Sunrise Engagement Pictures
Why a sunrise photoshoot instead of sunset?
Although we love a good “golden hour” sunset photoshoot have you ever considered a blue hour photoshoot?! First, let’s talk about what this “blue hour” even is! Blue hour is the hour just before the sun comes up. Everything is a crisp, soft blue, peacefully quiet, a moment where everything in the world seems to be at peace. Another more common term for the blue hour is sunrise. This is one of our favorite times of the day. No one (at least in most cases) is awake so it feels like it’s just you and the great outdoors. If you don’t want crowds of people around, enjoy a little morning stroll, and are up for an early adventure then a sunrise shoot is perfect for you!
Picking the right location for your Sunrise Shoot
Picking the right location for a sunrise shoot may not seem that important, but it is. One thing that you have to consider when researching places for a sunrise shoot is where the sun is going to come up and how that landscape will affect it. If you choose a destination surrounded by mountains it may take longer for the sun to rise over them whereas at the beach, the open plains, or at a lakefront (which even then depends on the location) you'll get direct sunlight pretty quickly.
One of our favorite spots for shooting Sunrise is the mountains (specifically Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite National Park) because it takes a little bit longer for the sun to creep over the jagged peaks which adds to the drama of what blue hour can be.
Researching sunrise times
Once you have your dream location for your blue hour picked out it's incredibly important to know when the sunrise will be happening. This all depends upon what time of year you will be having your photoshoot. For example, in Mammoth during the month of May, sunrise is typically around 5:50 a.m. but if you wait until the leaves turn to crisp golden and plan your sunrise shoot in October the sunrise will be 7:00 a.m. (Which is more ideal for those who are not morning people!)
You'll then want to base your start time for the photoshoot around the sunrise. We recommend starting the photoshoot 30 minutes before the actual sunrise to soak in as much of the blue light as possible before the sun peaks above the horizon. Once that sun is up everything is a soft light starting to warm and welcome the day. One site we use often to research sunrise and sunset times is TimeandDate.
Figure out where you want to stay and get ready + How Far in advance should you arRive
The next step in your planning process is to figure out where you're going to stay and how soon you want to arrive. There are so many great options and resources out there and knowing what you are comfortable with and how soon you want to arrive is key. If you are looking to stay in the area for 2 or more days AirBnB or VRBO may be a better more cost-effective option, however, if you plan on showing up a night or two before the shoot a hotel may be a better way to go. Booking.com is another go-to for us for good hotel deals. Then there is always the option of camping. A good site we like to use when booking our trips is Hipcamp.
It's super beneficial to show up at least 1 to 2 days before your Sunrise shoot because it allows you to get comfortable in the area you're in, scout out the location for where you want your pictures taken, and even visit at the time you plan to have photos done so you can see exactly what it will look and feel like at that time of day. (It’s helpful when doing a sunrise shoot so you can see how chilly or warm it will be!)
What time of year should you book Your sunrise shoot, does that even matter?
The number one question we get asked every time a couple wants to do a sunrise photo shoot is what's the best time of year to do it. This honestly depends on location and what you're comfortable with. For example, we photographed a sunrise in Mammoth, California in May which is known to be a little bit colder most of the year, but we checked the weather weeks in advance to make sure the weather would be comfortable for our couple and thankfully it was a nice 56°. A good resource to use for looking at weather in advance is Accuweather.
However, we have also photographed a sunrise photoshoot in Yosemite National Park in December which can have a very intense winter. That day it was 20° outside and the couple had to bundle up but it made for the most magical winter photos. Knowing the kind of environment you're comfortable in and how warm or cold you're willing to be is important.
Bonus Tips: Permits, gear, clothes, Planning
Extra tips and things we always recommend considering include researching if you will need permits for photographing in the area of your shoot. Typically when photographing in National Parks a permit is always required. Some State Parks may also require a photo permit, so making sure your photographer has secured that is very important. Do as much research as you can on any local ordinances to avoid any hiccups in the process. While there are so many great things that come with doing a sunrise shoot like not having to deal with crowds, a calmer atmosphere in the morning, and you get to have the rest of the day to have an adventure after the shoot, there can also be some extra obstacles that you will want to consider in your planning process. Being that you will most likely be taking photos before everyone else is up, a lot of times areas can be closed before sunrise. Make sure your location is open and accessible when planning.
Some extra gear that we always tell our couples to bring include headlamps, hand warmers, blankets, comfortable shoes (especially if the photo shoot involves any hiking), having a planned itinerary, and lastly and probably most importantly either meeting with your photographer in advance or having a video phone call to brainstorm the photo session.
Shooting sunrise sessions is one of our favorites and we have done quite a few so if you Need advice on how to plan your sunrise shoot or want to work with us? Reach out! We would be happy to chat with you!
