From blue hour to golden hour; a pro photographers low down on these amazing lighting conditions

If you know anything at all about photography, or even if you just love a good selfie, then the chances are you’ll have heard of either the golden hour, the blue hour or both! If you haven’t, let me fill you in.

Golden hour is the period of time either just before the sun sets or after it rises. It’s pretty easy to recognise as the light at these times is softer and redder than usual, which makes it an amazing natural light for taking photos.

Blue hour is similar, but in this case, it’s the period of time just before sunrise or just after sunset when the light from the sun is diffused from below the horizon, giving the sky a vivid blue tone.

So, in order of appearance, golden hour and blue hour would happen like this:

• Before sunrise blue hour

• After sunrise golden hour

• Before sunset golden hour

• After sunset blue hour

In other words, there are two opportunities every day to capture these lighting conditions (providing the weather is playing ball!) and when it comes to weddings, it’s typically the before sunset golden hour and after sunset blue hour that are the best opportunities for some amazing photos. Unless of course, you’re planning a very early start!

To make sure I can maximise this light during my weddings, or even pre wedding photo shoots and surprise engagements I will always, without fail, check the sunset times for that day. I’ll also scout out some of the best places to pause for some photos, to really make the most of this amazing natural light.

The reason photographers, like me, wax lyrical about blue hour and golden hour photography is simple. The light is just very, very flattering and it allows me to do what I think is some of my best work. What’s also great about blue hour and golden hour is that one transitions into the other, allowing me to capture photos with softer, warmer tones in the golden hour and contrasting photos with cooler tones in blue

hour. It’s a great way to get a set of photographs that span the whole spectrum of colour, especially when that's part of an album that includes indoor, outdoor, morning, afternoon and evening photography as well.

So there you have it, my mini low down on blue hour, golden hour, why they’re great and how I always try my best, to capture photos during these amazing natural lighting conditions.