Golden hour calculator

What golden hour is

Golden hour is the time when the sun is low and the light turns warm and soft. This calculator defines it by the sun’s height above the horizon: from 6 degrees above it down to 4 degrees below it. That is a little wider than the old rule of thumb, an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset, and it is closer to what the eye sees.

Blue hour comes after sunset, when the sun is 4 to 8 degrees below the horizon. The sky turns a deep, even blue and the light is very soft. It works well for portraits with city lights or a lit building.

Why the times change so much

The length of the day changes through the year. On June 21, 2026 the sun sets in Raleigh at 8:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time. On December 21, 2026 it sets at 5:05 PM Eastern Standard Time. That is more than three hours of difference. Plan your session time by date, not by habit.

The calculator uses the standard NOAA solar position equations and adjusts for daylight saving time in America/New_York. The sunrise and sunset times agree with the U.S. Naval Observatory within a minute in our tests for Raleigh on the longest and shortest days of 2026. Terrain, trees and buildings change when the sun actually disappears for you, so plan to arrive early.

When to start your session

The suggested start time is a general tip, not a rule. Starting early gives you soft sun for the first setups and warm light at the end.

Young kids run out of patience early, so they start earlier. Couples and maternity sessions can start closer to sunset because they move at their own pace. Seniors often want a change of outfit, so they start about 90 minutes out.

Headshots do not need golden hour. Late morning in open shade gives soft, even light.

Sunrise sessions

Sunrise light is as warm as sunset light, with fewer people and more calm. It is also cooler, and kids may be at their best in the morning. The morning golden hour in the results is the window to aim for. Summer sunrise sessions start early, so plan for a quick breakfast and a coffee.

Pick a spot, then check the date

The calculator uses the coordinates of each spot in the city guides. For eight spots in the data, only a city center was available, and the time difference across a town is less than a minute. The result is the same for practical purposes.

Weather changes the light. A thin cloud layer can make the whole session soft. Heavy cloud makes the light flat. If the forecast looks bad, plan to move the date. Weather reschedules are always free.

Using the results

Read the result from top to bottom. The bar at the top of the results shows the day from 4 AM to 10 PM, with golden hour in gold and blue hour in blue. The thin white lines mark sunrise and sunset. The cards below give the exact times.

Change the date to compare seasons. Try a date a week from now and a date in another month. You will see how fast the light moves, and why a session time that worked in June is too late in October. The page link keeps your spot, date and session type, so you can send it to the people coming with you.

Questions about golden hour