As many of you readers will already know, the word photography comes from Greek, being the union of two terms: light (φῶς, phṑs) and graph (γραφή, graphḕ), so the word thus composed literally means “writing with light.” Indeed, light is the absolute star of any photograph, even one with the most captivating subject or with the most beautiful and loving married couple you have ever seen. In a photograph and a video, it plays a decisive role: you can have the best subject in the world but if the light is bad, hardly the photo or video will be astonishing, because it is the light that outlines the contours, enhances the figures, envelops them and creates more or less engaging atmospheres.
A professional videographer and a professional photographer must be able to master the characteristics peculiar to each type of light and know how to use them to their advantage to write the stories of their protagonists in the best possible way. In a wedding video, the most desirable effect is to recreate an idyllic, light, intimate atmosphere that can translate the feelings of the newlyweds into images. This mood can be created very easily with the complicity of a particular light, which by its nature possesses peculiar characteristics perfect for the most romantic shots: the golden hour.
Read also: From Raw Footage to Masterpiece: The Process of Creating the Perfect Wedding Video
What exactly is the golden hour?
The golden hour is that special hour when the light is particularly warm, soft and diffuse and casts golden reflections on everything it illuminates (hence its name golden hour). It can be observed both at dawn, when the sun has just popped on the horizon and has not yet risen high in the sky, and at sunset, when it gives the earth its last rays before nightfall. It is characterized by breathtaking hues that turn from red to purple through all shades of yellow and orange. It is immediately preceded or followed by the so-called blue hour, which in contrast offers cool, bluish hues. The golden hour varies slightly according to geographic location and season, but usually lasts an hour or so.
During this time period the sun is low on the horizon and creates long, gentle shadows, providing a much more pleasant light than the direct, harsh light of midday, which, on the contrary, creates dark, sharp shadows that do not always create visually pleasing effects, indeed sometimes may even accentuate flaws in the subjects photographed. All these characteristics give it extreme photogenicity, because it can enhance any subject, from landscapes to faces, limiting their flaws as much as possible and enhancing their contours by softening them.
Why golden hour is the best time of the day to make a wedding video
The special characteristics of this unique light definitely make it the best for extremely impressive wedding photos and footage. In addition to enhancing any subject, it goes perfectly with the delicate and romantic mood I look for when shooting a wedding video. Filming during this time of the day allows me not only to give couples aesthetically beautiful shots, but also to work in the most ideal conditions for several reasons.
First, during golden hour, the dynamic range (the difference between the brightest and darkest areas of the scene) is generally smaller than during other times of the day. This, in addition to greatly simplifying the exposure and post-production process, also affects the rendering of details in both shadows and highlights.
Diffuse light and soft shadows significantly reduce excessive contrast in images, and this allows not only for a softer atmosphere but also, should the need arise, for adjustments in post-production by choosing which details to increase contrast on and which to keep softer. At the same time, the long shadows cast by the sun’s still-low rays help to give greater depth and dynamism to photos or videos, because they allow the details and contours of objects to be better highlighted without flattening them, as shadows caused by the sun at zenith would.
At the color aspect, on the other hand, golden light can make colors seem more intense and more saturated. This advantage applies both to landscape images, which will thus appear more vivid, and to portraits, since red and gold hues help to enhance the human complexion.
Last really crucial reason to love this moment of the day, especially for wedding video footage, is the magical atmosphere that the combination of all these elements can produce. The gentle light, such interesting angles and shadows, warm and intense colors create a romantic and dreamy atmosphere in which you will be completely immersed. A perfect shooting situation such as this is truly one-of-a-kind, is difficult to replicate in the studio, and is truly the best setting you could wish for filming and of your big day.
Read also: The Art Of Storytelling: Why Color Grading Is Crucial In Wedding Videography
Where to find the best golden hour in Italy
Italy offers numerous beautiful locations to experience the golden hour, a magical time just after sunrise or before sunset when the sunlight is soft and warm. Here are some suggestions for capturing the best golden hour moments in Italy:
- Tuscany: The rolling hills of Tuscany, especially around cities like Florence and Siena, offer picturesque landscapes. This is the best golden hour that you can find in Italy. The golden hour in that places enhances the beauty of the vineyards, olive groves, and charming villages.
- Dolomites: The Dolomite Mountains in northern Italy offer dramatic landscapes, especially during sunrise and sunset. The jagged peaks and alpine meadows are bathed in warm light.
- Sorrento Coast: The Sorrento Coast (the other side of Amalfi Coast), with its dramatic cliffs, colorful houses, and crystal-clear waters, provides a stunning backdrop during the golden hour. Sorrento and Vico Equense are particularly enchanting.
- Rome: The historic sites of Rome, such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Vatican, are even more enchanting during the golden hour. The soft light adds a warm glow to the ancient architecture.
When planning to capture the golden hour, be sure to check the local sunrise and sunset times and factor in the time needed to reach your chosen location. Keep in mind that the best spots might vary depending on the time of year and weather conditions.
Golden hour: getting organized with timing and equipment
The golden hour, as its name again emphasizes, is a phenomenon of very short duration (it lasts, in fact, about an hour). When it is about to come to an end the changes in hue and exposure are really sudden, and in a matter of minutes one can find oneself in completely different light conditions. To be able to make the most out of it, without having to face any difficulties, it is necessary to implement a few small tricks that will allow at the same time to facilitate the work of photographers and cinematographers and to make the newly married couple experience a magical moment.
First of all, it is necessary to identify in advance the place that will host the shooting, for which the most scenic and evocative place of the location hosting the ceremony should be reserved. Extensive natural settings are certainly best suited for this purpose. Circumscribed locations or those with a limited horizon in fact, as much as they can be made equally stunning by these specific lighting conditions, they will certainly not achieve the same romantic effect as a sunset by the sea or in the hills. Green light, then, to wide views, with a beautiful horizon and natural elements to frame them!
Once you have chosen the venue, you obviously need to know the exact time of the golden hour in your area (there are many tools online that allow you to know exactly) and go there quite early to make sure you don’t miss a single minute. There are times when I wait for the bride and groom to arrive directly at the venue, and other times when I accompany them on their way with the foresight to leave about 20 minutes earlier to have plenty of time to get there calmly and unhurriedly (always keeping in mind that in most cases brides wear uncomfortable high shoes!) to explain to the bride and groom what they will be doing and how they should behave in front of the lens that is pointed at them from that moment.
I believe that equipment also plays its important part in the success of a shot or photograph. In order to get high-quality images, I prefer to have a good bright lens that captures light and details as well as possible. Often I also place a filter in front of the lens that helps create special effects: in these lighting conditions both ND filters, which help manage the light better, and diffuser filters that soften the intensity of light and shadows are very useful.
Finally, I will reveal why I particularly love working with these lighting conditions: they allow me to create special and unique visual effects. I am talking especially about the silhouette effects that are achieved by placing subjects between the lens and the sun, so that their sharply outlined contours stand out against the sunset. Occasionally I also like to get a few rays of sunlight into the lens so that I can get some very interesting light leaks, which are also perfect to use as transitions between clips.
The Magic of Couple Shooting during the Golden Hour
Often, when I make wedding videos, I try to set the Couple Shooting moment right during the golden hour. The Couple Shooting is an absolutely crucial part of a wedding video: it is the pivotal and most romantic moment of all, it has to be filmed with the best setting you can have. It has great importance both narratively and visually, one has to make sure to immerse the bride and groom in an idyllic situation so that they indulge in their emotions and so that I can record them in the best possible way in my videos.
During an entire day with adrenaline at its peak, in which the bride and groom got ready, looked at each other for the first time dressed for the ceremony, greeted their guests and most importantly said the fateful “I do!” they definitely need a little moment of decompression that makes them regain some intimacy. This is also why at some point, contrary to what I do throughout the entire day, during which I try never to interfere with the couple, I ask them to follow me for more exclusive shots. With the setting sun and golden light enveloping them, the newlyweds soon regain their complicity (I help them by even putting their love song in the background!) and I can take home the most empathetic shot of their entire wedding video.
Read also: The First Look: Why It’s a Must-Have Moment in a Wedding
Conclusion
I hope I have shown you how a given light condition can be used and exploited on both a technical and narrative level: the golden hour not only makes for beautiful photos or footage, but if you use it wisely and skillfully, it can also convey a certain mood and evoke special emotions in you and your loved ones when you watch the video of your special day. There are small tricks to always keep in mind to ensure the success of the shoot, such as paying attention to timing or choosing the right location.
The ability to exploit light in creative and technical ways is crucial for a good videographer, who must be able to both create striking visual works and tell stories and emotions. The golden hour offers a natural and unrepeatable setting, which I love to use to capture magical and unforgettable moments and to experiment with my camera, being inspired by the beauty of this unique light.
Read also: The Advantages of Hiring a Local Videographer in Italy
