Golden hour is one of the most magical parts of a wedding day. That soft, glowing light just before sunset has a way of elevating every image—adding warmth, romance, and an effortless sense of calm. As a Baltimore wedding photographer, I’m often asked how couples can make the most of this fleeting window of time on wedding day.
Whether you’re getting married at a waterfront venue, a historic estate, or an elegant ballroom in the city, these five tips will help ensure your golden hour photos feel timeless and intentional without missing too much time away from your guests.
1. Build Golden Hour Into Your Wedding Timeline
Golden hour doesn’t last long, typically 15 to 30 minutes with actual portrait time being 5-10 mins, so the biggest key to success is planning ahead. Work with your wedding photographer early in the planning process to intentionally block time for sunset portraits.
This may mean:
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Scheduling your ceremony a bit earlier
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Padding your cocktail hour by 10 minutes or making it 90 mins vs 60.
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Sneaking away briefly after dinner if needed
- Working with your photographer and wedding planner to time events correctly to prioritize sneaking outside for sunset.
When golden hour is part of the plan (instead of an afterthought), the evening flows more smoothly, natural buffers are built in and the images feel relaxed and unhurried – Everything you want for this romantic part of the evening.
2. Trust Your Photographer’s Eye for Light
Golden hour light changes quickly, and knowing where to place you is just as important as when. An experienced wedding photographer understands how to position couples so the light flatters skin tones, avoids harsh shadows, and creates that signature glow.
Sometimes the best spot isn’t the obvious one—it may be a quiet corner of the property, a tree-lined path, or a tucked-away courtyard. Trusting your photographer’s guidance allows you to simply be present and enjoy the moment together.
Also, when your photographer says its go time, they mean it. Late in the day, light changes fast and the “moment” can easily slip away.
3. Embrace Movement and Natural Interaction
Golden hour is the perfect time to let go of traditional posing. Walk hand in hand, lean into one another, laugh, breathe, and take it all in together. The softness of the light pairs beautifully with movement, resulting in images that feel candid and emotionally rich. This is your time to reflect and be in the moment together.
Some of the most meaningful wedding portraits happen during golden hour—not because of elaborate poses, but because it’s often the first quiet moment couples share all day.
4. Understand How Golden Hour Shifts Throughout the Year
Golden hour looks—and feels—different depending on the season, especially for Baltimore weddings. In the summer months, sunset often happens later in the evening, while fall and winter weddings may experience golden hour much earlier, sometimes during cocktail hour.
The light also changes quickly, evolving from warm glow to softer pastels and dusk tones. This natural progression allows us to create a variety of images in a short, intentional window—without pulling you away from your celebration for long.
Understanding how seasonal light behaves helps set realistic expectations and allows your photographer to guide timeline decisions that feel seamless, relaxed, and well-paced.
5. Let Golden Hour Be a Pause, Not a Production
Golden hour doesn’t need to feel like another item on your day of to-do list. Think of it as a brief pause in the day—a chance to reconnect, breathe, and soak in the fact that you’re married.
When couples approach golden hour portraits with this mindset, the result is imagery that feels genuine, intimate, and timeless—the kind you’ll want to return to for decades.
My final thoughts…
Golden hour is fleeting, but the images created during that time often become the most cherished. With thoughtful planning, trust in your photographer, and a willingness to slow down and step away from the party (even for a few quick minutes), sunset portraits can beautifully reflect the emotion and meaning of your wedding day.
If you’re planning a wedding in Baltimore and want photography that honors both the beauty and story of your day in an intentional way, I’d love to connect.
