Photographing Flowers

To put some pizzazz in your photos, try some of the following tips.

Keep your images simple and clear. Remove all trash that would detract from the subject: sticks, dead leaves, debris.

Find the prettiest profile of the flower. Don’t be afraid to get close. Isolate and photograph the center of the flower or a petal or even half the flower. Photograph from all angles; up, down, right, left. Don’t be afraid to off-center the image. If you are lucky, maybe a butterfly or a bug will wander into your image adding still another exciting dimension and contrasting colors.

Use soft light. Cloudy days are great at providing natural and soft lighting. Soften harsh overhead light with a diffuser. Avoid shadows, especially those shadows cast by your lens or yourself! Use a reflector to backlight the flower. Tinted reflectors can add warm or creative colors to the image. A polarizing filter can eliminate glare and reflection as well as help to saturate colors.

Want dew or droplets on the petals? A misting bottle will reproduce the early morning fine mist and add that sparkle to your image. If you don’t have a misting bottle, pour water to simulate raindrops.

Think ahead about the wall space where you will hang the pictures. Arrange the pictures in your mind and take many shots. Be sure to take pictures that can be arranged into groups.

If your camera has macro capability then use that feature or lens to get close-ups. Professionals usually use all-manual settings: manual focus on the precise details, small aperture (large f-stop number like f16) for maximum depth of focus and a low ISO film or digital setting. Unfortunately, slow shutter speeds are sometimes necessary and a tripod is usually essential. Keep in mind that a tripod will not stop the wind from moving the flower; you just have to be patient!

Take advantage of the many different types and textures of paper when making your floral prints: glossy, semi-glossy, luster, matte, watercolor, canvas, etc. Make the colors “pop” by increasing the color saturation setting in your photo editing software. With a little practice, your walls will be looking like a flower garden!