How to Take Golden Hour Selfies Without Squinting
To take golden hour selfies, go out in the hour or so before sunset (or after sunrise) and stand so the low sun is to your side or slightly behind you, not straight in your eyes. Tap your face on the screen so the camera exposes for your skin, not the sky. To avoid squinting, close your eyes, then open them on the count of three and shoot right away. The light does most of the work; your job is to not stare into it.
Warm, low, soft light is about as flattering as light gets. You just need to know where to stand.
If you want to see how much golden hour actually lifts your photos compared with your usual indoor light, Glowmaxx scores light and fit every day and keeps your glow timeline on your device, so you can compare. Start my glow-up
What golden hour is and when it starts
Golden hour is the stretch of time shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset when the sun is low in the sky. Its light travels through more of the atmosphere, so it's softer, warmer and comes in from the side instead of from above.
What time is golden hour for selfies?
It changes every day and depends on where you live and the season. As a simple guide:
- Evening golden hour: roughly the last hour before sunset.
- Morning golden hour: roughly the first hour after sunrise.
Search "sunset time today" or check your weather app, then head out about an hour before. Many photography apps show golden hour times too. The best light often comes in the last 20-30 minutes, when the sun is very low.
Why it looks so good
- Low sun lights your face from the side, not from above, so no dark eye sockets.
- Warm color makes skin look healthy and glowy.
- Softer light hides texture compared with midday sun (see our harsh lighting guide for the opposite case).
Where the sun should be
This is the question everyone asks: "when taking a selfie, where should the sun be for better-looking skin?" You have three good options.
1. Sun to the side (the glow)
Turn so the sun hits one side of your face. You get warm light on your cheek and soft shadow on the other side. It's the classic golden hour selfie look. Turn your face slightly toward the sun until both eyes catch some light.
2. Sun behind you (the halo)
Put the sun behind your head. Your hair gets a golden outline, and your face is lit softly by the sky. No squinting at all. You'll need to brighten your face (see the exposure section below).
3. Sun in front, low and soft (the full glow)
Only at the very end of golden hour, when the sun is close to the horizon and not too bright, can you face it. If it hurts to look toward it, it's still too strong.
| Sun position | Look | Squint risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| To the side | Warm, shaped, glowy | Low | Classic selfies |
| Behind you | Halo, dreamy, soft face | None | Hair, silhouettes |
| In front (very low) | Evenly warm, bright | Medium | The last few minutes |
How to not squint into the sun
A top Reddit thread asks, basically, "how do people take golden hour pictures without going blind?" Here's the honest answer: most of them aren't staring into the sun. They're using angles and a couple of tricks.
- Never look at the sun directly. Look at your camera lens or just below it.
- The eyes-closed trick: close your eyes, relax your face, open them on "three," and take the shot immediately.
- Put the sun to the side or behind you so you're not facing it at all.
- Lower your gaze. Hold the phone slightly below eye level so you look down a touch into the lens, away from the bright sky.
- Wear sunglasses between shots.
- Look away from the light for a moment before each shot so your eyes aren't already watering.
If your eyes water or hurt, stop and look away. No photo is worth that.
Exposure: tap your face, not the sky
Golden hour light is gorgeous, but cameras struggle with a bright sky behind a darker face. If your selfie comes out as a dark shape against orange sky, the camera exposed for the sky.
How to take golden hour photos on iPhone
- Open the front camera and frame your shot.
- Tap on your face. A yellow box and a sun icon appear.
- Drag the sun icon up to brighten, down to darken, until your face looks right.
- Hold the phone still and shoot.
On Android, tapping to focus works similarly, and many phones show an exposure slider after you tap.
Other exposure tips
- Try HDR if your phone has it; it helps balance bright sky and darker face.
- Don't overbrighten. A little warmth and shadow is the point.
- Face slightly toward the brightest part of the sky if your face still looks dim.
It's hard to judge "did golden hour actually make me look better, or am I just in a good mood?" when you're looking at the photo alone. Glowmaxx scores one selfie a day out of 100, and the same photo always gets the same score, so you can compare your golden hour selfie with your usual one and see the real difference in light and fit. Start my glow-up
Poses and angles for warm light
Golden hour selfie poses
- Chin slightly down, eyes up to the lens. Softer and keeps you from squinting at the sky.
- Three-quarter turn: turn your face about 45 degrees toward the sun, eyes back to camera.
- Hand near the face: tuck hair behind your ear or shade your brow. Natural and blocks stray light.
- Looking away: gaze off toward the light, not at it. Very candid.
- Walking shot: have a friend shoot while you walk toward or past them.
Golden hour selfie ideas for guys
- Side light on a three-quarter angle shows jawline and texture in a good way.
- Hat backward or no hat, so no brim shadow.
- Slight chin-forward push to define the jaw.
- If you're not smiling, keep your face soft instead of stiff. Our guide to looking good in pictures without smiling shows how.
Golden hour mirror selfie
Find a mirror or window near where golden light hits (a hallway, bedroom or car window). Stand in the light with the mirror at an angle so the sun doesn't reflect directly into the lens. Tap your body on the screen for exposure.
No golden hour? Fake it with a lamp
Stuck inside, rainy day, or you missed it? You can get something close.
- Use a warm lamp (a warm white bulb this time, not daylight).
- Place it low and to the side, about face height, like a low sun.
- Turn off the ceiling light so the lamp is the only light.
- Bounce with white paper on the other side to soften the shadows.
- Add a warm filter or nudge warmth up slightly in your editor.
Our night selfie lighting guide has more lamp setups you can adapt for this.
Try your golden hour selfie today
Now you know how to take golden hour selfies: go out in the last hour before sunset, keep the sun to your side or behind you, beat the squint and tap your face for exposure. Take one and Glowmaxx will score it on skin, hair, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit, then give you three moves for tomorrow's shot. It all runs in your browser.
FAQ
What time is golden hour for selfies?
Roughly the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. Exact times change with your location and season, so check today's sunset time and head out about an hour before.
How do you take golden hour selfies without squinting?
Keep the sun to your side or behind you, look at the lens instead of the sky, and use the eyes-closed trick: close your eyes, then open them on three and shoot immediately. Never look straight at the sun.
Where should the sun be for a golden hour selfie?
To the side for a warm glow with some shape, or behind you for a soft halo effect. Only face it directly in the last few minutes when it's low and dim enough to be comfortable.
How do I take golden hour photos on iPhone?
Tap your face on the screen to set focus and exposure, then drag the sun icon up or down until your face looks right. HDR can help balance a bright sky with your face.
Can you fake golden hour indoors?
Yes, pretty well. Use a warm lamp placed low and to one side at about face height, turn off the ceiling light, and bounce some light back with white paper on the other side.