Locations I Love: Forests, Water and Golden Light

Short answer: my three favourite types of location are enchanted forests for a playful, almost fairytale-like look, water — bridges and lakes — for calm, clear images, and open fields at sunset for perfect golden hour light. None of these need a famous name — what matters is the light and the mood, not the place itself.

Enchanted forests

I love forests with a dense canopy that the sun breaks through in individual rays, with moss, old trees, and that slightly dreamy light. Photos taken there turn playful, almost fairytale-like almost automatically — the light does half the work, I just have to catch the right moment.

I'm especially fond of forests with small clearings where the sun breaks through in a focused spot — that light can be used almost like a natural spotlight, no extra equipment required.

Bridges and lakes

Water brings a very particular calm into photos. An old wooden bridge over a stream, a lake with a mirror-still surface just before sunset — places like this give photos a clear, almost meditative mood, especially for couples who want a calm rather than an energetic look.

A bonus with water: when the surface is still enough, it reflects the sky and the ambient light — that practically doubles the light source and adds an extra, soft shimmer to the photo.

Fields at sunset

An open field with nothing in the way is the perfect stage for golden hour light. Nothing blocks the low sun, so it can work freely as warm backlight. Especially in late summer, once the grass has already turned golden, exactly the warm, soft look I'm known for tends to happen almost on its own.

Even in winter, when fields are bare and the stalks are dry, this look actually works surprisingly well too — just in cooler, quieter tones instead of rich summer gold.

What these locations have in common

None of them are about a spectacular, "instagrammable" spot requiring a long drive. It's about light, calm, and a background that doesn't steal the show from you. Places like this exist almost everywhere — including near you. If you don't have an idea yet, I'm happy to suggest something fitting when we plan the date.

That's exactly why I've deliberately described these locations by type here rather than by name: it's the kind of place that matters, not a particular spot's Instagram hashtag. Almost every region has its own forest, its own water, and its own fields.

How we find your location

If you already have a location in mind, feel free to send it to me beforehand — ideally with a photo or two, so I can start picturing the light there. If you don't have anything in mind yet, I'll ask about your general area when we schedule the date and suggest somewhere nearby that fits the style you're after — forest, water, or field, whichever mood speaks to you most.

– Hannah