When is golden hour?

Golden hour in wedding photography is the beautiful and soft golden light which begins around an hour before sunset. Golden hour can also be present during the 60 mins or so after sunrise, but unless your ceremony is before breakfast (actual breakfast, not the wedding breakfast!), your photographer is unlikely to be there...

The light during golden hour is favourable for photography as it can be both dramatic and flattering. The lighting is a lot softer than that of the mid-day sun.

wedding photography at golden hour. Amalfi coast italy — more images & a golden hour timetable below

Relaxed couple portraits are my fave during this magical hour! If I peak out the window and see a stunning sunset, I’ll always encourage my couples to pop out for 10 mins for a quick shoot! It doesn’t require too much time and I want you to maximise the amount of time spent with family and friends. No cheesy poses, no awkwardness, just letting the sun do the work!

Unfortunately, the key ingredient for golden hour is sunshine and as you’ll be very aware, this isn’t always guaranteed in the UK so, consider this small paragraph the disclaimer!

I am a glass full kind of guy and I will point out, it only requires a slight break in the clouds to create a golden beam! Other factors will be the venue and it’s surroundings as you’ll need unobstructed views of the horizon. Us photographers have a sixth sense on where the best lighting will be, so leave this to us to figure out.

Below you’ll find info on when golden hour will start throughout this year and guess what, it’s the same each year!