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Fall is one of the most beautiful times for family photos in San Diego: the light is perfect, the outfits are cozy, and the deadline for sending out Christmas cards is right around the corner.

But if you’ve ever wondered why many photographers (myself included) are pretty inflexible about scheduling your photo session during golden hour, keep reading.

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Why Golden Hour Makes Such a Difference

Golden hour happens roughly an hour after sunrise and again an hour before sunset. Why does it make such a difference?

To quote Digital Photography School, “during the golden hour, the sun hits the world at a lower angle – and because the light must travel a greater distance to reach the Earth, it looks softer, more flattering, and redder. (Compare this to sunny midday lighting, which beams down from directly overhead to produce hard, generally unflattering illumination.)”

In fall, golden hour hits differently in San Diego. The sun drops a little earlier, the shadows soften, the sky takes on a warm glow, and suddenly even a seemingly simple photo becomes a masterpiece (I exaggerate, but only a little).

That’s why all of my outdoor sessions are planned around it.

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Coastal vs. Inland Light

If your session is by the coast, like in La Jolla or Coronado, the sun tends to hang around longer, fading slowly behind that golden marine haze. It’s incredible glowy and romantic.

If we’re inland, like in think Rancho Peñasquitos or Alpine, the sun dips behind the hills faster, which means we’ll start a bit earlier to catch that same warmth before it disappears.

That’s part of why I always handle scheduling for you. You don’t have to think about when the light will be best. Instead, I’ll choose the exact start time to make sure we end right as the sun dips below the horizon. You’ll LOVE the results.

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What If You Have Small Children?

If your kids’ bedtime lands right in golden hour (and before the fall time change, it often does), don’t worry.
I’ve written some advice for parents on how to deal with photoshoots at bedtime right here.

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My Promise

When you book with me, you don’t have to worry about timing or light or location — I’ll take care of all of it.
Your only job? Show up, have fun together, and I’ll handle the rest.

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Ready to book your golden hour family photos in San Diego?

I’ve got just 4 spots left for family photos this fall, so contact me now to reserve one.

Happy fall! 🍁

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