As the sun dips low on the horizon, casting its warm, golden glow across the landscape, photographers know it's time to create some magic. Golden Hour, that precious window of time shortly after sunrise or before sunset, offers enchanting lighting conditions that can elevate any photo, especially during senior sessions. Whether you're a seasoned pro senior photographer or an amateur enthusiast, here are some useful tips to make the most of Golden Hour during your senior photography sessions.
1. Timing is Key: The first rule of capturing to achieving the Golden Hour glow is to be there on time. Keep track of sunrise and sunset times in your area. Arrive at your shooting location at least 30 minutes before Golden Hour begins to scout the area, set up your equipment, and ensure you're ready to capture the magic as soon as it starts.
2. Scout Your Location: Not all locations are created equal when it comes to Golden Hour photography. Scout potential shooting locations beforehand to find spots with interesting backdrops, textures, and lighting possibilities. I highly recommend checking out locations near Puget Sound beaches like Alki, Golden Gardens Park, Browns Point Lighthouse, Seattle Discovery Park, and Ruston Way in Tacoma. Also, consider factors like architectural elements, natural landscapes, and urban settings that can complement your senior's personality and style.
3. Embrace the Warmth: Golden Hour light is known for its warm, golden tones that add a dreamy, ethereal quality to senior photos. Embrace this warmth by adjusting your camera's white balance settings to enhance the golden hues. Try using kelvin as your white balance setting because you can control how much warmth or coolness you want in your photos. Also, make sure you shoot in RAW format to have more flexibility in post-processing and fine-tune the warmth during editing.
4. Use Backlighting to Your Advantage: Position your senior with the sun behind them to create stunning backlighting effects during Golden Hour. This technique can produce beautiful rim lighting, halo effects, and soft, glowing highlights around your senior, adding depth and dimension to your photos. Experiment with different angles and compositions to find the most flattering backlighting for your senior.
5. Adjust your Settings: While Golden Hour offers dreamy lighting conditions, it also presents exposure challenges, especially when shooting directly into the sun. Use manual exposure settings to avoid underexposure or blown-out highlights. Experiment with your f/stop, shutter speed, and ISO settings to achieve the perfect image. Also, consider using a lens hood or your hand to block direct sunlight from hitting your lens and causing lens flare.
6. Be Creative with Posing: Make the most of the Golden Hour by incorporating creative poses that complement the warm, magical atmosphere. Encourage your senior to engage in activities like walking, dancing, or playing with props to capture candid moments filled with joy and authenticity. Experiment with editorial poses and compositions to tell a compelling story through your seniors' photos.
Golden hour presents a perfect opportunity for senior photographers to capture stunning senior session photos filled with warmth, depth, and emotion. By timing your shoot right, scouting the perfect location, embracing the warmth of the light, and mastering camera setting techniques, you can capture golden hour senior photos. So grab your camera, head out during golden hour, and let the magic unfold before your lens.
TAKE A LOOK AT GOLDEN HOUR SENIOR PHOTOS FROM A GRAD SESSION WITH A MOUNT RAINER HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR:
READY TO BOOK A GOLDEN HOUR SENIOR SESSION WITH MIKAYLA ARSENIAN PHOTOGRAPHY?!