What is Golden Hour and How is it Important?
What Is Golden Hour in Florida?
The Golden Hour, also known as the Magic Hour, refers to the brief period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun bathes the world in a warm, golden glow. During this time, the sun is low on the horizon, casting long, soft shadows and creating a flattering, warm light that adds a touch of magic to your photos. The Golden Hour is nature’s way of providing the perfect lighting conditions for photographers to capture captivating images.
Contrary to the name, Golden Hour isn’t really ever an exact hour. The month of the year has a big effect on the angle of the sun and therefore length of golden hour. Also, your location can actually shorten or lengthen the time frame, depending on where you’re at in relation to the equator.
Why Is the Golden Hour Important in Photography?
Unlike the harsh light and angle of the mid-day sun, the Golden Hour provides soft and even lighting. This naturally minimizes harsh shadows and highlights.
The low angle of the sun during the Golden Hour enhances the depth and dimension in your photos. The Golden Hour can add a more three-dimensional quality to your images.
Mid-day sunlight is generally intense and unflattering. The Golden Hour’s angled sunlight is less intense and is a more flattering higher quality of light.
How Is Golden Hour Important To Your Photos?
During the Golden Hour, the quality of light is simply unparalleled. The warm, soft hues create a magical atmosphere, making your photos appear dreamy and ethereal. This is particularly advantageous for capturing the love and joy in wedding ceremonies, family gatherings, and engagement sessions.
If you’re planning a photoshoot, the Golden Hour is your best friend for achieving flattering portraits. The gentle, angled light minimizes harsh shadows and reduces the chance of squinting, resulting in radiant, natural-looking photos that highlight your best features.
The Golden Hour transforms ordinary scenes into vibrant, breathtaking landscapes. Colors become more saturated, and the sky often takes on a stunning mix of warm tones, creating a picturesque backdrop for your photos.
Why Is Golden Hour Light Better Than Mid-day Light?
Mid-day sunlight creates harsh shadows that can be unflattering and distracting. The Golden Hour bathes your subjects in a soft, golden glow, eliminating harsh shadows and creating a naturally beautiful look.
The color temperature of mid-day light is actually cooler, resulting in a bluish tone. Golden Hour light, on the other hand, has a naturally warmer color temperature, enriching your photos with inviting, golden hues that evoke warmth and emotion.
What Time Is Golden Hour?
There are actually two golden hours per day. One in the morning that occurs shortly after sunrise and one in the evening that takes place shortly before sunset. The exact timing of the Golden Hour varies depending on your location and the time of year but it is typically the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset.
This time changes dramatically throughout the year based on the sunrise time, sunset times, length of the day and daylight saving time. 4:00 in the middle of the summer in Orlando Florida, is only a few hours after Solar Noon and is in the harsh light of the mid-afternoon. While 4:00 in the middle of January can be a perfect time for photos.
What Time Is the Sunrise in Florida?
For those planning photo sessions in the beautiful state of Florida, the sunrise time fluctuates throughout the year. Over the Summer months, the sunrise can occur as early as 6:30 AM and during the Winter the Sunrise will be closer to 7:30 AM. Also, from West to East the time will vary too. Florida’s Atlantic cost, Daytona, New Smyrna, Cocoa will see the sun rise earlier and Tampa will see the sunrise a little later. Orlando sunrise will be somewhere in between.
It’s crucial to check local sunrise times based on your specific location and date, there are many ways to do this online.
Sunset Florida
Again, the timing for Sunset varies with the seasons too. Over the Summer, sunset Orlando times will be around 8:30 PM and over the Winter, sunset will be around 6:00 PM and some weeks as early as 5:30 pm.
Plan your Golden Hour sessions accordingly, and you’ll be rewarded with well-lit photos.
Do I have to plan my session during Golden Hour?
Of course not! Sometimes it’s just not practical to plan your session or your wedding pictures during the exact golden hour of the day. Also, the weather and the cloud cover vary daily and from minute to minute.
Knowing how to get great photos by having full control over the exposure, the color and the quality of light in any lighting condition, from full mid day sun to total darkness, is a skill you should look for when hiring a professional photographer. Every day is different and while golden hour is a great time to do pictures, there are so many other opportunities to get great photos at all times of the day.
