Flower photography is one of the most popular forms of photography. The intricate details, huge variety, and impressive vibrance of flowers mean we’ll never get bored of taking photos.
Of course, the availability of flowers all over the world also means we’ll never run out of subjects to take photographs of. Another great thing about flower photography is that we can take stunning photos of flowers using an iPhone.
You don’t need all the bells and whistles to take epic shots. All you need is your iPhone and a subject. However, as simple as flower photography can be, there are some useful things you’ll want to know if you want to take your photos to the next level.
Today, we’re going to show you those things. In this post, you’ll find the best tips for taking stunning iPhone photos of flowers.
Make sure you keep reading if you want to take awesome photos!
Is It Possible To Take Stunning Flower Photos On iPhone?
Before we look at all the tips we have for you, there are a few things we’d like to discuss. We’ll start by answering this commonly asked question.
Despite what some people think, it is definitely possible to take stunning flower photos on an iPhone. iPhone technology has grown exponentially in recent years, with the latest iPhones now offering a wide range of features that make it possible to essentially turn our phones into professional cameras.
It isn’t even uncommon to find a smartphone that has a camera that’s just as good as a standard DSLR camera.
On top of that, iPhones also have a professional camera setting called Pro mode. Pro mode allows us to use our iPhones like professional cameras. We can adjust exposure, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and so much more.
There are even macro settings so that we can take awesome close-up photos of flowers too.
What Are The Benefits Of Using An iPhone To Take Photos Of Flowers?
So, why would you want to use an iPhone as opposed to a professional camera? Well, there are actually several benefits that make using an iPhone to take photos of flowers a preferred option to using a camera.
For starters, using your iPhone saves you money, as you already own a phone so there’s no need to buy an expensive camera. Of course, that also means you won’t have to pay for all the gizmos and gadgets to go with it such as expensive lenses.
Another reason you might want to use an iPhone instead of a pro camera is that it’s easier to carry. You can simply keep your iPhone in your pocket, grabbing it when you need it. With a pro camera, you have to carry a camera bag full of your gear.
Thanks to the small size of most iPhones compared to professional cameras, using our iPhones makes it easier for us to get closer to our subjects too. Finally, the macro setting on most phones makes it even easier when it comes to taking close-ups of our subjects.
There are hardly any settings you need to play around with.
Top Tips For Taking Stunning Photos Of Flowers On iPhone
Now you know a bit more about iPhone photography, we’re going to show you our top tips for taking stunning photos of flowers on iPhone. The tips we’re going to show you will help you become a much better photographer.
If you use each of our tips to your advantage, you’ll soon be able to take the most amazing photographs of flowers.
1. Take Photographs In Portrait Mode
The first tip we have for you is to shoot your photographs in portrait mode. Shooting in portrait mode will help you take photos that have a more high-end, professional look.
Portrait mode is available on most smartphones including iPhones. This feature is excellent when it comes to taking photos of people but it also works well when snapping shots of flowers.
Aside from giving your photos a more professional look, portrait mode makes it much easier to take close-up photos of your subject. You can achieve a shallow depth of field which will blur the background and bring more focus to the flower.
In many ways, portrait mode mimics a DSLR camera shooting at a low f-stop.
2. Avoid Distracting Backgrounds
When taking photographs of flowers, you want the viewer’s eye to be drawn toward the subject. Therefore, you’ll want to avoid capturing a photograph that has a distracting background.
A distracting background will distract the viewer’s attention away from the intricate parts of your subject. Luckily, the vibrance of most flowers makes it quite easy for us to draw attention away from the background.
Having said that, there are some things you’ll want to do. For starters, you should make sure the background isn’t too messy. Avoid taking photos with people in, and try to keep the background as clear as possible.
Secondly, we recommend shooting at a low f-stop so the background is blurry. This will help you bring in color from the background without taking anything away from the subject.
It can help you tell a story, frame your image nicely, and add more color to your shots.
The best thing you can do is try different approaches to each scenario. You could try taking your shot with a plain and blurry backdrop, before then seeing what it looks like with some extra detail or more flowers.
By focusing on your subject through another flower, you bring more detail and intrigue to your shot. You also start to tell a more interesting and unique story through the photograph.
Focussing through another flower is also a very quick and pretty way to frame your image. Framing the photo with more natural elements gives a photo more, while also bringing more depth to the shot.
This is a great way to make the viewer feel like they are amongst the flowers in the photo. This is a fantastic technique to use when shooting in fields or flower beds.
5. Shoot From A Unique Angle
Flower photographs from most angles look brilliant but to take the very best photos of flowers, you’ll want to shoot from unique angles.
Most people take photos of flowers from above. While this looks great, it doesn’t often flatter the subject. A better and more striking photograph can be taken when we take up an angle that isn’t commonly used.
For example, shooting from the ground gives a unique perspective of your subject and makes it look bigger. It will also fill more of the frame.
Another awesome angle you can capture flowers from is from underneath the subject, facing your iPhone up to the sky. This will create a bug-like perspective that feels a lot more natural and unique.
6. Take Your Photos In Diffused Light
Most people like to take photographs in direct sunlight but when it comes to flower photography, diffused light is your best friend. Flower photos look best when they contain soft light, not harsh sunlight.
Direct, bright light will create harsh shadows on your subject. It can also cause part of your image to be overexposed.
Therefore, we recommend taking photos on overcast days. Clouds will essentially act like a softbox. They will let light through evenly, with a softer contrast. This will leave your subject with a sunkissed glow that looks much more appealing.
7. Use A Macro Lens
You can take epic flower photos with just your iPhone but if you want to take your photography to the next level, you might also want to use a macro lens. There are macro lens accessories that you can buy for the iPhone that will effortlessly attach to your phone.
A macro lens will magnify your subject, making it incredibly easy to capture the most amazing close-ups of flowers. Your iPhone will already have a macro feature but the detail it captures won’t be as impressive as a macro lens.
With a macro lens, you can capture every single tiny little detail. As you can probably imagine, this makes it possible to capture more unique photos that others may not have tried.
We like to use a macro lens to focus on one small part of a subject.
8. Take Lots Of Photos
One of the simplest but most important tips we have for you is to take lots of photos. You may be tempted to save space on your phone and move on to another subject quickly but by doing that, you run the risk of missing out on your best shots.
It’s more important to capture the best shots than to simply take photos of more flowers. By taking lots of photos, you’ll find that you have many more photos you like.
If you don’t take many shots, you might get home to realize that the shots you took weren’t in focus. By taking lots of shots, you can rest assured that you’ll have a good photo in there somewhere.
This is vital in flower photography because even the slightest breeze or camera shake can make your photo blurry.
9. Use Water Droplets To Your Advantage
One of the best ways to enhance the flower photos you take is to capture your subject with water droplets on it. Water droplets make flowers look more appealing. They give flowers a more fresh and dewy look.
Aside from making the flower look more interesting, this also adds to the overall atmosphere of the photograph. If you’re lucky enough, you might even be able to capture some light rays striking the water droplets.
Head out early to capture the morning sparkle on your subject or simply take a spray bottle with you to wet each flower.
When working with water droplets, take your time because there’s potential to capture some amazing reflections too.
10. Use A Tripod
A great way to stabilize your camera is to use a tripod. A tripod that is designed for an iPhone will help keep your camera steady when you shoot.
This will help make your photos sharper, crisper, and less blurry. This is because the tripod stops you from having to hold your camera with shaky hands.
Tripods are super inexpensive and easy to find. You only need a small tripod for your phone. Thanks to the short-timer delay iPhones have, you don’t even have to touch your phone to take a photo.
Simply select the 3-second delay and let the phone do the rest.
11. Capture Fields Of Flowers
Taking close-ups of flowers might give us photographs that look more intricate and detailed but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t avoid taking zoomed-out photos of flowers too.
A wider perspective can tell a story just like a close-up photo can. It also brings its own charm. A bright field or flowers and a rolling landscape against a blue sky will provide your photo with more context. It might also help you remember a specific moment.
It must be said that taking photos of fields of flowers instead of close-ups of one subject is also easier.
12. Shoot During Golden Hour For The Best Light
We’ve already discussed how the right type of light can bring more depth and creativity to a photograph but did you know that the light at different times of day plays a big part too? If not, you need to learn more about the golden hour.
The golden hours are when the sunlight is optimal for taking photographs. The golden hours you should take photos in are the first one or two hours after sunrise and just before sunset.
During golden hour, sunlight is soft and warm. You’ll find that it casts a stunning golden glow on your subjects.
If you position yourself correctly, you should be able to take a photo that makes the flowers appear translucent.
13. Fill The Frame
A great way to capture all the intricate details of a flower is to simply fill your frame with your subject. It can be difficult to capture all the intricate details without taking a close-up. Therefore, filling your frame with the flower will help you capture every tiny detail.
Some photographers worry about getting too close because the camera will chop off the edges of the petal, but this isn’t something you should worry about. By being close-up, the edges aren’t visible anyway so there’s nothing to chop off.
This is also a good idea if you don’t have the ideal background as your subject will cover the background for you.
14. Take Photos Indoors
You don’t always have to take flower photographs outdoors, you can take them indoors too. In fact, we’d actually argue that taking photos of flowers indoors is a lot easier because we have more control over our subject.
We also don’t have to worry about external factors like sunlight or wind. There are a wide range of different things you can do to take photos of flowers indoors. You can take photos of bouquets, capture flowers in a vase, or simply lay the flowers flat on a colored piece of paper.
Don’t be afraid to still practice unique perspectives indoors too. There are still plenty of unique angles you can experiment with.
15. Get Creative
The final tip we have for you is to get creative. Flowers are great subjects to experiment with. They won’t argue back with you and they don’t usually move too much. With that in mind, use flower photography as a platform to try new things, mix it up, and experiment with different photography styles.
Maybe you could use different camera modes, shoot in black and white, or try something more unique like taking photos of flower shadows instead of the actual flower.
The opportunities are endless.
Final Thoughts
Now you have all these tips for taking stunning iPhone photos of flowers, you should be able to make the most of the impressive camera features your phone comes equipped with.
You should have a better understanding of what flower photography entails, how you can get good at it, and have some knowledge related to flower photography ideas.
All that’s left to do now is grab your phone and try the different things we’ve discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Have To Use An iPhone To Take Photos Of Flowers?
No, you don’t have to use an iPhone to take photos of flowers. You can use any phone that has a camera. Other good phones you can use to take photos of flowers include Samsung and Huawei.
Should You Buy A Macro Lens?
If you want to take the very best close-up photographs of flowers using an iPhone, it might be worth buying a macro lens. This will give you the best chance to take epic photos.
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.
