How to Get Epic Sunset Wedding Photos

We’ve all seen epic mountain wedding sunset photos that blow our minds and make us think things like “Holy sh*t, I wish I had a photo like that.” You’re in the right place! In this article, we’re going to discuss exactly how to get epic sunset wedding photos without upsetting the flow of the wedding day.

It’s commonly stated that we receive 300 days of sun per year here in Colorado and we’re also fortunate to have a variety of dramatic and photogenic cloud formations that always seem to appear in the late afternoon. This is the perfect storm for kick-ass wedding photos.

That said, there are a few things to keep in mind if you have your heart set on an epic sunset photo – things that, unlike the weather, you actually have control over.

Without further ado, here are our top five tips for ensuring you get awesome sunset photos on your wedding day.

Create a Timeline with Sunset Wedding Photos in Mind

Depending on the time of year you’re getting married, the sun could be setting any time between 4:30 in the afternoon and 8:30 at night (in Colorado). This means that it could be during your ceremony, during the speeches, during dinner or even during the dance party.

If a killer sunset portrait is important to you, you might consider planning your wedding timeline so that you’re not in the middle of your first dance at the time the sun is due to set. Or at least be flexible with your timeline so that when your photographer says it’s time to go, you can drop everything and head outside for 5-10 minutes.

You have a little leeway on this since the richest colors generally show up in the sky 15-20 minutes after the sun has dipped below the horizon. But you don’t want to tempt fate. As we all know, these colors can be fleeting, so if you take too long to walk out to the photo location, you could risk missing the peak colors of sunset.

Inform Other Vendors

It can also be helpful to let your other vendors know that getting a great sunset photo is important to you. This way, they’ll know where you are when you go missing during the reception.

Of course, the best wedding photographers will be sure to remind you when it’s go-time and also do their best to coordinate with your other vendors and let them know what’s going on to make sure your day continues to run smoothly in your absence. But it can’t hurt to let them know it’s important to you so that they won’t want to beat up your photographer when your guests start getting restless.

Hire an Awesome Photographer for Awesome Sunset Wedding Photos

This one sounds obvious, but if an epic sunset photo is a priority for you, make sure to hire wedding photographer who is capable of doing it justice.

Look through as many portfolios as you can and find the folks whose work speaks to you and your own personal style. Most Colorado wedding photographers know what they’re doing, but just like everything else, some are more adept than others.

Trust your Photographer to get Epic Sunset Wedding Photos

Once you’ve hired the photographer whose style you like most, be sure to trust that they know what they’re doing. They will be keeping an eye outside as the sun is setting and will likely give you the heads up when it’s time to go.

Since peak color is fleeting, you’ll want to drop everything and follow your photographer outside as quickly as possible. If you take the time to explain to Aunt Edna and Uncle Bob where you’re going, it might already be too late.

Relax and Have Fun!

Once you’re outside, your work is done. Now you can take the time to breathe and enjoy yourselves. Your wedding photographers have the photos covered, so there’s nothing left for you to do but be present with your new spouse. This is the only time you’ll be watching the sun set on your wedding day, so soak in the moment.

You’ve earned it.

Stay tuned until next time when we’ll talk about how to get blue hour wedding photos!