Photographers love golden hour for good reason. It is the last hour or so before sunset, when the sun is low, the light is soft and warm, and the shadows are gentle. You get it just after sunrise too, but most people don’t want to get up that early for pictures.
Here is the catch. Golden hour usually lands right around dinner and bedtime.
The session that didn’t go to plan
In September I photographed a mom, a grandma and two kids at Claude Moore Park. The plan was golden hour. Then schedules changed, and we ended up starting at 5:00, almost two hours before sunset. I was a little worried about it, since golden hour is what they asked for.
It turned out not to matter much. The kids had energy to burn, so we just walked from spot to spot around the barns and the old stone buildings, mostly in shade. By the time we got down to the dock, the sun was lower over the water, and toward the end we got this photo of the mom hugging her daughter.
The light was good at the end. The kids were great the whole time. They even made it to dance class after. If I had to pick one, I’d pick the kids.
How I think about timing
Your family’s energy matters more than the light. An outing that goes well in decent light beats one that falls apart in perfect light.
Babies and toddlers: mornings after a good night’s sleep are often easiest. Plan around the nap, not the sunset.
School-age kids: late afternoon usually works, especially with a snack in the car.
Teens: anytime except early morning.
Other light worth using if golden hour doesn’t work
Open shade under trees works at almost any time of day.
Overcast days give soft, even light, which is great for faces.
Midday sun is harsh in an open field. A shaded trail fixes most of that.
Seasons change everything
Sunset around Loudoun moves a lot over the year. In late June it’s around 8:40 at night. In early December it’s 4:47 in the afternoon. The clocks fall back on November 1, so sunset will be around 5:00, and a fall session starts in the middle of the afternoon.
That works in your favor if you have little kids. A 3:45 start is a lot easier than a 7:30 one.
I usually plan to start about an hour and fifteen minutes before sunset. That leaves time to warm up, wander a bit, and still be somewhere good when the light gets low. Once you pick a date, I’ll look up the actual sunset time and plan from there.
Is your family at its best in the morning or the late afternoon? Tell me, and I'll find a time that fits.
About the author: I'm Justin DeCastra, a family photographer based in Ashburn, Virginia. I photograph families doing real things together across Loudoun County. Say hello.