Ask any photographer for one piece of timeline advice and you’ll hear the same thing: plan for golden hour. Here’s why, and how.
What is golden hour?
Golden hour is the window just after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun is low — roughly from 6° above the horizon to a few degrees below it. Low sunlight passes through more atmosphere, which scatters blue light and leaves warm, soft, directional light behind. It flatters skin, glows through hair and veils, and makes landscapes look painted.
Blue hour follows sunset (and precedes sunrise): the sun is 4–6° below the horizon and the sky turns an even, cool blue. It’s ideal for moody portraits, city lights and sparkler exits.
When does it happen on your date?
It changes every day. In Utah, an evening golden hour can start before 4:00 pm in December and after 8:00 pm in late June. It also lasts longer in summer and at higher latitudes. The quickest way to know is our golden hour calculator — pick a location and your date.
Mountains and canyons change the math
The calculator assumes a flat horizon. Real places aren’t flat. In Zion’s main canyon, direct sun can leave the canyon floor an hour or more before official sunset. On the Wasatch Front, the light drops behind western ridges early in some neighborhoods. Overlooks and salt flats, on the other hand, keep the light until the very last minute.
That’s why we scout. We check sun angles on satellite maps and, for local weddings, visit at the same time of day when we can.
Planning tips
- Sunset portraits in the middle of the reception. Fifteen to twenty minutes is plenty. Your guests will be eating dessert.
- Elopements: vows an hour before sunset. You get the ceremony in warm light and portraits right after.
- Morning people: sunrise elopements mean empty trails and golden light on red rock.
- Overcast? Don’t panic. Clouds act like a giant softbox, and a break at the horizon can produce the most dramatic sunsets.
Don’t skip blue hour
After the sun sets, stay ten more minutes. Blue hour is short, but the moody, cinematic frames from it are often couples’ favorites. Pair it with sparklers, a lantern or simply a quiet slow dance.
Want this built into a schedule automatically? The timeline builder places your sunset portraits for you.
