The complete guide to flower photography

How to photograph flowers properly

It goes without saying that flowers are truly beautiful - from Roses to Lillies, they are one of the most popular objects to photograph and for a good reason! Even better, they do most of the work for you when it comes to getting a good photograph. After all, they can't get camera shy!

However, as a photographer there are lots of things you should take into consideration when photographing flowers to take a photograph that is of professional quality.

So, with that in mind, we’ve cultivated five top tips that will help you improve the quality of your photos!

1) Perfect your timing

It's better to take photographs of flowers outside as opposed to indoors if possible. This means you’re able to take advantage of natural light and can capture the flowers in their natural habitat!

If taking pictures outside, you should ideally aim to take your photographs in the early morning or early evening. Whilst it may seem tempting to take the photographs when the sun is out and shining (therefore, in the middle of the day) soft lighting makes for a clearer shot and better compliments the flowers. Additionally, taking photographs at this time greatly reduces the amount of shadow that will appear in the photograph due to the position of the sun.

2) Go macro

Don't be afraid to get up close and personal when taking photographs of flowers. A closer shot - which can be achieved with a macro lens or even by zooming in nice and close can bring out details in a flower that often go unnoticed. Macro lenses can often be found for a reasonable price.

If you had planned to take photographs on a day and got hit with an unexpected shower, you'll be able to capture individual raindrops with this technique!

You can get some wonderful results with macro photography / Image: Mister Starman, Unsplash

3) Get even closer

It may seem tempting to simply photograph flowers from above - especially if you’re photographing flowers outdoors as opposed to a vase of flowers in your home. However, you should try to experiment with photographing your chosen flower from a range of different angles. This might be a little messy if you decide to lie on the ground- but is definitely worth it in the end.

4) Keep it steady

While we can't control the weather, we can put certain measures in place to ensure our photoshoots are not disturbed too much by the weather! Whilst rainy days make for excellent photographs, wind can be a difficult element to battle in photography as it means the flowers will be moving slightly in the breeze and as a result, it can be hard to keep the camera focused.

One way in which you can counter this is by placing something (outside of the shot) that acts as a block for the wind - ensuring that your flower remains still!

The wind can be a help or hindrance when it comes to photographing flowers / Image: Saad Chaudhry, Unsplash

5) Add a finishing touch

Every great photographer knows how to embellish a photograph to make it stand out. It's not simply as easy as taking the photo and uploading it online (although that can be tempting!) You have to carefully consider what effects/tools you can use to make your photograph seem more professional.

It's important to remember that flora photography often does not need much by way of editing - especially as you don't want to take away from the natural beauty of the flower. However, these kinds of photographs can sometimes benefit from altering the vibrancy of the flower itself, or a brightening tool to help the colours pop!

Give your photographs a final flourish with editing software / Image: Jess Bailey, Pexels