Golden hour photography: how to make the most of warm, soft light
The hour after sunrise and before sunset gives soft, warm, flattering light. Learn when it happens in Yucatán and how to shoot it.
Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low. Light travels through more atmosphere, becoming warmer, softer and more directional. Skin glows, textures appear and shadows grow long.
When it happens in Yucatán
Close to the tropics, the sun rises and sets quickly, so golden hour is short: roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Check an app like PhotoPills or Sun Surveyor and arrive early to set up.
How to use it
- Backlight: place the sun behind your subject for glowing hair and a warm rim.
- Side light: turn the subject so the sun skims across faces and textures.
- Front light: soft enough at this hour to light faces without squinting.
Settings
Shoot RAW, set white balance to daylight or about 5500K to keep the warmth, and expose for skin. Use exposure compensation of +0.3 to +1 when backlighting.
Plan your session
In Mérida’s summer heat, golden hour is also the most comfortable time to shoot. We schedule nearly every portrait, family and real estate exterior session around it.
