If you’re planning a portrait or wedding photoshoot, you may be wondering when the best time of day is to schedule your session. While golden hour (the hour before sunset) is often cited as the ideal time for portrait photography, another time of day to consider is blue hour.
(I knew that blue hour would be the perfect time to capture the dramatic feeling the couple wanted for their engagement photos when they mentioned using their vintage truck.) See the full blog post from their Squamish engagement.
What is blue hour?
Blue hour is the time of day just before sunrise and just after sunset when the sky is bathed in a soft blue hue. During this time, the sun is below the horizon and the light is diffused, creating a soft and even illumination that is perfect for portrait photography.
(Our pilot was nice enough to let us stay after sunset for this amazing helicopter elopement.) See their entire blog post.
Why consider blue hour for your portrait photoshoot?
There are several reasons why blue hour can be an ideal time for a portrait photoshoot:
- Soft, even light: As mentioned above, the diffuse light of blue hour creates a soft and even illumination that is perfect for portrait photography. This can help to minimize harsh shadows and highlights, resulting in more natural-looking images.
- Beautiful, atmospheric background: The soft blue hue of the sky during blue hour creates a beautiful and atmospheric background for your portraits. This can add depth and dimension to your images and create a sense of mood and atmosphere.
- Fewer crowds: Blue hour often falls outside of traditional working hours, so you may have fewer people and distractions in the background of your photos. This can make it easier to get the shots you want and create a more intimate and peaceful setting for your photoshoot.
- Unique and memorable images: Blue hour is a less common time for portrait photography, so choosing to schedule your photoshoot during this time can result in unique and memorable images that stand out from the crowd.
(Any sort of extra lights look amazing during blue hour. We even create a fake blue hour for some of our photoshoots dependent on the weather and location.)
Blue hour Calculator
To use a blue hour calculator, you will need to know the location and date of your photoshoot. You can then use the sunset date and time calculator. Blue hour generally lasts around 45 minutes after sunset.
Hire us for your blue hour photoshoot
If you’re planning a portrait photoshoot, consider scheduling it during blue hour. The soft, even light and beautiful atmospheric background of this time of day can result in stunning and unique images that you’ll treasure for years to come. Hire us to photograph your blue hour photoshoot!
