Golden hour in Buffalo, NY is a favorite time of day to shoot for a reason. While morning light has it's own beauty, there is nothing quite like the soft flattering light that comes on a sunny evening. When looking into timing of family sessions, as soon as the weather starts getting nice in Amherst, Williamsville, Orchard Park, East Aurora, and all the other wonderful towns around Buffalo, many families immediately will want their portraits in June/July. It's important to consider, though, that the sun will set after 8pm during those months, making the prime golden hour time between 6-8pm. This often conflicts with bed times for little ones. Here's some options for families in this dilemma;
- Push bedtimes. If you think your children can at all handle it, take this occasion to break the rules a little bit. For little ones, an evening nap whether at home or on the car ride to the session can really help. For older kids, they will probably be stoked to stay up late. Yes, it might be hard adjusting the next day, but it's only one day of the year, so it's something to consider!
- Choose a later summer/fall date for your session. Towards late August all the way into October, the sun will begin to set earlier and earlier. If you're looking at a date on your calendar, you can google "what time will the sun set on this date?" and mentally plan for a session time of 1-2 hours prior. Don't wait until the end of summer to inquire, though- by then, all the good dates will be booked!
- Schedule an early morning session instead. While morning light looks very different visually, it is absolutely beautiful in it's own way!
The family in this beautiful session in East Aurora, NY chose the first option, and the results did not disappoint; a beautiful golden hour in one of my favorite places.
