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Have you seen stunning golden hour family photos on social media, but feel unsure whether your children would cooperate during that time of day? I’ve got you covered! Here are my tips to plan your golden hour family session.
First of all, what is the golden hour?
The golden hour is a period of about 90 minutes that takes place right before sunset. During this time, the light is soft, even and beautifully golden.
Since we live in a northern climate, the timing of golden hour varies greatly depending on the season. You can use www.suncalc.org to accurately find out when golden hour happens on any specific date and location.
Why is it the best moment for outdoor sessions?
The word “photography” literally means “writing with light,” which shows just how important light is in shaping the look and feel of images. As a general rule, photographers aim for soft and even light when creating portraits.
Contrary to popular belief, the middle of the day is usually not ideal for outdoor sessions. In fact, the period between 11AM and 2PM is often the least favourable, especially on sunny days. The light is at its harshest, creating strong shadows and making people squint. We can work around it by staying in open shade, but it significantly limits our options.
This is exactly why photographers love golden hour. The light is soft, flattering and even, and it naturally adds a warm and magical glow that simply doesn’t exist earlier in the day.
I can already hear you saying: “I understand golden hour is beautiful, but my children usually go to bed around 7PM. There’s no way they’ll cooperate that late!”
Don’t worry! Many of my clients still choose golden hour sessions, even close to bedtime, and we always manage to create beautiful and natural images. There are several ways to set ourselves up for success and make the experience enjoyable for everyone.
Here are my tips on how to plan your golden hour family session.
Pick your session date according to the season
As mentioned earlier, golden hour timing changes a lot depending on the time of year. Around the summer solstice in June, it can begin as late as 7:30PM, which is often what worries parents the most.
If that feels too late, spring or fall are great alternatives, since golden hour usually starts around 5:30PM during those seasons. And if you love snowy landscapes, winter is also a beautiful option, with golden hour happening as early as 2:30PM around the winter solstice in December. You can read my tips to nail your winter photoshoot here.
Avoid tiring activities during the day
If you want your children to be in their best mood for the session, try to keep the day calm and low-energy. Avoid activities like long hikes, full days at the pool or busy social plans. Instead, stay at home and keep things relaxed. Baking cookies, doing crafts or watching a movie together are all great options. This way, everyone arrives at the session feeling rested and happy.
Adjust the afternoon nap if needed
If your child is still napping, consider slightly adjusting their nap time by about an hour. Many children naturally start resisting naps as they get older, and this can work in your favour for evening sessions.
For older children, a short power nap can also help. Creating a calm environment with soft music or a relaxing movie and dim lighting may help them fall asleep a bit later than usual.
Manage post-nap grumpiness
Some children wake up from naps in the car feeling a bit grumpy or disoriented. If that’s the case, plan to arrive about 30 minutes early to give them time to adjust. You can walk around the location together, explain what will happen during the session and gently ease them into the experience before we begin.
Arrive with a full stomach
We all know it, it’s much harder to be in a good mood when you’re hungry! Make sure your family has a proper meal before the session, even if it means eating earlier than usual. This helps avoid tired or hungry moods during the shoot.
Bringing mess-free snacks and drinks is also a great idea to keep everyone happy throughout the session. You can even save a small treat, like chocolate or ice cream, for the end as a fun incentive to keep little ones motivated until the final photos.
Last update: April 2026
Would you like to book a session like this? Contact me at lisamarie.savard@yahoo.ca to do so!
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