Anchorage Photographer | Golden Hour Sessions
Let’s talk about lighting!
Golden Hour Sessions
When you contact me to schedule sessions, I will always try to talk to you into going as late as possible for the best and most flattering lighting. Photographers LOVE the beautiful, golden light that you get at the last hour of the day, and because I want your photos to turn out the best they can, I will try to convince you and your family to schedule as late as you can. Scheduling for golden hour has an extra challenge in Alaska, as the most popular time for outdoor sessions is during the summer, and as we know, the sun feels like it never sets up here during that time. That can mean scheduling at 10:30-11:00 at night, but I promise that the results will be worth it. Read on for other options if you have a young family and scheduling that late won’t work for you.
Option 1 - Schedule for earlier in the day, but compromise on location.
My most requested spots in Alaska are requests for mountains in the background. In order to get that beautiful mountain backdrop, you need to be somewhat out in the open, and if the sun is out and it is earlier in the day, that can mean harsh lighting, which would create harsh shadows, or half closed eyes with scrunched faces because the light is too bright in your eyes. If you need to go earlier in the day due to family schedules, I will suggest going somewhere with some tree cover. If you are able to filter out some sunlight with trees, it can make for some beautiful, evenly lighted photos.
Option 2 - Wait for a day with some cloud cover.
This is an easy option. If we get a cloudy day, the clouds filter the sun and depending on how thick the clouds are, makes the lighting easy and even, and we can have your shoot anywhere, and at anytime during the day you like.
Option 3 - Schedule later in the year.
Summer photos are so pretty. But if you are set on a sunny location with mountains, consider scheduling during September or October for some earlier golden hour times as the sun starts setting earlier and earlier. BONUS! Fall photos are my favorite.
Option 4 - Embrace the sun.
Although I don’t recommend this option, they are your family photos, so as long as you are aware why I do not recommend this lighting situation, we can always head out and do our best with the sunlight during a convenient time of day for your family. It can mean beautiful photos as well!
Option 5 - Studio session.
It is hard to pass up Alaska’s outdoor scenery. However, if you would like to be able to control temperature, lighting, bugs, etc, I do have a studio and we can do an easy studio session instead of an outdoor.
