Golden hour is the short window before sunset when the light becomes soft, warm, and glowy. The sun sits low in the sky, creating beautiful backlight, softer shadows, and that dreamy golden tone everyone loves.
Because this lighting window is limited, golden hour sessions are always the first to sell out. Each evening only has one true sunset spot, so they tend to book quickly.
Why clients love golden hour sessions:
- Soft, flattering light on skin tones
- Warm, golden color that feels romantic and timeless
- Less harsh shadows than midday sun
- Beautiful backlit glow
- The dreamy sunset look everyone pins on Pinterest
What do we do when golden hour time slots sell out?
My sunset sessions for the summer typically sell out my May, and from there we have a couple options. You can schedule for June or September- these months are less popular for senior photos simply because they are busy for families getting out of school and then adjusting into the new school year- but they photograph great. I love September sessions because the flowers are beautiful and it's a bit cooler with fewer bugs.
Another option is adjusting your location. Open locations (like wildflower fields) need the sun to be very close to setting to get that true golden glow. With open skies, it’s hard to recreate this look earlier in the evening.
Locations with tree coverage can create a golden-hour feel earlier. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens, trees cover the pathways and bridge areas, letting light filter through the leaves — so we can capture that glowy vibe even during a 6pm session.
My last suggestion here is to book a sunrise session- this can be trickier with summer sunrises around 6:30am-- we would want to be out starting photos by 7am-- but if you're absolutely after this golden hour look and my schedule is packed, then I would schedule one of these. My go-to spot would be Maybury state park with its open fields and sun positioning here.
