5 Reasons Why You Should Schedule a Golden Hour Shoot for Your Wedding Videography

As a wedding filmmaker, my goal is to capture every beautiful moment of your special day. One of the most magical times to capture stunning footage is during the golden hour. The golden hour is the time just before sunset or just after sunrise when the sun is low on the horizon, creating a soft, warm glow. I absolutely love filming at golden hour, whether its silhouetting you against the backdrop to create some dramatic shots or getting in nice & close to get some beautiful, intimate moments in the incredible soft light. Some of the best shots i’ve ver taken have come within golden hour & it is something I would urge all my couple to factor into their day.

I highly recommend scheduling a golden hour shoot for your wedding day for the following reasons:

1. Soft, Warm Light

During the golden hour, the sun's light is softer and warmer, creating a flattering and romantic glow that is perfect for wedding videography. Unlike harsh daylight or artificial lighting, the warm golden light creates a natural and dreamy feel in your footage. The golden hour light can help me create beautiful and timeless footage that you will treasure forever, whilst also giving me some unique shots to play with in your wedding film. If the film is building in romantic suspense then golden hour shots are absolutely perfect for delivering that dreamy, loved up feeling!

2. Stunning Backdrops

The soft golden light during the golden hour can transform any location into a stunning backdrop for your wedding footage. The warm light enhances the natural beauty of the location and makes your footage more breathtaking. Whether you're getting married in a garden, a park, or on the beach, the golden hour light can create interesting shadows and depth in your footage, adding texture and dimension to your shots. This also works both ways in the fact that if your venue doesn’t have a dramatic backdrop, we can use the golden hour light to obscure that, so the possibilities really are endless!

3. Relaxed Atmosphere

The golden hour is a time when the atmosphere is relaxed, & everyone is more comfortable. During this time, the temperature is cooler, and the lighting is less harsh, making it more pleasant to be outside. The formalities of your day are over, speeches have finished, you’ve both had a drink & have mingled, relaxed, laughed & cried your way through the day up until that point, so typically these will be the most relaxed, natural moments between you both. By scheduling your golden hour shoot, we can capture more candid and natural moments, creating a relaxed & intimate feel in your footage.

4. Unique and Dramatic Shots

The golden hour is a time when you can create unique and dramatic shots that are impossible to achieve during any other time of the day. The warm light can create long shadows, lens flares, and a magical glow that can make your footage stand out. By taking advantage of the unique lighting during the golden hour, we can create memorable and artistic footage that you will love. Filming techniques such as silhouetting you against a sky filled with colours is one of the things I love most about shooting at golden hour!

5. Timeless Footage

The golden hour is a timeless and classic time of day, which can make your footage more timeless and classic too. If you’ve ever seen a photo or clip from a wedding that you loved, chances are it was filmed at golden hour. The warm and soft light of the golden hour creates a romantic and dreamy feel in your footage, making it more cinematic and memorable. With a golden hour shoot, your footage will never go out of style, and you'll cherish it for years to come.

Ok, so that’s 5 reasons why you should definitely schedule a golden hour shoot in on your wedding day, but now lets talk more about the practical side- how to make the most of your golden hour shoot. Here are a few things you should consider:

1. Location

When choosing a location for your golden hour shoot, consider the direction of the sun. The sun sets in the west, so if you're looking for a sunset shoot, choose a location with a clear view of the western horizon. The majority of the time we will want to be shooting into the sun, but me & your photographer can guide you on what looks best. One of the things i’m doing once you sit down for your wedding breakfast is heading out, working out where the sun will set & then formulating a plan on where to take you both to make the most of those beautiful golden rays.

2. Timing

Timing is crucial for a golden hour shoot. The timing of the golden hour varies depending on the time of year and your location & you’ll need to potentially move some of your timeline around to accommodate it. Typically it’s something like your speeches that will run over the course of golden hour, so try & factor that into your planning. We also don’t want to be out there bang on whatever time sunset is as by that point its far too late. We need to be in location around 20-25 minutes before the sun actually sets as this is when the light is at its most beautiful & with that timeframe, gives us enough opportunity to create multiple amazing shots. I highly recommend consulting with me & your photographer to determine the best time for your golden hour shoot.

3. Stay Firm to Your Schedule

As i’ve said, to ensure that we have enough time for your golden hour shoot, it's important to plan ahead & be in location about half an hour before sunset. There are many other suppliers that will by trying to grab you at this point- the venue will want to clarify something, the DJ will have arrived & will want to chat to you, maybe the band want to congratulate you or your speeches could be overrunning. My advice at this point is to be totally selfish- its your wedding day & these are your shots. We have such a limited window to work in that we cannot afford any delays, otherwise you’ll never get these epic shots. You can warn your venue beforehand & ensure that speeches wrap up on time so we can be out there ready to film some magic.

4. Wardrobe

The golden hour light can enhance the colors and textures in your footage. When choosing your wedding attire, consider how it will look in the warm, golden light. Colors like gold, ivory, and pastels can look particularly beautiful during the golden hour. Some of my brides choose to change outfits for the evening & it can also be nice for Grooms to ‘dress down’ at this point by removing their jacket & tie, but this totally depends on you & the aesthetic you would like. If you want a veil shot then this is the perfect time of day for that as well, s a long cathedral veil looks so lovely & cinematic in the golden light. Again, feel free to discuss with me what your options are so we can really get those shots you want.

5. Plan B

Unfortunately, the weather can be unpredictable, and it's essential to have a plan B in case of bad weather or in case you don’t get a dramatic sunset. If it doesn’t happen its not the end of the world & there are plenty of other opportunities to create dramatic shots. For instance, I bring my video lights with me to every wedding, so we can create some stunning night time shots by experimenting with the light so that you can still get those dramatic, cinematic shots you’ve always dreamed of.

In conclusion, scheduling a golden hour shoot for your wedding day is an excellent decision that can enhance your wedding videography in so many ways. The soft, warm light during the golden hour can create a romantic and timeless feel in your footage, while the stunning backdrops and unique shots can make your footage stand out & gives me so much more to work with when it comes to telling your story in your wedding film. The relaxed atmosphere during the golden hour can also help to create candid and natural moments that capture the intimacy of your special day. As a wedding videographer, my goal is to capture every beautiful moment of your special day, & scheduling a golden hour shoot is just one of the many ways that I can help make your wedding footage truly magical. So, consider scheduling a golden hour shoot for your wedding day, & let's create something truly special together!