seems calmer. It’s the kind of light that makes you stop, breathe, and notice details you’d normally rush past.

I still remember one evening in the mountains when I was packing up my gear. The light was fading fast, dinner was calling, and I thought I was done. But then—right as the last bit of sun slid across the ridge—the entire valley lit up in warm orange and pink. Those frames ended up being my favorites of the trip.

That’s golden hour: fleeting, unpredictable, unforgettable.

Elements of Golden Hour Photography

Golden hour light is softer than midday sun, creating less harsh shadows.
It casts a warm color palette — think yellows, oranges, reds, and even pinks.
The low sun angle produces longer shadows, rim light, and more depth.
It flatters skin tones, making it a favorite for portrait photography.

Golden hour usually lasts 30–60 minutes, depending on season and location. Apps like PhotoPills, Sun Seeker, or The Photographer’s Ephemeris can tell you exactly when golden hour starts and how long it lasts.

Why Golden Hour Light Is So Special

Golden hour isn’t just about beautiful light — it’s about atmosphere and emotion. Golden hour isn’t just about flattering skin tones or less harsh shadows (though that’s a huge bonus for portraits). It’s about the feeling the light carries.

Soft light makes portraits flattering by reducing wrinkles and harsh shadows.
Warm light adds connection and nostalgia to lifestyle or travel photos.
Directional light creates rim light, silhouettes, and stunning backlit effects.
The low sun produces depth, dimension, and opportunities for creative compositions.

No wonder wedding photographers, portrait photographers, and adventure storytellers all chase this magical time of day. If you’ve ever looked back at a golden hour photo and thought, “I can still feel that moment,” that’s because this light has a way of wrapping memory into your images.

How to Find and Plan for Golden Hour Photos

Golden hour photography is all about timing and preparation.

Scout locations ahead of time. Look for horizons, structures, or trees that could block the sun.
Check the forecast. Cloud cover can make or break golden hour.
Use apps. Tools like PhotoPills help you track the sun’s position.
Arrive early. Set up before golden hour starts so you’re ready when the light changes.
Shoot quickly. The light shifts every minute, so take multiple shots as the sun moves.

Dinner Can Wait

The technical side is easy: use apps like PhotoPills or Sun Seeker to know exactly when golden hour starts. But the real trick? Being there: early and present.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched people pack up the second the sun dips. Meanwhile, the best light is often just beginning. If you stick around a little longer—when everyone else heads to dinner—you’ll be rewarded with skies that feel painted just for you.

💡 Pro tip: The golden hour isn’t always golden. Clouds can block it. Haze can mute it. But every once in a while, you’ll get a show so good you’ll forget to breathe. That’s why you scout, prepare, and show up anyway.

Best Camera Settings for Golden Hour Photography

Golden hour requires balancing exposure to capture both glowing highlights and rich shadows. Here’s what to try:

Mode: Manual or Aperture Priority (Av).
Aperture: Wide open (f/1.8–f/2.8) for creamy background blur; f/8–f/11 for landscapes and sunbursts.
ISO: Keep it low (100–200) to minimize noise, raise only as light fades.
Shutter speed: Watch for motion blur if shooting handheld; increase ISO when needed.
White balance: Shoot in RAW for adjustment later or manually set around 6000–6500K to keep the warm tones of golden light.
File format: Shoot in RAW for maximum flexibility in post-processing.
Bonus tip for Shooting Video: White balance setting is important here, and don’t forget to take off the ND filter as the light fades

💡 Expose for the highlights rather than the subject’s face to avoid blown-out skies — you can recover shadow detail later.

Best Lenses for Golden Hour Photos

Lens choice dramatically affects your golden hour photos.

Wide-angle lens (16–35mm) → Capture landscapes, dramatic skies, and environmental portraits.
Telephoto lens (70–200mm) → Compress perspective, intensify warm light, and isolate subjects.
Prime lens (35mm or 50mm) → Sharp focus and beautiful blur for portraits.
Experiment with lens flare. Each lens handles flare differently; learn which looks you love.
Use a lens hood to control flare — or remove it to embrace creative flare.

👉 Shop our favorite golden hour lenses here that are a good value:

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM: Buy on Amazon
– Great for landscapes and wide scenes
Sony 35mm f/1.8: Buy on Amazon
– Lightweight/compact and great for shooting in low light
Sony 55mm f/1.8: Check price on amazon
– Similar size to the 35 above, great for portraits
Samyang 85mm f/1.4: Check price on Amazon
– Excellent portrait lens at an affordable price
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II: Check price on Amazon
– Solid, versatile option to shoot some of everything
Sony 70-200mm f/4 G II: Check price on Amazon
– Great for distant landscapes and portraits

Also, drones are amazing at golden hour. I recommend checking out the following models if you’re interested in solid image quality at a reasonable price:

Mavic Air 3s – Excellent balance of quality and size in a very capable drone.

DJI Mini 4 Pro – The latest in the Mini lineup, featuring a super compact design and lots of features inherited from larger, more powerful drones.

Creative Golden Hour Photography Tips

Golden hour is more than just “nice light.” It’s an invitation to experiment. Once you’ve mastered the basics, this is where you can start pushing your creativity.

1. Play With Backlighting

One of my favorite golden hour tricks is backlighting—placing the sun behind your subject. The result is a glowing halo around hair, edges, or even dust in the air. It’s cinematic and instantly adds depth.

Pro tip: Meter for the highlights or slightly underexpose to avoid blowing out the sky. You can always lift shadows later.

Some of my favorite portraits have been shot this way. Hair catching the light like fire. It’s impossible not to smile when you see those frames.

2. Experiment With Lens Flare

Normally, we’re told to avoid lens flare. But golden hour flare can be gorgeous if you embrace it intentionally.

Remove the lens hood to let more light in.
Tilt your lens just enough to catch a streak of light.
Try different lenses—every piece of glass renders flare differently.

Sometimes you’ll get little rainbow spots, sometimes dreamy washes of gold. Think of it as painting with sunlight.

3. Shoot Through Foreground Elements

Golden hour light transforms ordinary objects. Grass, flowers, leaves, even tents or windows can become glowing frames for your subject.

Try this: Hold a blade of tall grass close to your lens and let it blur into the frame. Suddenly, your photo feels like you stumbled into a secret moment.

Why it works: The warm backlight hitting semi-transparent objects adds texture and color that elevate an otherwise plain scene.

4. Add Motion for Energy

Golden hour is fleeting, and your photos can reflect that sense of movement. Have your subject walk, twirl, or let fabric or hair blow in the wind.

Even simple gestures—like dust rising from boots or a kid running through a field—take on extra magic when backlit.

Pro tip: Use a slightly faster shutter (1/250s+) to freeze motion, or slow it down to blur and exaggerate movement for a dreamy look.

5. Don’t Forget Silhouettes

how to shoot with a wide angle lens photography

Golden hour isn’t always about warm skin tones. Sometimes, the drama comes from going dark. Place your subject in front of the sun and expose for the sky. You’ll create bold, striking silhouettes that tell a story in shapes rather than details.

Silhouettes work especially well with iconic landscapes, mountains, or interesting architecture. One of my favorite photos is one shot from inside a sea cave. You can see the beauty of the ocean beyond and the silhouette of someone walking off toward it. Learning to see this way will make you learn how to shoot golden hour photos like a pro!

6. Use Side Lighting for Drama

Most people default to shooting backlit. But side lighting—where the sun hits your subject at an angle—can add depth, contrast, and a painterly quality. Think Rembrandt with a sunset twist.

Dramatic side lighting is great for portraits where you want a mix of soft shadows and glowing highlights.

7. Keep Shooting Into Blue Hour

Golden hour blends into blue hour, and often the real magic happens during the transition. The warm tones give way to cooler, cinematic blues. If you only shoot until the sun disappears, you’ll miss half the show.

More than once, I’ve thought the shoot was over when the sun dipped. But as we’re packing up or hiking out, the sky turns deep purple with a glowing orange band near the horizon. Those frames ended up being my favorite—because they felt different than the “standard” golden hour shots.

Now we often banter and take bets about whether it’s over or just getting better. It leads to great memories, not just great photos.

8. Watch for Reflections

Water, windows, cars, and even sunglasses become mirrors for golden light. Position yourself to capture reflections for unexpected layers in your images.

Lakes and rivers at golden hour? Absolute magic. Even a puddle in the street can turn into a glowing canvas. I love looking for reflections and ways to capture that golden light, but also the peacefulness of the moment.

9. Anticipate the Moment

Golden hour doesn’t wait for you. The best photographers aren’t just reacting—they’re anticipating.

Ask yourself: Where will the sun be in 10 minutes?
Think about what your subject will be doing when the light shifts.
Pre-visualize the shot so you’re ready when it happens.

This is the part that feels less like “technical photography” and more like storytelling. You’re not just recording what happens—you’re shaping the story with light.

10. Break the Rules

Golden hour has a reputation for being “easy” because the light is flattering. But don’t be afraid to push against the obvious. Underexpose dramatically. Shoot with odd compositions. Turn away from the sun and capture what the light is hitting instead of the light itself.

Some of the most memorable golden hour shots come from curiosity, not perfection.

Post-Processing Golden Hour Photos

Golden hour images benefit from thoughtful editing. We’re big on true-to-life editing, and you’ll never see us faking a sunset. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the sunset we had appear its best.

Recover highlights and shadows → Balance bright skies with darker subjects.
Adjust white balance → Keep warmth around 6000–6500K, or enhance sunset colors.
Raise shadows gently → Preserve the golden glow without flattening.
Use brushes in Lightroom → Fine-tune exposure on your subject’s face.
Try HDR blending → Combine exposures to balance sky and foreground.
Slight underexposure → Helps preserve vibrant colors and detail.

Golden Hour vs Blue Hour

Let’s talk about golden hour versus blue hour really quickly. Blue hour is another amazing time to shoot with an entirely different look and feel. But what’s the difference?

Golden Hour → Warm, soft light with yellows and reds. Perfect for portraits and lifestyle photography.
Blue Hour → Happens after sunset or before sunrise. Cooler blue light creates a moody, cinematic atmosphere.

Both are magical times of day, but golden hour photography emphasizes warmth while blue hour emphasizes atmosphere.

FAQs: Golden Hour Photography

What is golden hour in photography?

The first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, when the sun is low and the light is soft, warm, and directional.

What is the golden hour for portraits?

Golden hour is ideal for portrait photography because the soft light reduces harsh shadows, enhances skin tones, and creates beautiful photos with flattering rim light around your subject.

How do you make photos look like golden hour?

Use wide apertures for blur, adjust white balance to warmer tones, and shoot with backlight or rim lighting. You can also simulate golden hour using filters or post-processing to explore creative possibilities.

What colors should you wear for golden hour photos?

Earth tones, neutrals, and muted colors complement golden light. Avoid neon colors that clash with the warm palette.

What ISO should I use for golden hour?

Start at ISO 100–200 for clean shots. Raise it gradually as the light fades, keeping shutter speed fast enough for sharp focus.

What shutter speed is best for golden hour portraits?

Aim for at least 1/125s for still subjects, 1/250s+ for movement. Adjust ISO if you need more light.

Should I use a lens hood during golden hour?

Yes, if you want to minimize lens flare. But you can remove it to creatively embrace flare for artistic photos.

What f-stop should I use for golden hour?

f/1.8–f/2.8 → dreamy portraits with blurred backgrounds.
f/8–f/11 → landscapes and sunbursts with sharp detail.

How long before sunset should I take golden hour photos?

Golden hour starts roughly one hour before sunset, but the best color often peaks in the last 15 minutes.

What is the difference between golden hour and magic hour?

They’re often used interchangeably. “Magic hour” can also describe the combined golden and blue hour period.

What is the 20-60-20 rule in photography?

A compositional guide: 20% sky, 60% subject/foreground, 20% supporting elements. Great for balancing golden hour landscapes.

Final Thoughts

Golden hour photography is a reminder that beauty is fleeting. The best moments often come when we slow down, wait, and embrace the light. Learning how to shoot golden hour photos like a pro is less about technical perfection and more about attention. It’s about being present enough to see how light transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Whether you’re shooting golden hour portraits with warm rim light, capturing landscapes during magic hour, or telling stories with beautiful light, these tips will help you create stunning photos that capture the essence of the scene and feel timeless.

👉 Check out our favorite golden hour lenses and accessories:

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM: Buy on Amazon – Great for landscapes and wide scenes
Sony 35mm f/1.8: Buy on Amazon – Lightweight/compact and great for shooting in low light
Sony 55mm f/1.8: Check price on Amazon – Similar size to the 35 above, great for portraits
Samyang 85mm f/1.4: Check price on Amazon – Excellent portrait lens at an affordable price
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II: Check price on Amazon – Solid, versatile option to shoot some of everything
Sony 70-200mm f/4 G II: Check price on Amazon– Great for distant landscapes and portraits

👉 Want to see how we chase golden hour in real life? Check out our Field Notes videos where we take you behind the scenes on our adventures.

📖 Planning a trip? Grab our Essential Travel Photography Guide for tips on shooting sunrise, sunset, and golden hour around the world.