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Get Enlightened!

Ginger Wick
Feb 17

I frequently get asked, “What’s the best time for a photo session?” And my immediate reaction is: “Now!”


🐾 You have a puppy? Perfect! Let’s photograph him now to capture all those tiny, sweet features that will look completely different all too soon.

⚽ You have a dog in its prime? Perfect! Let’s photograph him now to preserve all that prime-of-his-life energy and antics.

🥰 You have a senior? Perfect! Let’s schedule something now so you can always remember those details that make him him – the graying muzzle where you have kissed all the color away, his slower walk, his gentle demeanor.


After that answer quickly runs through my head, I realize folks are really asking about the time of day. 😉 The good news is that we have options! Let’s break them down:


Golden Hour

Most photographers (myself included!) will tell you “Golden Hour” is the best time for a session. This magical time of day, just after sunrise and about an hour before sunset, provides gorgeous, warm, and flattering light. Of course, here in Colorado, it’s more like “Golden Eight Minutes.” Ha! But even so, the light at that time of day is beautiful and warm, making it my preferred session time. Here’s why:


  • Backlit portraits: The sun behind the subject creates a dreamy glow.

    Belgian Malinois and Australian Kelpie stand on a sunlit forest path, tongues out, surrounded by golden trees. The mood is joyful and vibrant.
    Juliet and Eilah, backlit in fall afternoon light
    Silken Windhound puppy standing in sunlight on green grass, with a soft, blurred background, looking curious and playful.
    Bees Knees, backlit in warm morning light
    Woman joyfully lifts a brown poodle in a lush park. Sunlit scene with green background.
    Ruth & Emily, backlit on a summer morning
    Golden retriever sitting in a sunlit field, surrounded by tall grass. Warm, golden hues evoke a peaceful, serene mood.
    Queso, backlit in morning light

  • Natural front/side light: Soft light from the front or side highlights natural textures.

    A fluffy dog stands on a path surrounded by autumn foliage. The sunlight casts a warm, golden hue, creating a serene atmosphere.
    Kita, side-lit
    A tan and white dog standing on a ledge, looking content in a sunny, blurred outdoor setting.
    Papi, front-lit near sunset

  • Off-camera flash: This technique adds extra illumination for dramatic results.

    Australian Shepherd sits on a rock in a forest, surrounded by dry grass and trees. Warm sunlight creates a serene, natural scene.
    Juno, backlit with additional light in front
    Scruffy dog on a rock at sunset, looking alert. Sunlight casts long shadows. Clear blue sky, trees in the background. Tranquil mood.
    Biggie, backlit with additional light in front
    A fawn French Bulldog stands on a fallen log in a dry, grassy field. The setting is autumnal, with warm golden and brown tones.
    Ole, side-lit with additional light in front

  • "Faking" golden hour: Since the warm look is so desirable, I've learned to replicate the golden hour glow using off-camera flash and colored gels - even after the sun has gone down, or on cloudy days.

    Alaskan Malamute wrapped in plaid blanket sits in golden field, looking content with tongue out. Warm tones create a cozy, serene atmosphere.
    Moose, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, but I wasn’t finished with this cutie, so I put a gelled strobe behind him to mimic the sun, and lit him from the front.
    Labrador retriever lying on a wooden path, tongue out, surrounded by green foliage in a sunny outdoor setting. Happy and relaxed mood.
    Warrior, it was a totally overcast evening but I wanted a little warm glow, so placed a gelled strobe behind him and lit him from the front.

Blue Hour

The time just before sunrise and just after sunset is called “Blue Hour”. The sky takes on a deeper blue hue, creating a striking visual effect. I often use off-camera lighting to illuminate my subjects during this time.


  • Dramatic portraits: A unique aesthetic different from traditional golden hour.

    A small dog sits on a rock at night, with string lights glowing in the blurred urban background, creating a warm, festive atmosphere.
    Rue, blue hour, lit from the front
    Belgian Malinois and Australian Kelpie sit side by side on a rooftop, city lights blurred in the background. The mood is calm with an urban nightscape setting.
    Juliet & Eilah, blue hour, lit from the front

  • Soft ambient light: Sometimes there’s enough remaining daylight for a stunning natural portrait.

    Australian Shepherd standing on a fallen log in a dry, grassy field. Background of soft-focus trees, creating a serene outdoor setting.
    Juno, natural light after the sun dipped down

  • Silhouettes: Blue Hour is a fabulous time to create silhouettes, where your subject appears as a dark outline against a vibrant sky. Theoretically, silhouettes can be created any time the light source behind your subject is stronger than the light in front of it. However, at blue hour, you have the added benefit of richer sky colors that enhance the effect. A clean background, like an open sky, makes for the most striking silhouettes.

    Silhouette of a woman doing yoga and a boxer dog standing on a colorful sunset background, conveying peace and companionship.
    Amy & Toni, blue hour

Full Sun

Supposedly, midday is the least favorable time for photos due to harsh shadows, but I do love a challenge! 😝 With the right techniques, full sun can be used to great effect.


  • Overpowering the sun: Using flash to balance exposure.

    Airedale puppy sits on a blue chair, looking curious. Bright blue hues dominate the scene.
    Oakley, taken at high noon. Yes, there was some intermittent cloud cover, but the sun was poking out in full force during our session. I used my off camera strobe to “overpower the sun” and expose her properly.

  • Side-lit drama: Positioning the sun to the side, coupled with a complementary pose, creates strong contrast.

    Mini Aussie lies on a concrete step, gazing to the side. Sunlight casts a diagonal shadow on the wall behind.
    Kenny, in full sun, positioned to the side with a striking result.
    Golden retriever lying in the snow, looking thoughtful. Soft, golden fur contrasts with the white snowy background. Tranquil mood.
    Queso, full sun, positioned to the side. Had Queso been looking directly at the camera, the right side of his face would have been in shadow.

  • Direct sun portraits: When properly positioned, the sun can enhance sharp, crisp images.

    Two Bernese Mountain Dogs stand on rocky terrain amidst snowy mountains, under a clear blue sky, tongues out, appearing joyful.
    Mangus & Stigen, full direct sun, early morning
    Border collie in pink goggles stands on blue toy Jeep atop snow, under clear blue sky.
    Chama, full direct sun

  • Daylight "night" look: Eliminating natural light for a dark, moody effect.

    Fluffy brown and white puppy stands on a ledge, focused and lit by a strobe against a dark background, creating a dramatic mood.
    Remy. Perhaps surprisingly, this dramatic image was taken during daylight hours. I eliminated all existing natural light, and added my artificial light exactly where I wanted it.

Open Shade

If a session occurs during strong daylight hours, I often seek open shade - an area that has consistent shade, where the subject faces open sky to grab those much-desired catchlights in the eyes. Utilizing shade in this manner prevents the often squinty faces that occur in direct sunlight.


  • Urban shade: Using street shadows for soft lighting.

    A smiling tri colored Australian Shepherd places its paw on a rusty wheel, set against a blurred background with warm colors.
    Raven, I used the buildings to block the light, and she faced the sunny side of the street

  • Backyard shade: Utilizing home structures for shade.

    A Bernese Mountain Dog puppy lies on green grass, playfully holding an orange stuffed toy, gazing intently at the camera.
    Keegan, I used my house to block the light, and she faced the open sky behind me

  • Architectural shade: Buildings provide the perfect “sun block”.

    Merle mini aussie with a curious expression rests on a gray ledge. Background is a brick wall, creating a calm and relaxed mood.
    Kenny, while waiting for the sun to illuminate the stage “just so” in one of the previous examples above, I photographed him in the natural shade caused by a building
    Australian Koolie standing on a concrete slope against a plain white background, looking alert. The scene is minimalistic and bright.
    Hawkeye, there were blue skies all around us, but the sun was still low enough that a wall provided great shade for Hawkeye. Many of the surroundings were white, so the light bounced back up onto him.
    A curious pug peeks through dry, golden grass, creating a warm and gentle mood with its expressive eyes.
    Franklin. Not only did I use the building as a sunblock here, but I also used the landscaping grasses that were planted right next to it!

Overcast

Cloudy days are a dream! Soft, diffused light eliminates harsh shadows, creating a naturally flattering look. The muted color palette often results in some of my favorite images. (And many of them are of my own dogs, because they are the ones handy when the clouds roll in! 😝)


  • Soft, diffused light: 

    Alert smooth coated border collie sits in snow against linear background of alternating white and brown stripes. Calm setting, focused gaze.
    Kite, overcast (and cold!!) day
    Two dogs play energetically on a sandy beach covered with seaweed. One dog jumps joyfully, while the other watches. The mood is lively.
    Jemimah & Jack, roughhousing on a foggy California beach
    Golden retriever sitting outdoors on a path, looking happy with its tongue out. Background features green and brown blurred foliage.
    Queso, overcast
    Sheepadoodle runs out of a concrete tunnel. The wet ground reflects the dog, creating a dynamic and playful scene.
    Trestle, overcast
    Two golden retrievers sitting on a wooden bench in a dry, grassy field background. One dog is smiling; the scene feels serene.
    Queso & Churro, overcast

  • Adding flash for a pop: A little extra light enhances contrast in overcast settings.

    Golden retriever sitting on a wooden bridge with a green blurred background, framed by red railings, looking calm and serene.
    Queso, overcast, lit from the front
    Golden retriever and puppy sit on a wooden bridge, looking forward. Warm tones create a serene, heartwarming scene.
    Queso & Churro, overcast, lit from the front – same bridge, different time of year!

Snow!

Snowy conditions can be magical! Falling flakes add texture – especially with a dark background, and the snow itself acts as a natural reflector, bouncing light beautifully back onto the subject. Plus, dogs love snow! ❄️

  • Winter wonderland portraits:

    Golden retriever sitting on snow, wrapped in tinsel, surrounded by large red, green, and gold Christmas ornaments. Snowy trees in background.
    Queso
    American Cattle Dog joyfully leaps in snowy landscape, catching a pink frisbee mid-air. Snowflakes scatter around, creating a dynamic and playful scene.
    Charlie
    Golden retriever joyfully runs through the snow, mouth open and tongue out. Bright white snowy background suggests a winter scene.
    Queso
    A happy Bernese Mountain Dog standing on snow with tongue out. Clear blue sky in the background, creating a cheerful winter scene.
    Mangus

Night

I don’t do a ton of true night photography (let’s be honest, it can be scary out there! 😉), but when I do, I embrace the darkness with creative lighting.


  • Urban night portraits: City lights create a dramatic atmosphere.

    Golden retriever stands on a ledge, tongue out, against a warmly lit, blurred urban background. Relaxed and content mood.
    Queso, night
    Labrador retriever sitting happily against colorful pink and blue fountains at night, with a joyful expression and tongue out.
    Drift, night

  • Lantern-lit moments: A touch of glow adds warmth.

    Cane Corso stands in a field at night, holding a glowing lantern in its mouth. The warm light contrasts with the dark, grassy background.
    Zambi, night

  • Light painting: Long exposure techniques make for artistic effects.

    Australian Kelpie and Belgian Malinois on a wooden bridge at night, one standing, one lying down. A blue light aura creates a semi-circle behind them, adding a serene mood.
    Juliet & Eilah, night

Anything I Avoid??

There’s only one kind of light that has me running for the hills. Dappled light. Where patches of both sun AND shade intersect in a high-contrast pattern on my subject. Shudder. 😵‍💫 I have been known to use whatever’s on hand – people, a reflector – to cast shade in those circumstances, but honestly, I’d rather just avoid it if at all possible!


In Summary

There’s no bad time for a photo session! No matter the time of day, MAGIC can be made. Oftentimes, I’m able to mix and match the various techniques for multiple different looks in a single session. Which is your favorite? And, what are you waiting for? Let’s do it! 📸✨




Ginger Wick Photography is an award winning dog photographer specializing in creating beautiful custom artwork of dogs & their people. Based in Parker, CO serving the Denver area.

 
 

2 comentários

Amanda E.
25 de fev.

Your 'faking golden hours' photos are amazing!

Curtir
Ginger Wick
13 de mar.
Respondendo a

It’s so fun to play around that way!

Curtir

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ginger@gingerwickphoto.com

© Ginger Wick Photography

©2025 by Ginger Wick Photography

Serving the Southeast Denver, Colorado Area

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