Golden Hour Outdoor Sessions Summer 2025

Blue Bean Photography
Jun 7
3 min read

Updated: Jun 23

There’s something a bit magical about golden hour in the summer. That soft, honeyed light just before sunset... and for half an hour everything feels calm. Slower. More connected.

That’s exactly why I love shooting relaxed family sessions outdoors at this time of year.

These are not the kind of photos where everyone lines up stiffly and says cheese. Nope. This is 30 minutes of just being with your family. You might be walking hand-in-hand through long grass, scooping your toddler up into a cuddle, or just chatting amongst each other. Whatever your family dynamic looks like, that’s what I want to capture.

No props. No posing. Just connection.

When the sun is low and golden and the world feels like it’s exhaling, I’ll gently guide you into pockets of beautiful light and let the magic unfold. You don’t have to ‘perform’ for the camera, you just need to show up and love on your people.

What I love most about these sessions is how real they feel. The wind in your child’s hair. The way your youngest always finds a stick to pick up. That glance between you and your children. Those moments are gold, and they deserve to be remembered.

These short evening sessions are perfect for families with young kids (especially if bedtime can be nudged back a bit in the summer holidays). We keep things light and easy, so nobody gets bored, and you walk away with a little time capsule of love and laughter.

So if you're after something simple, honest and beautifully you, let’s head outside and make some golden hour memories.

Session Info – What You Need to Know

Your golden hour photo session will take place between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, with time slots booked directly through me. Just pop me an email at bluebeanphotographyuk@gmail.com to secure your space.

This year, all sessions will be held in one of my absolute favourite local spots, the top of Boothorpe Lane in Blackfordby. If you're local, you might know it as the rolling fields where they host the Timber Festival every year. It’s a stunning open space that’s perfect for natural, relaxed photos, and it leads through onto 'Conkers' for those of you trying to place it.

There’s parking right at the session location. To make life even easier, you can use what3words to find it:👉 ///corner.forms.jumps That link will take you straight to the parking spot on Boothorpe Lane. Look out for a tall signpost with a little horseshoe printed on it.

No props, no pressure, just a beautiful field, your gorgeous family, and the kind of summer light that makes everything feel like a memory in the making.

What to Wear for Your Session

Keep it simple, comfortable and you. These sessions are all about connection and warmth, so wear something you feel good in and can move in easily. Here are some tips to help you look your best without overthinking it:

Think soft, natural colours. Earthy tones, neutrals, soft pastels and muted shades always photograph beautifully outdoors. Think warm beige, dusky pink, sage green, light denim, or ivory, even black works when paired with lighter tones. These colours work with the golden light, not against it.

Coordinate, don’t match. You don’t need to show up in matching white T-shirts (this isn’t a 90s boyband). Instead, pick a loose colour palette and build outfits around it. For example, mum in a floaty dress, dad in a light linen shirt and jeans, kids in cotton or knit textures in complementary colours.

Ditch the logos and neon. Big logos, writing, character prints or anything neon-bright can distract from the lovely connections between you. Keep patterns subtle and fabrics timeless.

Floaty dresses, layers & textures are your friends. For mums or older girls, a dress or skirt that catches in the breeze always looks gorgeous in photos. Soft knits, denim jackets, linen shirts, layers and textures add interest without being fussy.

Dress for the season, but be preparedIt is the UK, so bring a cardi or jumper just in case. And comfy shoes are totally fine as we won't see them in the grassland.