How to photograph flowers
Published: 23.07.2021
Summer is a favorite time of year for many. And the reason is not only the long-awaited vacation and the opportunity to relax on the beach. This season is abundant in bright colors, a variety of shapes, and patterns of beautifully blooming plants. If you are inspired by nature and want to capture the beauty around you, we have gathered the best tips on how to properly photograph flowers.
Photographing flowers correctly
Every day, numerous photos of flowers are published on social networks and photo sharing platforms, ranging from miniature varieties living in pots on windowsills to exotic giants growing in gardens, parks, or forests. Whether you need to photograph flowers for personal or commercial purposes, there are common rules and recommendations that can help you capture the best images.
The main task of a photographer is to take beautiful photos, stand out from the rest, create something unique and inspiring.
It is more difficult to photograph flowers in pots than it may seem at first glance. The truth is that the simplest things can be the hardest to capture. To attract the viewer's attention, true talent is needed.
10 best tips for beautiful flower photos for Instagram on your phone or professional camera:
- Change the angle
- Isolate the object
- Come closer
- Fix the camera
- Block the wind
- Create a context
- Show the movement
- Add water
- Leave it unfinished
- Play with the sun
When photographing at eye level, you risk getting rather boring shots. Experiment with different perspectives, place the bouquet higher or lower than the camera. Get down on your knees to be at the same level as the object. Choose clothing that you don't mind getting dirty for a good shot, and experiment!
The overall impression depends on the background. Remove the clutter and get a great image! Compose the composition correctly so that the focus is on the bud. Remove distracting factors that make the viewer's gaze wander.
Many flowering plants in the garden have a huge number of intricate details that are visible when magnified. Turn on the macro mode on your phone. This will allow you to get as close as possible. If you are using a professional camera, use a macro lens, and increase the aperture number to f/11, f/16 on a sunny day.
From the great photos that you will definitely get, create a Light album. You don't need to print the photos separately. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album. Upload images to the free Mapi7 editor and create a thematic Light album. You can upload photos from your phone.
Field or street flowers are not always convenient to photograph with a tripod, but if you are taking close-up shots or trying to combine focus, set the camera and lens on a stable base. Camera shake when zooming in will result in blurry images. Use the self-timer mode to eliminate vibration.
If you have decided to photograph wild plants outdoors, even a light breeze can make the task more difficult, especially when shooting macro or close-up. It's better to bring a reflector, diffuser, small board, or umbrella to prevent the objects from moving while you try to focus and take the shot.
Expanding the view can make the image more interesting. It's better to focus not on a single flower, but on a bouquet or a whole field. Or perhaps a beautiful composition is growing next to a stream. Don't get fixated on details, sometimes you need to take a step back to see the bigger picture.
For large scenes, use a wide-angle lens. If you are shooting with a phone, select the panorama mode on your smartphone.
Try using the wind to your advantage to create a creative image of flowers. Set up your camera on a tripod, decrease the aperture to achieve a long exposure. Use a neutral density filter to reduce the exposure and show movement. The result will be an artistic and dynamic image, demonstrating the blurring of colors during motion.
Droplets of water on petals and leaves in the garden softly reflect the light and give the photograph a shimmer. Go out to photograph flowers at dawn or after rain. Or spray a bud to make the image come alive.
It is not necessary to photograph the bouquet in full height. Show a small part, maybe just a petal, a part of the flower with leaves. Abstract images provoke curiosity. When looking at the frame, the viewer should engage their imagination.
It is best to photograph flowers in the garden at sunrise or closer to sunset, when the sun is low. Place the object between the camera and the sun. A hint of the sun peeking out from behind the edge of the flower will create a unique effect. For this, a small aperture value around f/16 or f/22 is required. Don't forget a tripod and Live View mode for focusing.
Cool photos deserve an unusual framing. Print your cool pictures in a polaroid style. Fans of instant photography from the 90s may experience familiar feelings when holding a photo in a Polaroid style. Those unfamiliar with traditional Polaroids will enjoy square images with space for captions.
Photos of flowers for Instagram
To beautifully photograph flowers for Instagram, avoid boring angles. Photos with the flower in the center are unlikely to get many likes. Although there are different image formats available today, most frames are cropped to the standard resolution of 1080x1080. Keep this in mind when posting your composition.
To beautifully capture a bouquet or a vase, it is best to use natural daylight and shoot near a window. If this is not possible, turn on a daylight bulb.
Presets and filters help create a harmonious feed. Photos taken with similar contrast, brightness, and other settings look the best. One of the reasons why people turn to social media is the desire to escape reality and immerse themselves in a world of beauty.
Instagram was created primarily for visuals. Remember this when choosing angles and subjects for shooting on your phone. Create aesthetic photos, avoid banality. Even if you were given a bouquet of 101 red roses, refrain from the idea of taking a photo hugging the gift.
Don't be afraid of filters. Editing photos is not always bad, it's a great way to fix lighting and color balance issues. The best smartphone apps for this are Lightroom, PhotoshopMix, VSCO, and Snapseed.
The key secret to learning how to beautifully photograph flowers is to practice regularly. Summer provides the opportunity to hone your skills. Take pictures of wild daisies and dandelions, red roses in city flowerbeds, orchids and cacti in pots on the windowsill. Remember, you don't have to travel far to photograph rare exotic flowers. Beauty is all around, you just need to see it.
