When spring hits and flowers start to bloom then it should be an ideal time to grab your camera and capture them in their full natural glory. These images should be so glorious that you want to blow them up and hang them on your wall as art.
Before you get to that point, you need to learn the basics of photographing flowers. That could be the basics such as learning to use the right equipment to working out which shot to take.
In this guide, we will provide all you need to know about how to photograph flowers.
Know Which Camera And Kit To Use
Learn To Take Your Time
Crouch Down And Get Low
Use The Light To Your Advantage
Mix Up Your Shots
Learn About Post Processing
Take A Sharp Image
Keep The Depth Of Field Shallow
1. Know Which Camera And Kit To Use
You may not need the most expensive camera to make the most out of flower photography. That may still mean having to buy a close-focusing lens for that high magnification to capture all those intricate details.
A tele-zoom can also help you get in close but not physically so. A macro lens is essential yet one that has a focal length around 100mm is ideal though you can purchase a close-up filter.
Do not forget about a wide-angle lens as it can still produce a close focusing distance from that wide perspective.
A tripod can become incredibly handy when it comes to flower photography as it can help with the framing though low-level photography should be prioritized.
Even something as simple as a groundsheet can help to look after your kit and prevent yourself from getting wet when you go low.
2. Learn To Take Your Time
You can never truly predict when certain flowers will bloom so be patient. Learn to research your flowers so you know the areas and time of year when it is best to capture them.
Also, take your time with the weather to ensure that the conditions are just right.
3. Crouch Down And Get Low
Getting down low is like reaching eye level for wildlife photography, it helps to see the world like they do. The low angle can help fill your frame with the flower and include part of the sky or natural environment too.
4. Use The Light To Your Advantage
The available light is key to taking a great shot so remember that overcast is likely best. That means a soft light which should complement the delicacy of the petals without having to worry about shadows or bright spots dominating the photograph.
You should get a nice, balanced exposure. Check the weather first and you may well hope that you get a cloudy day and certainly not too sunny that you will suffer from shadows.
Even if it is cloudy, at the start and end of a certain day you may suffer from limited light which can mean an undesirable blur. Look to start snapping around midday but look to be finished by dusk or there may not be enough light left.
The light at golden hour with a clear sky is also beneficial as the sun will be low to provide a soft and warm light that will creep through the petals, though be careful with overexposure.
5. Mix Up Your Shots
Start with straightforward angles and then move to a range of perspectives. Feel free to mix up your shots with focal lengths to create different points of view.
6. Learn About Post Processing
Post processing is highly important, even if you may shoot in RAW so get used to spending a bit of time after your shoot. There is editing software to make this easier, to tweak the colors, tones, and crop your images.
You may even see the benefit or boosting the saturation in the shot or using vibrance for better colors.
7. Take A Sharp Image
Keeping the flower as a sharp image allows your view to have an anchor point. Without that detail, a lot of viewers can simply disregard the photo. Raise the shutter speed, enhance the focus, and boost your ISO.
8. Keep The Depth Of Field Shallow
A shallow depth of field should mean a sharp image of the flower with a blurry background. That should bring the flower to the forefront and focus of your shot which is ideal.
That does require some practice as there is a narrow field to aim for but once you work it out, the effects are gorgeous. Use a low f-number for a wide aperture like f2.8 or f/4 with a fast shutter speed and get in close.
Final Thoughts
Flower photography can be a great hobby to get involved in. With the right approach and the correct learning, you can really benefit from capturing some wonderful flowers in all their glory.
Just make sure that you come prepared with the right equipment, plenty of time, and the right camera settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Must You Watch Out For Wind While Photographing Flowers?
Movement is not ideal and a strong wind can make your flowers flutter. That can make it really difficult to focus in on a certain plant and you’ll get so much blur if you use a slow shutter speed.
Try to aim for a time in the day when the weather should be calm, though you can use a reflector to hold up next to a flower.
How Close Should You Get To A Flower For A Good Shot?
The advice here would be to get as close as you can. Try your best not to use a zoom as you should want to fill the frame with your flower.
Stick to a 1:1 ratio with a macro lens though you can still get good results with a 1:2 or 1:4 ratio. There are always extension tubes and close-up filters too.
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
