The best time for wedding photos: golden hour, blue hour and midday sun

When to plan the outdoor session, sunset times by season in Istanbul and three ways to survive midday sun.

Balloons and a couple at sunrise in Cappadocia

Half of what makes a wedding photo beautiful is light.

Golden hour

The 40–60 minutes before sunset: low, warm and soft light.

Blue hour

20–30 minutes after sunset, when city lights come on.

If midday is unavoidable

  • Find shade
  • Backlight and bounce
  • Use a big window
Author

Deniz Arslan

Photographer · Lumen Studio

From the Lumen Studio photographers.