Many scenes are at their best when the sun is low in the sky - around an hour before sunrise or an hour after sunset. While the midday sun makes for uncompromising, high-contrast light that is usually too harsh to work with, sunrise or sunset lighting conditions create in a beautiful low-contrast wave of light. 

Below are my top tips for making the most of the magic hour with respect to shooting outdoor portrait or lifestyle photography.

1. Assess your location

Take some time to research and visit the site ahead of the shoot day to figure out where the sun rises and sets, so that you can determine the best vantage points. Note how the direction of light will illuminate your subject, and the mood that it will create. For example, front lighting can creative attractive, shadow-free portraits (provided the glare doesn’t make your subject squint!), while side light will result in half of the subject’s face being in the shadow, which can make for a dramatic shot. 

Phone apps such as Sun Seeker or Sun Surveyor can help pinpoint where the sun will rise or set in a particular location. Scout the scenic spots, and try a few test shots if possible.  

2. Arrive early

Note that the magic “hour” is actually more like 20-40 minutes in duration. It passes quickly, so make sure you’re in the right place at the right time! Allow sufficient time in advance for preparation and setting up your equipment. 

3. Pick the right camera settings

If shooting with a DSLR, adjust your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO accordingly, so that you capture the authentic golden hues without the need to re-create it in post-processing. While there is no one-size fits all solution, a rough guide for shooting portraits at golden hour would be:

• Aperture of f/1.8 to f/4 to achieve a blurry background;
• Shutter speed of around 1/200 of a second (unless you are going for a motion blur effect, in which case, a lower exposure would get that result);
• ISO starting at 100, which doesn’t introduce too much noise, and going up to a maximum of 800 as it gets darker, to boost clarity.  

4. Ensure that your subject is well-lit

The eye is naturally drawn to the brightest parts of the shot. While shadows may create for a dramatic look, but the last thing you want is a harsh shadow blocking your subject. This can take away from the general composition of the photo, and cause distractions. Take sometime to make sure that your subject is positioned at a desirable angle with relation to the sun, and that no unnecessary shadows are cast. 

5. Review your images

With changing lighting conditions throughout the shoot, it’s important to have an idea of what you’re capturing, to ensure that if the images are not turning out as desired, you have time to adjust your settings. If your images start to get too dark, try widening your aperture to allow for more light to enter the sensor. For example, if you started with f/4 at the beginning of the shoot, try adjusting to to f/2.8 or even f/1.8 once it gets darker. 

To summarize, some key components to making sure you capture the magic of golden hour include: having an understanding of your location, leaving enough time to prepare, picking the right camera settings, watching out for unwanted shadows, and regularly reviewing your images. 

Note, that if you live in the heart of the city, you may have to travel to a more open space to shoot, or artificially light your scene. Light is fundamental to making good pictures – so it’s imperative you learn to see it, and be ready to capture it!