Master Golden Hour Photography With These Simple Tips
A golden hour sunset on a beach in Lima, Peru
If you’ve been into photography for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard about golden hour—the holy grail of natural light.
It’s that time when the light hits just right, making everything glow like it’s got a filter on it. Ordinary scenes suddenly look cinematic, and even the most everyday moments can feel magical.
Sure, the concept is simple: shoot just after sunrise or right before sunset. But getting the most out of golden hour isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
Here's some straightforward tips to help you get the best out of this fleeting window and make sure your golden hour photos really shine (…ya see what I did there?)
Understanding Golden Hour
Sunset through the arch of the Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City.
Golden hour, sometimes called magic hour, is the time just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun sits low on the horizon.
The light is soft, warm, and flattering for almost any subject. This light creates nice long shadows too and beautiful, saturated colors that can make even a simple street scene look cinematic.
Why Golden Hour is Perfect for Street Photography
Golden hour works wonders for street photography. The soft, diffused light highlights the textures and details of urban landscapes, from weathered buildings to bustling markets.
The illumination is of course flattering for portraits too, giving skin tones a warm, natural glow.
A street photo at golden hour I took of a painter in Mexico City.
And for street photographers, golden hour light gives us a chance to capture dynamic, mood-filled scenes that can elevate our work.
Now, I get it. If you’re like me and constantly chasing that golden light, it might start to feel like you’re stuck in a bit of a one-trick pony situation.
Shooting only during the golden hour can sometimes feel a little one-dimensional—sure, the light is beautiful, but does every photo have to be bathed in those soft, golden tones? Well…maybe it does, and maybe that’s okay. I try not to overthink it.
Golden Hour in the Morning
Puerto Olivos - my favorite spot for golden hour photos in Buenos Aires.
Morning golden hour, right after sunrise, has its own unique vibe. The light is crisp and cool, giving everything a soft glow that feels fresh and new.
And at least for me, there’s something special about being out there when the world is still waking up.
The Perks of Morning Golden Hour Photos:
No Crowds: One of the biggest bonuses of shooting at sunrise is that the streets are usually quiet. You don’t have to battle tourists or dodge traffic. It’s just you, your camera, and the soft morning light.
Clear Skies: Mornings often come with clearer skies, so you can capture the clean, uninterrupted glow of the rising sun.
Cooler Temps: If you’re shooting during the summer, this might be your only chance to avoid the heat (looking at you, Spain).
Resistance Fighter: Resistance is a real thing while out shooting. But here’s my secret: I almost never miss a sunrise when I’m traveling.
Why? Because before my brain can convince me that my photos are terrible and that I should sell all my gear to take up pottery, I’ve already pressed the shutter!
It’s the best kind of trickery—by the time you’re fully awake, I’ve (usually) captured something worth keeping. That early morning light just increases your chances of getting a keeper.
The Buenos Aires skyline at sunset..just look at those beautiful silhouettes.
Golden Hour In The Evening
On the flip side, golden hour in the evening is all about that warm, dramatic glow as the day winds down.
The mood is different, often more vibrant, especially in busy cities where nightlife is just starting to pick up.
Had to wait patiently for this golden hour shot in Madrid's Puerta del Sol.
The Perks of Evening Golden Hour Photos:
Warm, Golden Tones: The evening golden hour is famous for those rich, warm colors that seem to intensify as the sun sets. If you love those deep oranges and reds, this is your time.
Dynamic Street Life: People are out, markets are bustling, and there’s a certain energy that adds character to your shots. Combine this with the warm glow of the setting sun, and you’ve got the perfect mix for vibrant street photography.
Sunset Silhouettes: As the sun gets lower, silhouettes become a low hanging fruit. Just place your subject between you and the sun for dramatic, high-contrast images.
And, if you stick around a bit longer, you’ll hit blue hour—that time just after the sun has dipped below the horizon.
The cooler, more moody tones during this period can add a whole new atmosphere to your street shots, giving them a completely different vibe than the golden hour.
Planning Your Golden Hour Shoot
To get the most out of golden hour, I like to plan ahead. Timing can be crucial given the fleeting nature of golden hour.
Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain at golden hour.
Know when it starts: Use apps like PhotoPills or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to check when golden hour happens in your location. The duration can vary, especially if you’re in a city with tall buildings that cut the light short.
Scout your location: If I’m traveling and have a couple days in a new city, before I even touch the camera, I’ll spend a day or two watching where the light hits throughout the day.
I’ll observe how the sunlight interacts with the architecture, streets, and people.
When I find that perfect spot where the light falls just right, I know exactly where to come back during golden hour to nail the shot.
Prep your gear: I know you know this, but wow, the times I’ve missed out on photo opportunities by not being prepped gear wise. Lay out all your gear—camera, lenses, tripod, filters—and make sure everything’s charged!
Techniques for Perfect Golden Hour Shots
Golden hour is forgiving as it is, but there are a few tricks that can help you even more make the most of that magic light:
1. Backlighting and Rim Lighting
Golden hour in the morning on Madrid's Calle Mayor aka backlight galore
One of my go-to moves during golden hour is backlighting. It’s when you position your subject with the sun behind them so the light creates a nice, soft glow around the edges—think of it as a natural halo.
It’s especially awesome for portraits or street shots because it adds this dreamy, ethereal vibe that makes your subject pop.
Plus, it’s a great way to create separation between your subject and the background. Just watch out for lens flares if you’re not going for that look (though sometimes, those can be a happy accident).
2. Silhouettes
A sunset silhouette on another boardwalk in Lima, Peru at golden hour.
Silhouettes are a street photography classic—and yeah, maybe a bit of a cliche—but when you pull it off right, they can really elevate your shot.
Position your subject between you and the sun, then expose for the highlights in your scene (the sky for example) instead of your subject. This leaves your subject in shadow against a brightly lit sky, creating a nice bold contrast.
Check out work from other photographers known for their silhouettes, like the street photo legend Alex Webb.
His use of colors, layered compositions, and moody shadows gives his work an almost cinematic depth. If you can achieve even an iota of an Alex Webb type shot, you’ll have a good photo on your hands.
If you’ve got interesting shapes to work with—like rooftops or trees—it can transform a scene from ordinary to dramatic in no time, especially during the blue hour.
3. Side Lighting
Madrid Pride Parade - Backlight or side light depending on how you look at it...but you get the idea :)
For something with a little more texture and dimension, you can experiment with side lighting too.
When the light hits your subject from the side, you get those long shadows that add depth to the shot.
It’s perfect for bringing out details in buildings or faces because the shadows give the whole image more character. Just angle your subject so the light is hitting them from the side, and you’ll see the difference immediately.
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Gear and Camera Settings for Golden Hour Photos
Shot of the Fuji X-T5 at golden hour.
When shooting at golden hour, having the right gear can definitely help (but it’s never a deal-breaker):
Camera: Full-frame sensors are ideal for capturing the subtleties of golden hour light. They handle low light better and give you more dynamic range.
But hey, if you don’t have a full-frame camera, don’t let that sway you. I’ve taken plenty of great shots with my trusty Canon Rebel T5, which I picked up at Costco back in 2015. That thing served me well for years.
Lens: Prime lenses with wide apertures (f/1.8 or f/2.8) are perfect for achieving that beautiful shallow depth of field, letting you blur out the background while keeping your subject sharp.
Really any lens with an aperture of f/2.8 or below will also give you great flexibility in low-light situations during golden hour. The wide aperture helps let in more light and works wonders when the sun starts to dip lower.
ND Filter: If you’re shooting wide open at f/2.8 directly into the sun, you’ll likely end up overexposing your shots. A neutral density (ND) filter is your best friend in this case.
It helps cut down the light, allowing you to keep that wide aperture without blowing out your highlights. Think of it as sunglasses for your lens.
Tripod: A tripod isn’t always essential for golden hour, but it can be a game-changer, especially as the light starts to fade.
As your shutter speed slows down, any slight movement can introduce blur, so a tripod helps keep everything sharp.
It’s especially useful if you’re doing long exposures or shooting landscapes where you want tack-sharp details.
That said, if you’re on the go and prefer the freedom of handheld shooting, don’t sweat it. I’ve handheld plenty of shots during golden hour and walked away with great results—you just need to keep an eye on your settings.
Settings: Shoot in RAW if you can to give yourself more flexibility in post. And don’t be ashamed to set your camera in aperture priority mode. Makes it easier to just get the photos rather than fumbling with settings. Use an aperture of f/2.8 to f/5.6 for portraits, or f/8 for landscapes.
Valencia, Spain at sunrise.
Post-Processing Tips To Get The Most Out of Your Golden Hour Photos
Golden hour in Miraflores Lima, Peru
Plenty of times I’ve done zero adjustments on my golden hour shots, and they’ve come out looking great straight out of the camera.
Sometimes the light just works, and there’s nothing more satisfying than a shot that doesn’t need tweaking. Whether or not you dive into post-production really depends on the photo and your personal preference for editing.
But, if you’re looking to fine-tune your shots or bring out more details, here’s what I recommend using in Lightroom or Capture One:
White Balance: Golden hour naturally gives you those warm, golden tones, but sometimes they can be a bit too intense.
In Lightroom, I like to play with the Temp slider under the Basic panel to fine-tune the warmth. If it’s too orange, I’ll cool it down just a touch without losing that dreamy glow. Capture One’s Kelvin slider is great for dialing this in as well.
Highlights and Shadows: One of the trickiest parts of shooting during golden hour is managing the contrast between the bright sky and darker foregrounds.
In Lightroom, I usually pull down the highlights to recover details in the sky, while lifting the shadows slightly to bring back detail in the darker areas
In Capture One, the High Dynamic Range tool does a great job balancing these extremes.
Clarity and Dehaze: Golden hour light can sometimes make your shots look a bit too soft. I use the Clarity slider in Lightroom to add some midtone contrast and bring out texture without overdoing it.
For hazier scenes—especially if you’re shooting directly into the sun—the Dehaze slider can work wonders in cutting through that atmospheric haze.
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance): One of my favorite tools for golden hour shots. In Lightroom’s HSL panel, I’ll often tweak the orange and yellow sliders to control the intensity of those colors.
You don’t want your subject to end up looking like they’ve got a bad spray tan, so toning down the saturation or adjusting the luminance can make all the difference.
Lens Corrections: Shooting into the sun can cause lens distortion or vignetting.
In both Lightroom and Capture One, I’ll head to the Lens Correction panel to enable profile corrections. This helps reduce the dark corners and any unwanted distortion from wide-angle lenses, making sure the entire image looks balanced.
Noise Reduction: If you’re shooting handheld and need to crank up the ISO as the light fades, you might end up with some noise in your shadows
I use Lightroom’s Noise Reduction tool, but be subtle—too much and you’ll lose detail. Capture One has an excellent noise reduction feature too, which can help keep things looking clean without sacrificing sharpness.
Putting the "Sol" in Puerta del Sol Madrid, Spain.
In Closing
Golden hour photography isn’t just about luck—it’s about knowing when and how to shoot in the best light of the day.
Whether you’re a street photographer capturing the hustle and bustle of a city or a portrait photographer looking for soft, flattering light, golden hour offers an unparalleled opportunity to create striking images.
So, next time golden hour rolls around—whether in the quiet of morning or the buzz of evening—grab your camera, head outside, and capture that stunning sunset or any other scene bathed in magical light.
And if you catch me out there, I’ll probably be waving around some ancient light meter I found at a flea market, convinced it’s the secret to nailing the perfect shot.
