Golden hour, twilight or blue hour?
I've been a natural light photographer for most of my career, initially out of necessity but eventually out of deep love. There’s something magical about the way photos come to life under the different variations of sunlight, and how it reflects off surfaces throughout the day. I once heard a very wise woman say, "I worship at the temple of the sun," and I’ve carried that with me ever since.
So, what’s the difference between sunrise and sunset lighting, and how can you use it to your advantage when planning your next shoot? Let’s dive into that together as I share some of my favorite images taken in the morning light, during golden hour, and just after sunset.
Morning light photoshoot with Sam
Golden hour photoshoot with Tatiana
Blue hour wedding photos
Before we delve into the technical differences between sunrise and sunset, can I tell you about the series that made me fall in love with morning light?
In 2020, when the world shut down due to the global pandemic, I was a full-time musician and freelance photographer with big projects on the horizon—all of which involved being in the same room as other people. Suddenly, I had more time than I’d ever had before, and so much pent-up creative energy that I didn’t know what to do with it. My projects were put on hold, and like most people, I really missed gathering with others. As soon as the restrictions were semi-lifted and we could leave our homes, I started reaching out to people for socially distanced photoshoots—and that’s how my series "Morning Light" was born!
These shoots were always planned just before sunrise to capture twilight and the beginning of the morning sun. For a few weeks, I found myself waking up earlier than ever and meeting strangers from Instagram in Calgary's cutest neighbourhoods, with my camera and speaker in hand. It was pure magic. Mornings hold a special place in my heart—there’s something serene and quiet about watching the world slowly wake up. During a time when connecting with new people was limited, this series filled my soul.
Let’s talk about the differences between twilight, golden hour, and blue hour.
Twilight is that liminal time and space when night transitions into day. The sun is still below the horizon, but the sky brightens, painted with soft pinks and purples—this is my favourite time for soft portraits or shoots involving a lot of movement. The light feels magical, and as we enter dawn when the sun breaks the horizon, warmer reds come into play, and the light becomes more golden and rich.
Golden hour occurs during both sunrise and sunset when the sun is low on the horizon, casting a much softer light than at other times of the day. Many photographers consider the hour just before the sun sets as true golden hour. It’s ideal for enhancing storytelling or capturing the gentle, romantic feel of couple shoots. My favourite part of golden hour is how it interacts with the eyes of my subjects. Since the sunlight is less harsh, I have my models face the setting sun, playing with how the golden light brings out different colours in their eyes. And, because I love a little drama, I sometimes use a gold reflector to really push that golden glow.
Blue hour, or dusk, is the hour just after the sun has fully set. The sky transitions from the warmth of golden hour into pinks, purples, and stunning blues. With such low light, subjects and scenes often take on a cinematic quality. I love blue hour for cityscape adventures, where buildings are silhouetted, and windows reflect those soft colours.
Knowing when to schedule your outdoor shoots to make the most of these natural light companions can truly elevate your work. I love thinking about the colour palettes at play or enhancing any storytelling woven into the shoot. Golden hour, twilight, and blue hour can help you build worlds around your photos and add intention to your work, for both yourself and your clients. I also love experimenting with how these 'magic light moments' change with the seasons. Living in Calgary, Alberta, I’m lucky to have access to incredible prairie sky scenes. October is my favourite for morning light, especially when the changing autumn landscape makes an appearance. As we head into fall, I will be keeping my eyes to the sky for inspiration and hope you do the same! Happy shooting!
xx A
