Most people think the session is over once the sun drops behind the hills. Honestly, some of my favorite light of the whole evening happens after that. This engagement session at Lazy Stud Ranch, a wedding venue near Longmont and Lyons, is a perfect example. We started in the last bit of golden hour, and by the end the sky had turned pink, then a deep blue, and the string lights around the pond were glowing.
The light after sunset
Right after the sun sets, the whole sky turns into one giant, soft light. There are no harsh shadows and nobody is squinting, and skin looks smooth and even. On a night with a few clouds, they catch the last color and glow pink and orange for a few minutes, like in the first photo here. If you're near water, the pond reflects all of it back.
Blue hour and twinkle lights
About 15 to 30 minutes after sunset, the color shifts to a cool, moody blue. This is when string lights and lanterns really start to show up in photos, and it's my favorite time for walking, twirling and quiet moments that feel a little cinematic. It's also the best time for silhouettes. With the bright sky behind you and the land already dark, your outline stands out against it, like the last photo in this post.
Why Lazy Stud Ranch works so well
The ranch has a little of everything in one spot: big willow trees, a pond with a rowboat, red rock edges, open lawns and string lights that wrap around the water. You can move from soft, shady willows to wide open sky in just a few steps, which makes it easy to keep shooting as the light changes. Lazy Stud Ranch is a private venue, so it's a great fit if you're getting married there and want engagement photos at your wedding spot.
How to plan for it
I like to start about an hour before sunset and keep going for 30 to 40 minutes after. That gives us golden hour, the colorful afterglow and blue hour all in one session. Bring a layer, because it cools off fast once the sun is down, and plan on the last 20 minutes being the dreamiest part of the night. Clear nights give a smooth blue sky, and a few scattered clouds can give you that pink color.
