On the Gulf Coast, the evening golden hour starts about 35 minutes before sunset, when the sun drops below about 6 degrees. For engagement photos, I start the session about an hour before sunset so we finish right as the sun goes down. That’s around 4:15 pm in December and 7:15 pm in late June. The table below gives you the exact times by month for Pensacola, Destin and Gulf Shores, plus the morning golden hour if you’d rather have an empty beach at sunrise.
I’m Korbin, the photographer and videographer behind KDH Weddings. Nearly every engagement session I book is timed to golden hour, and the few that aren’t are usually sunrise sessions. My sessions are 45 minutes, so the timing below is exactly how I plan them.
Golden hour and sunset by month
Times for the 15th of each month, Central Time. The start and end of each month shift by up to about 15 minutes.
| Month | Pensacola golden hour → sunset | Destin golden hour → sunset | Gulf Shores golden hour → sunset | Start your session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4:35 → 5:10 pm | 4:32 → 5:08 pm | 4:37 → 5:13 pm | about 4:10 pm |
| February | 5:04 → 5:37 pm | 5:01 → 5:34 pm | 5:06 → 5:39 pm | about 4:35 pm |
| March | 6:25 → 6:57 pm | 6:22 → 6:54 pm | 6:27 → 6:59 pm | about 5:55 pm |
| April | 6:44 → 7:16 pm | 6:41 → 7:14 pm | 6:46 → 7:18 pm | about 6:15 pm |
| May | 7:02 → 7:36 pm | 6:59 → 7:33 pm | 7:04 → 7:38 pm | about 6:35 pm |
| June | 7:17 → 7:53 pm | 7:14 → 7:50 pm | 7:19 → 7:54 pm | about 6:50 pm |
| July | 7:18 → 7:52 pm | 7:15 → 7:50 pm | 7:20 → 7:54 pm | about 6:50 pm |
| August | 6:58 → 7:31 pm | 6:55 → 7:28 pm | 7:00 → 7:32 pm | about 6:30 pm |
| September | 6:23 → 6:54 pm | 6:20 → 6:52 pm | 6:25 → 6:56 pm | about 5:55 pm |
| October | 5:45 → 6:18 pm | 5:42 → 6:15 pm | 5:47 → 6:20 pm | about 5:15 pm |
| November | 4:17 → 4:52 pm | 4:15 → 4:49 pm | 4:20 → 4:54 pm | about 3:50 pm |
| December | 4:14 → 4:50 pm | 4:11 → 4:47 pm | 4:16 → 4:52 pm | about 3:50 pm |
Watch for the two clock changes. The week after daylight saving starts in March, sunset jumps an hour later. The week after it ends in early November, sunset falls to before 5 pm.
Morning golden hour (for an empty beach)
| Month | Pensacola sunrise → golden hour ends |
|---|---|
| March | 6:59 → 7:30 am |
| June | 5:46 → 6:21 am |
| September | 6:34 → 7:06 am |
| December | 6:38 → 7:14 am |
A sunrise session means an alarm, but you get the beach almost to yourselves and cooler air in summer. Caleb proposed to Jordan on the Navarre pier at sunrise for exactly that reason.
Why golden hour works
- Soft light. The low sun is warm and gentle, so there’s no squinting and no harsh shadows under your eyes.
- Glow. With the sun behind you, it rims your hair and outlines you both against the background.
- Color. The sand turns warm and the water picks up the sky.
- After sunset, keep going. The 10 to 15 minutes after the sun goes down give soft pink and blue light, the best for close-ups.
How the Gulf Coast changes the light
- The beaches face south. At sunset the sun sits down the shoreline, not straight out over the water. In winter it sets over the Gulf to the southwest. In summer it sets behind the island to the northwest. I use it as backlight along the waterline.
- Summer storms. From June to September, afternoon thunderstorms often roll through and clear right before sunset, which gives the most dramatic skies of the year. Keep a backup date.
- Cloudy days aren’t ruined. Cloud turns the whole sky into a soft box. Joe and Tarah’s session was a rainy one on Pensacola Beach, and it’s still one of my favorites. Joe & Tarah’s rainy Pensacola Beach session
- Wind. It picks up at the beach in the evening, so plan hair and outfits for it.
What to wear for golden hour
Soft, light and mid-tone colors glow in warm light: cream, sand, dusty blue, sage and blush. Flowing fabrics catch the backlight. Avoid neon, busy patterns and head-to-toe black, which loses detail as the light fades. My engagement outfit guide has combinations that work on the sand.
Where to go at golden hour
- Pensacola: Fort Pickens, the Pensacola Beach pier and the downtown waterfront. 15 Pensacola engagement spots · Ryan & Kinsie at Fort Pickens
- Destin and 30A: the Destin jetties and the 30A dune walkovers. Destin and 30A engagement spots
- Gulf Shores and Orange Beach: Gulf Shores spots
- Any beach: Beach engagement photos on the Gulf Coast
Engagement sessions with KDH
- $500 for a 45-minute session, timed to golden hour or sunrise.
- Add a save-the-date film for $250.
- No travel fees anywhere I work, from Mobile to 30A and Panama City Beach.
FAQ: golden hour engagement photos
Is golden hour the best time for engagement photos?
For most couples, yes. The light is soft, warm and flattering, and backlight makes the photos glow. Sunrise is the other golden hour, with emptier beaches.
How long is golden hour?
On the Gulf Coast, the sun takes about 30 to 36 minutes to drop from 6 degrees above the horizon to sunset. That’s why I start sessions an hour before sunset: warm light first, then the best of it, then the afterglow.
What time is golden hour today in Pensacola?
Roughly 35 minutes before sunset. In mid-October it starts about 5:45 pm, with sunset around 6:18 pm. Check the table above for your month.
How do you get good golden hour photos?
Face away from the sun so it lights you from behind, wear soft colors, and choose a spot with an open horizon to the west. Keep shooting for 10 to 15 minutes after sunset.
What should you wear for golden hour pictures?
Light, soft colors and flowing fabrics: cream, sand, dusty blue, sage or blush. Skip neon and big logos.
Is $500 a lot for engagement photos?
It’s typical for a professional session on the Gulf Coast. Mine is $500 for 45 minutes at golden hour, with a save-the-date film for another $250.
