Editorial Policy

Our standards

Golden Hour Now publishes practical guidance about light, timing, and on‑location technique. Our aim is usefulness first: clear language, accurate times, and advice you can trust in the field. We follow three principles—clarity (write it like you’d explain it to a friend), accuracy (verify claims, show our reasoning), and respect (for your time, attention, and data).

• Independence: We don’t take payments in exchange for favorable coverage. If we ever run paid placements, they’ll be labeled and separated from editorial content.
• Conflicts: Contributors disclose gear sponsorships or commercial ties. When a conflict exists, we either recuse the contributor or add a prominent note.
• Image ethics: We believe in honest representation. Demo images may be lightly edited (exposure/white balance/crop) but we do not fabricate scenes.
• Accessibility: We write alt text for images, avoid jargon where possible, and provide practical ranges for settings (not one “magic” number).

Sources & citations

We prioritize primary and authoritative sources for factual claims—official documentation, standards bodies, academic texts, and maintained open‑data projects. For location and time data we reference our own computations and the data sources listed below; for technique, we draw from repeatable field tests.

• Primary data: Our solar‑position calculations (sun altitude, sunrise/sunset, twilight crossings) computed on device.
• Location & names: OpenStreetMap/Nominatim for place search and reverse‑geocoding.
• Timezone: IANA tz database via browser APIs and conservative fallbacks.

When we cite external facts (e.g., definitions of civil/nautical twilight), we attribute them in‑text or via an inline note. Articles and guides include a “last reviewed” date and links to relevant references where useful.

Fact‑checking & quality assurance

Every evergreen page (Guides, Methodology, Editorial Policy) undergoes two passes before publication: a technical check (math, definitions, thresholds) and a field‑sense check (does it match real‑world shooting). We treat time windows as hypotheses that must survive real use, not just equations.

• Numerical checks: We compare our sunrise/sunset and twilight times with trusted references across seasons and latitudes, allowing small tolerances for refraction and horizon assumptions.
• Field checks: We shoot portraits, landscapes, and blue‑hour cityscapes regularly and record whether the predicted “sweet spot” matches experience.
• Edge cases: DST switches, leap days, high‑latitude summers/winters, and skyline obstructions receive dedicated tests and explanatory notes.

Updates & corrections

We timestamp major changes at the bottom of long‑form pages and summarize what changed (e.g., “Updated blue‑hour range to 0 to −8°” or “Added tip about exposure delay on tripod”). If you spot an error, email us via the contact page—include a link, a short description, and (if applicable) a source we can verify. We aim to acknowledge within 48 hours and correct verified errors promptly. Substantive corrections are labeled “Correction”; minor clarifications are labeled “Update.”

AI use & disclosure

We sometimes use AI tools to brainstorm outlines, suggest phrasing, or check for style consistency. We do not publish unreviewed AI‑generated content. Human editors write, verify, and approve every page. When a section benefits from AI assistance (e.g., reorganizing a how‑to), we review technical accuracy, remove boilerplate, and ensure the final copy reflects lived practice—not generic advice.

• Provenance: Long‑form pages note a “last reviewed” date. Significant AI‑assisted rewrites are documented in the update note.
• Data privacy: We don’t feed sensitive user content into external tools.
• Images: We prefer original photographs or generated diagrams like the workflow above. We label composited or illustrative graphics when used.

Affiliate disclosure

As of August 28, 2025, we do not use affiliate links. If we introduce affiliate partnerships in the future, we will:

• Label affiliate links clearly at the top of the page and near the link itself.
• Keep recommendations independent: affiliates do not influence what we cover or the order in which we present options.
• Offer non‑affiliate alternatives whenever possible.

Safety & responsibility

Photography sometimes involves cliffs, tides, traffic, or flight operations. Our tips are suggestions, not guarantees; always prioritize local laws, permits, and safety advisories. Drone pilots should follow airspace rules and manufacturer guidance. If we describe a location, respect private property and Leave No Trace principles.

Contact & escalation

For corrections, clarifications, or concerns about this policy, reach us on the Contact page. For privacy requests, include the page URL and a brief description of the data in question.