Why are sessions usually at Golden Hour and how do I make it work for my schedule?
Ah, the magical golden hour! While sunrise and sunset sessions may seem intimidating at first, they truly have the power to transform your family portraits. In this blog post, I’ll define golden hour, discuss why it’s the perfect time for your family photos, and share some tips on how to make it work for your busy schedule!
So, what is Golden Hour?
Picture the world bathed in a warm, golden glow that casts a soft and dreamy yfilter over everything it touches. You know, that ethereal light that makes everything look like it’s straight out of a fairytale? That’s golden hour!
The term “golden hour” gets its name from the stunning golden and warm tones that characterize the light during this special time of day. As the sun hangs low in the sky, its rays have to pass through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters the blue and green wavelengths, leaving behind the warm, golden hues.
This light is softer, more diffused, and has a beautiful, warm quality that can transform your photos. The landscapes and subjects are bathed in a beautiful golden glow, giving them a dreamlike and ethereal quality. Long story short – it’s a time of day that Mother Earth and the Sun team up to create gorgeous light that adds an extra touch of magic to your photos.
Wait, when is Golden Hour?
It’s when the sun is about to rise above or dip below the horizon… so roughly for the hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset. Just as the length of day changes based on time of year and your location, so do the exact times of Golden Hour. On summer solstice (longest day of the year) here in the Chicago area, the morning golden hour starts at 5:15am when the sun rises and ends at 6:15am. In the evening, it starts at 7:29pm and ends when the sun sets at 8:29pm. While on Winter Solstice (shortest day), golden hour would be from 7:14am (sunrise) to 8:14am in the morning and then from 3:22pm to 4:22pm (sunset) in the evening. So, you can see how golden hour shifts as the days march on. (And if you want to be super technical about it — it’s not actually an hour long, that’s more of an average as the length changes throughout the year as well).
Sunrise sessions
I get it; the idea of waking up before the sun rises might seem daunting, especially with little ones in tow. But let me tell you, sunrise sessions are a whole different kind of adventure! Picture the world waking up, and you and your family are right there to witness the beauty of a new day together. It’s truly a unique experience.
To make your early morning adventure a breeze, take a little time the night before to prepare. Lay out your outfits, pack a few snacks, and get a good night’s sleep. Trust me – the excitement of the upcoming photo session will make it easy to rise and shine. To make getting ready easier/faster, you could try for a more casual wardrobe and style.
Sunset sessions
If early mornings aren’t your thing, that’s totally okay. Sunset sessions offer an entirely different enchantment. These sessions give you and your family the chance to wind down the day together and create beautiful memories as the sun sets. It’s a relaxed and tranquil time, perfect for capturing candid moments and genuine interactions.
Just as with the morning session – preparing the night before can help, especially with weekday sessions and busy schedules. Have your clothes steamed and ready to go. Grab dinner and fill up your bellies before the session and treat the session as a family outing and adventure vs. a task to complete. If you’re getting food on the way, change kiddo clothes once you get to the location to prevent spills and such on their session outfits. You can also bring PJs in the car to change into after – they’ll think it’s fun and it’ll also make that bedtime transition a little easier when you get home.
But what about bedtime?!
If you’re trying to work around nap schedules and early bedtimes (me too!), scheduling a session in the fall or spring – when the sun rises later and sets earlier – might work best for you in this season of life. Like we talked about earlier, the sun sets around 8:30pm here in the middle of summer whereas towards the end of September, it’s setting by 6:45pm and then by 6pm near the end of October.
Balancing Activities and Timing for your Golden HOur Family Photos
As a family photographer, I understand that your family’s busy schedule is already packed with activities. The key to a successful golden hour session is to balance your existing plans with the photography timing. Choose adventures and activities that align with your session. In other words – make some fun plans, and schedule a session to go along with them!
For example, if you opt for a sunrise session, consider having a special breakfast picnic. My kids love “fancy drinks” (steamed milk) and donuts at the park in the morning. Your little ones will love the adventure, and it ensures everyone stays in high spirits throughout the morning. If you decide on a sunset session, you could take the opportunity to explore a nearby park, teach your kiddo how to fly a kite, or opt for a backyard sprinkler and popsicle night.
Don’t forget about inside too
Golden hour doesn’t necessarily have to be seized in the outdoors. One of my favorite things about winter is how the light moves through my home in the early morning and late evening. While midday is great for brighter and busier moments with in-home sessions, morning and evening light lend themselves to more dramatic images – slower and cozier moments.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Golden Hour Family Photos are not just a photographer’s fancy jargon – they’re magical times of day that bring out the best in your family portraits. Whether you choose to embrace the early morning adventure of a sunrise session or wind down the day together with a sunset session, you’re in for a treat.
I hope this blog post has shed some light on why golden hour sessions are so special and how you can make them work with your busy schedule. Trust me, the warm and dreamy tones, the ethereal light, and the genuine moments captured during this time will give you photos to cherish for a lifetime.
Hey hey! Thanks for stopping by! I’m Jen – owner of Jen Gobeli Photography – a photographer who specializes in photographing the delicate interactions of family life in a natural and authentic way in Naperville Illinois and surrounding suburbs. I hope you found my “Golden Hour Family Photos” feature to be helpful today! If you’re looking for more tips – check out my post with Top 10 Tips for a Successful Family Photo Session.
If you are interested in booking a maternity, newborn, or family photo session, let’s make it happen! Head over to my online booking calendar to find a date and time that work best for you. Not quite ready, but know you want to keep me in your back pocket? Totally get it! Follow me on Instagram – let’s be friends!
