Golden hour is that magical time of day when the sun is either rising or setting and the light emanates throughout the sky as an illustrious gold. So many beginner and expert photographers enjoy shooting during the ‘golden hour,’ whether they’re shooting a model, a family portrait, or even the sky itself. Here are three common mistakes to avoid while shooting photography during a sunrise or sunset:

Not Taking Enough Photos:

Although it is known as the golden hour, it doesn’t necessarily stick around for the entire 60 minutes. Sometimes, the “hour” only last 35-45 minutes before the sun has disappeared completely. For those in photography school, or filming a project, be sure that you work fast and take lots of photographs while the peak of the hour is still intact. Instead of looking through your shots immediately after taking them, take as many as you can until you can’t take anymore, and then edit them when you arrive back at home.

Not Planning in Advance:

If you are craving the golden aesthetic for a photo shoot, it is critical that you plan ahead and prepare as well as you can before the shoot. You should always look up the forecast a day before you plan on taking photos so that you do not risk having a nasty overcast or inclement weather ruin your golden backdrop. Always arrive at your destination early, maybe even before the sun rises/sets, which will give you enough time to set up your camera, your lens, and your tripod. Tripods are perfect for sunset photographs as it reduces camera vibrations and allows for a clearer and crisper photograph.

Not Moving with The Light

The golden hour is all about adjusting your location so that your camera follows the light. The appeal of the hour is to capture warm and soft light that doesn’t cast raucous shadows. You want to capture the sun and the potential it displays while it sits on the edge of the horizon. You want to capture the luminescent yellows, the autumn oranges, and the strikingly dominant reds. The sun moves faster than it appears while it sets, so where you may be shooting when you first start taking photographs, could be completely dark within 15 minutes; this will force you to take photographs quickly, and experiment with different angles and settings.

Shooting photography or videography during golden hour can provide you with shots that will drop jaws and leave your audiences astounded. From photos of architecture to photos of the distant horizon, the multi-purposefulness of the golden hour cannot be understated. The shadows that the golden hour produces can also create some stunning silhouettes, which are highlighted by the disappearing sunlight for melodramatic and emotional photographs. The possibilities that you can explore during the hour before sunrise, and the hour before sunset, are endless. However, the most important thing you can do to maximize its potential is to be prepared for it.