Golden Hour Today 🌅 — Best Time for Photos & How to Find It

If you want better photos, there's one simple change that makes a huge difference: shoot during golden hour. This short window of warm, flattering light happens twice every day—and knowing exactly when it starts can transform your photos from ordinary to stunning.

If you only need today's sunrise and sunset times, use our Sunrise & Sunset search tool – enter your city to see exact sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, and golden hour times for your location.

You may also find these guides helpful:

In this guide, you'll learn what golden hour is, how to find today's golden hour time for your city, and practical tips to get better photos at golden hour—whether you're using a phone or a camera.

What Is Golden Hour?

Golden hour is the short window after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft, directional light. Instead of the harsh overhead sun at midday, golden hour light is:

Softer and more flattering (no squinting, no harsh shadows under eyes)
Warmer in color (more orange and red tones, less blue)
More cinematic and moody (longer shadows, better texture, leading lines)

There are actually two golden hours each day:

Morning golden hour: Starts shortly after sunrise, when the sun climbs above the horizon
Evening golden hour: Begins before sunset, as the sun lowers toward the horizon

The typical length ranges from 20–60 minutes, depending on your location, time of year, and latitude. Near the equator, it's shorter and faster. In mid-latitudes during summer, it can stretch closer to a full hour.

How to Find Today's Golden Hour Time (The Easy Way)

You could calculate golden hour manually using sunrise and sunset times, but that's tedious and error-prone. Here's the simple way to find golden hour times for your city:

Go to the SunTimesToday homepage and search for your city
Open today's page for your city (or any date you want to plan)
Look for the golden hour section with start and end times clearly displayed
Bookmark your city page so you can quickly check golden hour times anytime

That's it. SunTimesToday shows you the exact golden hour window for each day, so you don't have to do any math. Check today's golden hour times for New York, Los Angeles, or search for your city to see the times for your location.

Why Golden Hour Is So Good for Photos

Golden hour light looks better than midday sun for three main reasons:

Softer, Flattering Light

At midday, the sun is directly overhead, creating harsh shadows under eyes, strong contrast, and lots of squinting. During golden hour, the sun hits at an angle, so shadows stretch out and become gentler. This means:

No dark circles under eyes
Softer contrast that's easier to expose correctly
More even skin tones in portraits

Warmer Color Temperature and Cinematic Mood

When the sun is low, its light travels through more of Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters blue wavelengths, leaving more warm red and orange tones. The result is that warm, cozy, cinematic look you see in professional photos.

Longer Shadows, Texture, and Leading Lines

The angled light during golden hour creates longer shadows that add depth, texture, and visual interest. These shadows can act as leading lines that guide the eye through your photo, making compositions more dynamic and three-dimensional.

How Long Does Golden Hour Last?

Despite the name, golden "hour" isn't always exactly 60 minutes. The length depends on:

Latitude: Near the equator, golden hour is shorter (often 20–30 minutes). At higher latitudes, it can stretch to 60+ minutes, especially in summer.
Time of year: In summer at mid-latitudes, golden hour typically lasts 45–60 minutes. In winter, it's often shorter, around 20–40 minutes.
Terrain and horizon: Hills, mountains, or tall buildings can make golden hour feel shorter if they block the sun earlier or later than the official times.

Here's a rough guide:

Summer mid-latitudes: ~45–60 minutes
Winter mid-latitudes: ~20–40 minutes
Near the equator: Shorter, faster transitions (often 20–30 minutes)

The best way to know exactly how long golden hour lasts for your location and date? Check SunTimesToday—it shows the actual start and end times for each day, so you can plan your shoot accordingly.

Practical Golden Hour Tips for Better Photos

Arrive 15–20 Minutes Early

Don't show up right at golden hour start time. Arrive early to scout your location, find the best angles, and get set up. The light changes quickly, so being ready when it hits is crucial.

Shooting with Backlight vs Front/Side Light

Backlit (sun behind subject): Creates a beautiful rim light or glow around hair and edges. Great for portraits, nature shots, and that dreamy, ethereal look. Watch your exposure—tap to expose for faces on your phone, or slightly raise exposure to avoid silhouettes.

Front/side light (sun in front or to the side): More classic, even look that's perfect for family photos and portraits. Subjects won't squint, and you'll get even, flattering light on faces.

Use Open Shade If Needed

If the light is still too strong even during golden hour, move your subject into open shade (like under a tree or building edge) while keeping the background in the golden light. This gives you soft light on faces with a warm, glowing background.

Phone-Specific Tips

Tap to expose for faces: On most phones, tap the person's face to set focus and exposure
Adjust exposure slider: If faces are too dark, slightly raise the exposure. If the sky is too bright, slightly lower it
Prioritize good skin tones: It's okay if the sky is a little bright—getting natural-looking skin tones is more important
Use portrait mode: Many phones have portrait modes that work great during golden hour for that shallow depth-of-field look

Common Golden Hour Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting too long to start shooting: The best light often happens in the first 10–15 minutes. Don't wait until the sun is almost down—start early and shoot through the whole window.
Facing subjects directly into the sun: This causes squinting and harsh shadows. Turn them so the light hits from the side or slightly from behind.
Ignoring messy backgrounds: Golden hour light is beautiful, but a cluttered background can still ruin a photo. Look for clean backgrounds—sky, water, trees, or open fields.
Forgetting to check weather: Thick clouds may mute the golden look, but they can still give you soft, diffused light that's great for photos. Check the forecast and adjust your expectations.

Example Use Cases

Golden hour works for almost any type of photo:

Family photos and kids playing: Evening golden hour is perfect for capturing kids playing in the park or backyard. The soft light means no harsh shadows, and everyone looks their best.
Engagement and couple sessions: The warm, romantic light is ideal for engagement photos, anniversary shoots, or just casual couple photos.
Travel and landmark photos: Famous landmarks and cityscapes look their best during golden hour. Plan your sightseeing around sunset times for the best photos.
Everyday creative walks: You don't need a special occasion. Just grab your phone, check today's golden hour time, and go for a walk. You'll find beautiful light everywhere.

How to Plan Golden Hour for Your Next Shoot

Here's a quick checklist to plan your next golden hour shoot:

Pick your date and location
Look up your city on SunTimesToday to find golden hour start and end times
Note the sunrise and sunset times as well, so you know the full context
Arrive 15–20 minutes early to scout and get set up
Keep shooting through the whole window—some of the best light happens in the last 10 minutes, so don't pack up too early

Make it a habit: before any photo shoot, check golden hour times. It takes 30 seconds and can make the difference between good photos and great ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is golden hour?

Golden hour is the short window after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft, flattering light that's ideal for photography.

How do I know when golden hour is happening today?

The easiest way is to use SunTimesToday. Search for your city, open today's page, and you'll see the golden hour start and end times clearly displayed. No calculations needed.

How long does golden hour last?

It depends on your location and time of year. Typically 20–60 minutes, with longer windows in summer at mid-latitudes and shorter windows near the equator or in winter. SunTimesToday shows the exact duration for each day.

Is morning or evening golden hour better?

Both are great, but evening golden hour is more popular because it's easier to plan around (most people aren't up at sunrise). Morning golden hour often has less haze and can be quieter, while evening golden hour tends to have warmer, more saturated colors.

Can I still get good photos if it's cloudy?

Yes. Clouds can actually help by diffusing the light and making it even softer. Thick overcast might reduce the warm golden tones, but you'll still get soft, flattering light that's much better than midday sun. Don't skip golden hour just because of clouds.

Conclusion

Golden hour happens every single day, and simply changing the time you shoot can dramatically improve your photos. Whether you're planning a family photo session, a travel shoot, or just want better everyday photos, knowing when golden hour happens is the first step.

Check golden hour times for your city today on SunTimesToday, then commit to doing one golden hour shoot this week—even if it's just a 10-minute walk with your phone. You'll be surprised how much better your photos look when you shoot during the right light.

Better photos aren't about having the best camera. They're about shooting at the right time. And that time is golden hour.

Golden Hour: What Time Is Best for Photos Today (and How to Find It Anywhere)