Ever heard this phrase and wondered what’s golden hour? Once you finish reading this you’ll never want to take photos at any other time of the day! Seriously, this is one of my favorite examples of how magical this time of day can make your photos.

Stevee Elchynski Photography | A guide on golden hour | Inquire here

1. What’s golden hour

Golden hour is a period of natural light that occurs each day before and after sunrise or sunset. During golden hour, the Sun is low in the sky and its rays hit the atmosphere at a much less direct angle than during the middle of the day. This softened light produces beautiful warm tones that are ideal for your photos. Golden hour tends to last from around 30 minutes to an hour as the sun is rising or setting.

In peak seasons like summer and fall this could mean your session could start between 6-7pm.

2. Why Lighting is so important

Golden hour is one of the most important elements of photography, as it yields stunning visuals and amazing lighting opportunities. During golden hour, the light is soft yet warm which allows me to create beautiful scenes that you can’t get at any other time of day.

This gives you those warm sun rays through the cracks of the trees, really bringing out the best versions of the colors surrounding you. This is also why I give clients guides that give you color palette suggestions when choosing your outfits, for the best outcome for your photos!

3. How to get the most out of golden hour

To get the best out of golden hour, here are some helpful tips to consider. First, Plan to be on time. So simple, yet this is the most important. Being prompt will allow us to make the most of the quickly disappearing light.

My pro tip would be to get there 15 minutes early and change kids into their outfits right at the location! This could prevent snack stains, spit-up marks, and diaper blowouts on their clothes.

When it comes to getting the best golden hour, of course, that is up to miss mother nature. BUT on the days when the sun is hitting that sweet spot, I scout out locations that put the sun behind you so that we get the dreamy glow.

About this Family session in North East, Pennsylvania

Stacie and Jeff booked a mini-session with me in 2019, and right after that, we became really close! I get the greatest job of getting to document families over and over again. It’s truly the best compliment seeing returning families!

Sadly, her family moved back to Seattle area this summer, but I am already planning a trip to visit and photograph her family as soon as I can!

Client Review

“We were absolutely so happy with our experience with Stevee. We found her through a friend that had family photos done with her and also loved their experience. Stevee makes the whole process so easy from having online payment options to providing access to her client closet. The client closet is one of my favorite parts because this is where you get to dream about how you want the photos to feel and Stevee helps you execute that through wardrobe. We have done many shoots with Stevee and they have all been relaxed and honestly easy which is saying a lot with two little kids. Many of the photos from our sessions are printed throughout our house and we love being able to enjoy them all the time.”