The blue hour is the 30 to 40 minute period just after sunset and before sunrise. It can make for incredibly romantic and unique wedding photos.

I often take these blue hour wedding photos as portraits with the newlyweds as we sneak out of the reception for a few minutes. However, blue hour wedding photos can occur during a twilight outdoor ceremony or even the first dance of open air venues such as Four Corners Winery and The Pavilion at Sandy Pines. Take a look below.

We are at the mercy of Mother Nature for these types of images though. If we get cloudy skies we simply aren’t going to get that blue in the sky. Also, facing West is helpful and while not necessary, I do like some other ambient light in the scene such as from the barn window in the images below as well as the leaning lighthouse off of the lake.

I have a special way of lighting these as well to make them look natural but yet bring out even more of the blue in the sky.

Are you up for attempting some blue hour photos at your wedding? While I like to leave you alone during the reception to enjoy your wedding, if you want this look I’d be glad to pop outside for a few minutes to capture these for you provided location and weather cooperate.

Here are a few more images below at weddings as well as some portraits I’ve done at blue hour in Chicago.

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