Natural Light Photography: It’s all about the light!
One of the biggest things I have learned in my photography journey is that light isn't just a tool; it's the very essence that sculpts emotions, highlights features, and tells stories through the faces of our subjects. While studio setups offer control, there's an unmatched authenticity in harnessing the nuances of natural light, especially in the mountains and the beautiful landscape of Colorado. Read on to see my favorite times of the day to shoot, in Boulder, Denver and beyond Colorado.
Why Golden Hour is Best for Natural Light
That lovely time shortly before sunset brings a warm, flattering glow on all subjects. The soft, directional light enhances skin tones, adds depth to eyes, and while used as backlight can give the “halo” effect of that beautiful light around the rim of the subject. In Colorado, the best time for this light is about the 20 minutes before the sun goes down behind the mountains. This time will vary depending on location and elevation. Check out some of my favorite locations for Golden Hour on my post about the Best Boulder Photoshoot Locations
It’s not just Sunset! Sunrise Golden Hour needs love too
Although it’s sometimes difficult to get up before dawn to get photos taken (especially in the summer!) it’s soooo worth it. The golden light cascading on the mountains and lighting up the subjects face can’t be beat. This perfect light only lasts about 10-15 minutes before the sun is too harsh for people to face it directly. But oh the results are beautiful when the time is right! Another bonus is that locations are not as crowded, so dogs will be less distracted, and if they don’t love sharing their space with other dogs then the coast is clear.
Don’t forget about Blue Hour
Blue hour is considered when daylight fades into dusk, and an airy and serene light is perfect for portraits. In Colorado, blue hour also can produce an amazing sky behind the mountains if we’re lucky!! I often schedule sunset shoots to go into blue hour so we will get both kinds of light in one shoot.
