When it comes to wedding photography, golden hour is the holy grail of lighting. Occurring just after sunrise or just before sunset, the golden hour provides a soft, warm glow that bathes everything in flattering light, creating stunning and romantic images. At Bushel + Peck Photo, we’ve perfected the art of golden hour photography, ensuring that couples get breathtaking shots that feel timeless and magical.

In this guide, we’ll share tips on how to make the most of golden hour wedding photos, along with essential golden hour photography settings that will help create the perfect atmosphere for your photos.

a man and woman in a wedding dress , golden hour photography

Why Golden Hour is Perfect for Wedding Photos

Golden hour is often referred to as the best time of day for outdoor photography, and for good reason. The soft, diffused sunlight during this time eliminates harsh shadows and creates a warm, dreamy ambiance that’s impossible to achieve during the middle of the day. It’s also a moment when the light brings out beautiful natural colors, enhancing the surrounding environment and the skin tones of the couple.

For weddings, golden hour is especially important because it offers the opportunity for intimate, romantic photos. Whether you’re capturing newlywed portraits, group shots, or candid moments, golden hour provides a warm and glowing backdrop that enhances the mood of your special day.

Timing is Everything

To make the most of golden hour photography, timing is crucial. Golden hour typically occurs about an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset. If you’re planning a wedding timeline, try to carve out 20-30 minutes during this time to slip away for a quick portrait session with your photographer. For afternoon or evening weddings, scheduling couple portraits during the golden hour can result in stunning, glowing images that are impossible to recreate at other times of the day.

At Bushel + Peck Photo, we often work with couples to design a custom wedding timeline that allows plenty of time for golden hour shots, ensuring the light is just right for those magical moments.

Golden Hour Photography Settings

Achieving the perfect golden hour wedding photos requires not only an understanding of lighting but also the correct camera settings. Here are some essential golden hour photography settings that we use to capture breathtaking images during this magical time:

1. Adjust the Aperture for Soft Backgrounds

During golden hour, the soft light creates an excellent opportunity to play with aperture settings. We typically shoot with a wide aperture (around f/1.4 to f/2.8) to create a shallow depth of field, which results in beautiful, creamy bokeh in the background. This makes the couple stand out against the softly blurred surroundings.

2. Lower the ISO for Crisp Photos

Since golden hour provides an abundance of natural light, we keep the ISO low (around 100 to 400) to minimize grain and noise in the photos. This setting helps maintain the crispness of the image while keeping the focus on the subject.

3. Shutter Speed for Motion and Stability

When shooting during golden hour, we set the shutter speed to match the movement and lighting conditions. A shutter speed of 1/100 to 1/200 is ideal for hand-held shots and ensures that the photos stay sharp even in the softer light of golden hour. If there’s more movement, such as a couple walking or spinning, we may increase the shutter speed slightly to capture the motion clearly.

4. White Balance for Warm Tones

One of the best parts of golden hour is the naturally warm tone it brings to the photos. We set the white balance to daylight or cloudy to enhance these warm hues. If needed, we can adjust the color temperature in post-processing to bring out even more warmth, but capturing the glow naturally is our priority.

Using Golden Hour to Enhance Different Editing Styles

At Bushel + Peck Photo, we offer four distinct editing styles—Light & Airy, Classic, Golden, and Dark & Moody—and golden hour works beautifully with all of them. Here’s how we use the golden hour light to complement each style:

Light & Airy: Golden hour provides the perfect soft glow that enhances the brightness and romantic feel of our Light & Airy style. The warm light adds a softness that enhances the light tones and pastels often associated with this style.
Classic: For timeless images, golden hour adds natural highlights and depth without overpowering the scene. This style benefits from the even lighting that golden hour provides, ensuring every photo feels balanced and polished.
Golden: As the name suggests, this style works beautifully with golden hour. The warm hues are enhanced, and the result is a dreamy, sun-kissed look that radiates love and warmth.
Dark & Moody: The contrast between the soft glow of golden hour and the deeper shadows of the surroundings creates a stunning balance for our Dark & Moody style. It adds a sense of drama while still feeling romantic and intimate.

Tips for Couples During Golden Hour

Golden hour photography is all about making the most of the natural light, but couples can do a few things to help maximize the beauty of these shots:

1. Relax and Enjoy the Moment

Golden hour is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy a quiet moment with your partner. These photos are often more candid and emotional, so focus on each other rather than posing too much.

2. Trust Your Photographer

Photographers understand how to position you to make the most of the golden hour light. Trust their direction and feel confident that they’ll capture your best angles in this beautiful light.

3. Wear Colors That Complement the Light

Soft pastels, neutrals, and warm tones work beautifully during golden hour, as they naturally complement the warm light. Avoid harsh colors that might clash with the soft, glowing tones of the setting sun.

Conclusion

Golden hour photography creates some of the most breathtaking wedding images you can imagine, with soft, romantic light that highlights the joy and love of the day. At Bushel + Peck Photo, we specialize in making the most of these magical moments by carefully planning and utilizing the right golden hour photography settings to ensure each shot is perfect.

If you’re ready to create unforgettable wedding memories with stunning golden hour photos, contact Bushel + Peck Photo today. We’ll work with you to capture every magical moment of your big day with the artistry and attention to detail you deserve.

How to Capture the Perfect Golden Hour Wedding Photos