A Great Time of Day For Wedding Photography

I get a lot of couples asking, “What’s a great time of day for wedding photography?” I can create awesome images all day. But for dreamy bridal portraits with gorgeous, more flattering light, one time of day works a treat: “Magic hour!”

Magic hour (or Golden Hour) is about 45-50 minutes prior to sunset and 10-15 minutes after (location dependent). At this time of afternoon, you can see more colour in the sky (unless it’s completely overcast). You also see fewer shadows, which is a lot more flattering.

This is why I suggest starting your reception about 30 minutes after sunset if you want to make the most of this light.

That way, you can enjoy those 60 minutes of the most incredible light the afternoon offers. Then spend 15-20 minutes preparing to enter the reception room. For me creatively, this is the best time of the day! I captured the images below during magic hour.

If we had gone inside sooner we would’ve missed out on this soft and beautifully coloured light. This time of day allows me to create more of that “painting-like” tone. You can see more detail throughout the dynamic range.

For the earlier part of your day, see my advice on when to be ready before the ceremony.

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