When is golden hour in Andalusia?

What golden hour is

Golden hour is roughly the last hour before sunset, and the first hour after sunrise. The sun is low, so the light is warm and soft, shadows are long and gentle, and nobody has to squint. For much of the year the midday sun in Andalusia is high and hard, so the evening light makes the biggest difference to portraits.

Straight after sunset comes the blue hour: twenty to thirty minutes of even, cooler light that suits portraits by the sea or under the lights of a terrace.

Sunset times, month by month

Times are for La Herradura on the 15th of each month, in local time; Málaga and Granada are within a few minutes. Over a month, sunset moves by up to about half an hour, fastest in spring and autumn, and the clocks change on the last Sunday of March and of October.

Hills to the west can hide the sun earlier than the official time. If you can, visit your venue at the same hour a few days before, or send me the address and I will check it.

Planning a wedding around the light

• In summer, sunset is after 21:00. A ceremony at about 18:00 avoids the hottest part of the day and leaves time for drinks and family photos before the golden hour.
• Plan 20 to 30 minutes of couple portraits in the golden hour. They don't have to be in one block: ten minutes before dinner and ten more at dusk works well.
• Take the family group photos earlier, in open shade, while everyone is still together and fresh.
• In winter the day is short: sunset is around 18:00, so a ceremony at 15:00 keeps the portraits in daylight.

Photo sessions

Couple, family and car sessions are timed for the golden hour as standard. With small children, the hour before bedtime can be too late in summer — then an early-morning session is the answer, because the light after sunrise is just as soft.

See the couple, family and wedding pages for what each session includes.

Questions and answers

What time is sunset in June in Andalusia?

Around 21:30 on the coast of Granada and Málaga, so golden hour runs from roughly 20:30 until sunset.

What is the best time for wedding photos in Andalusia?

The last hour before sunset for couple portraits, and open shade earlier in the day for family groups. In summer, that means planning the portraits after 20:00.

Do you help plan the timeline around the light?

Yes. Every wedding package includes a pre-wedding call and help planning the day's timeline.

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