GOLDEN HOUR IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE PHOTOS
Sunlight or lack thereof is one of the most important elements that go into making beautiful photos, especially a photographer that shoots 100% of her photos outside. The term “golden hour” is a phrase I bring up before every client booking, because I want my clients to understand that shooting during this time will yield us the best final products. Sure, photoshoots outside of golden hour can and will still turn out nice, but you will have to battle the sun unless you can find a fully shaded area. Let’s look a bit more into golden hour so we can all understand the value of this time of day when it comes to photography.
WHAT IS GOLDEN HOUR?
The golden hour is approximately the hour before the sun sets in the evening and the hour after the sun rises in the morning. This is not exact, because of weather elements like clouds. You want to catch the sun as it sits on the horizon (not risen but also not set), but it is typically an hour before the sun disappears or an hour after it makes its appearance.
BENEFITS OF GOLDEN HOUR FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOSHOOTS
Photographers love golden hour for many reasons, but here are the biggest reasons I love to shoot about an hour and a half before sunset:
NO SQUINTING
Without the bright sun in your eyes, it is much easier for my clients to keep their eyes open and focused on the camera. Mid-day the sun is at its strongest and it makes it difficult for clients to keep their eyes open and causes a lot of editing post-shoot. Shooting at golden hour helps me avoid spending extra hours in Photoshop and I get to avoid saying “close your eyes and open when I say go” a million times during the photo session.
IMAGE HUE
The reason for “golden” in the phrase is because of the golden tint the images will naturally have if shot during this time. The sun gives off warm, deep orangish light that makes photos look so beautiful.
CHOOSING GOLDEN HOUR FOR YOUR NEW JERSEY PHOTOSHOOT
Seeing the sunrise and sunset on the Jersey Shore is a beautiful thing, especially on the beach. No tourists, no noise, just the sound of the waves and a yellow glow as the sun rises or sets
YOUR SOUTH JERSEY PHOTOGRAPHER
If you are looking for a photoshoot on the Jersey Shore, give me a call! I’d love to help you experience the magic of golden hour and capture special moments!