When you are shooting farm and ranch real estate, you want your property to look its best. In that regard, it is important to think of the ranch as a model. However, unlike human models, there is no making up a property to look better than it naturally does. However, there is one tool that every professional ranch photographer in Austin knows that is worth its weight in gold when it comes to making your real estate and landscape photography look better: magic hour.

What is Magic Hour?

Aerial photography shot by drone in Marble Falls, TX. Captured by Boko Media, Feb 2024.

Magic hour, also called the golden hour, is a special time just after sunrise and before sunset. During this period, the sunlight is soft and warm, casting long shadows and creating a beautiful golden glow. This light is very flattering for photos because it adds a gentle and pleasing effect to subjects and scenes.

In photography, magic hour is prized because it produces less contrast compared to the harsh midday sun. This helps in capturing details without harsh shadows or bright spots. The warm tones of the light also enhance colors, making skies, landscapes, and portraits look more vibrant and appealing.

Think of the cliché scene of a cowboy riding off into the sunset at the end of a movie. Think of how dramatic it makes things look, from the saturated color to the silhouette it causes the cowboy to have. It is not an effect that can be achieved in the middle of the afternoon.

A Great Look for Free

Professional ranch photographers in Austin often plan their shoots around magic hour to take advantage of this natural lighting. It’s a favorite time for outdoor portraits, landscape photography, and any situation where a soft, dreamy effect is desired. By using the golden hour, photographers can achieve stunning images that are naturally lit and visually captivating. One of the biggest advantages of using magic hour is that you are able to achieve a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing look in-camera without having to buy or rent any additional expensive lighting. Instead, you can rely entirely on freely available sunlight.

Disadvantages

Magic hour gives a beautiful look for free, but there are some tradeoffs for using it.

Location, Location, Location

First of all, your ranch or farm may not be positioned to best take advantage of the look that magic hour creates. If the dwellings on your property are not hit by light from the sun in a flattering direction, then it may not be a good idea to pursue using magic hour photography.

Time Limit

It is called “magic hour” for a reason. When the lighting effect begins, you have only an hour to take advantage of it, and even less time to shoot in the optimum amount of light. If you miss your window of opportunity, then you will have to wait until the following day to try again, assuming you have a schedule that affords you that ability.

Weather Conditions

Another major drawback of magic hour photography is the fact that if you schedule your shoot on the wrong day with the wrong weather, then you could end up running into problems. Keep yourself updated on your local weather forecasts so you don’t find yourself rained out.

Getting the Shot

Choosing Your Lens

If you want to get the best possible magic hour shot, you need to use the right lens. You want to use a lens with a wide focal length. The wider the focal length, the more of your subject you can fit into the frame. Ideal for many photographers is a 35mm lens or a 50mm lens. There are some who argue that the 50mm is closer to how human beings perceive the world, but it is ultimately about your preference.

Your lens should also have a high aperture, given that the available light will change over the hour. If you have a lens that can open up to 1.4, then you should have no problem getting enough light. However, if your lens can only open up to 2.8, then you may want to time your shoot for earlier in the hour to guarantee the most light is hitting your sensor.

Everything in Moderation

Magic hour shots can make your property look cool, but you need to make sure to not rely on those shots for the bulk of the photos you take of the property. Magic hour shots should show interested parties how pretty a property can look, but you still want enough shots in normal, natural light to give viewers a realistic expectation of what the property looks like.