Flower Photoshoot Ideas (+ photography tips!)
Looking for inspiration pictures for a flower photoshoot? This blog post has flower photoshoot ideas, how to take unique pictures of flowers, and beginner friendly photography tips.
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Flower photoshoot ideas
Flowers have so much variety ranging from their colors, textures, and shapes. This makes flowers the perfect background for any photoshoot!
Whether you’re a hobbyist, have some photography experience, or just looking for some cute flower photoshoot ideas, this post is meant to inspire everyone.
Why flowers are perfect for photography
If you love flowers and photography like me, you probably don’t need convincing why flowers are lovely to use in photos (but here’s a few reasons).
- The colors of flowers add life to your photos.
- During spring/summer the sun shifts and the lighting is different (simply put, the Earth’s tilt changes each season). This light adds a different atmosphere to photos when shooting outside.
- You can pose with flowers in many ways to showoff their beauty (and your beauty).
- Flowers are perfect for conveying a story or romantic feeling.
- Makes great backgrounds for selfies, graduation photos, senior picture ideas, special announcements, weddings, or just because.
Props
Props can elevate your photos! It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or big, it’s the little details that elevate your photo.
- Less is more! Putting a couple of flowers in your back pocket can make for a pretty and simple photo.
- You can use things around your home you already own for those Pinterest perfect photos.
- Use a bedsheet as a picnic blanket and lay a bouquet next to your picnic.
- Find a gathering basket to fill with flowers (also useful if you have a vegetable garden!).
- Use a cute tote bag that you can take to the farmers market to hold a bouquet.
- Buy a bouquet to hold in your photos. The bonus is that now you have a flower bouquet for your home 🙂
Camera tips
If you’re a hobbyist or want to get into photography, then read below for my beginner tips.
First, you don’t have to have expensive equipment to take pretty photos. However, photos on your phone versus a professional camera will come out differently (doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing!).
- You can use your phone! Some phones have an expert RAW mode to shoot to capture more details.
- If you are interested in photography, I currently use an (old but trusty) Canon EOS 70D slr with a EF 50 mm f/1.8 lens. I’m upgrading my camera equipment but this camera has lasted me years and years. Upgrading my lens really helped to improve my photos! Lenses are super important!
- Composition matters. When you take a photo, you are deciding what you’re including or excluding in the shot. What you choose to include and the angles in which you shoot will tell a visual story. It’s a little more detailed than that, but it’s a start and something to think about.
Backlight vs. front-light
Lighting is so important! Some of my favorite times for photos are just before sunrise, the minutes during sunrise, early morning (think about that beautiful soft morning light), and golden hour (the time before the sun sets when the light is golden and warm).
Light from a sunrise can highlight natures colors. If it’s cloudy/foggy – don’t fear – the diffused light can create a moody picture or that dreamy hazy quality.
You can shoot during the day, but keep in the mind the sunlight will be harsher since it’s directly above. I try to use backlight when shooting in the middle of the day.
backlight |
front-light |
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Sun is behind the focal point (the subject faces their shadow) |
Sun is shining on the focal point (the subjects shadow is behind them) |
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Creates a beautiful glowy outline of the subject |
Creates an even light across the subject |
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Adds shadows, depth, and creates an interesting photo |
Can flatten the subject and make the subject “less interesting” although you can get nice results with practice |
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How I prefer to shoot photos most of the time! |
I like using front-light when it’s cloudy or coming from an angle |
How to get great photos
Practice the rule of thirds, which is a popular technique in photo composition.
Imagine dividing a photo into nine zones using horizontal and vertical lines to form a grid. Most cell phones have a grid setting you can turn on.
Place the subject in the right or left third of the image, leaving the other two thirds open. This technique creates a well composed image that is pleasing to the eye. See the two images above, one horizontal and one vertical.
What to wear
Clothing in portraits is important because it sets the atmosphere and creates the aesthetic you’re going for.
I prefer light and airy photography, so I tend to wear solid colors because patterns can distract from the flowers. Although patterns can work if you plan ahead!
Think about the color palette of the photo. For example, if you’re shooting in a lavender field, then wearing whites, soft purples, or pale colors would look great against the greens and purples to create a seamless transition between you and the flowers.
Clothing also helps tells a story. Imagine you’re shooting on a windy day and you’re wearing a long flowy dress. The flowy dress creates movement and adds a whimsical feeling in your shots.
Or maybe it’s rainy and you throw on a pair of rainboots with a dress or skirt and stand in puddles for your photos (anything goes!).
Use the clothing to your advantage! You can twirl, hold your dress/skirt, or let it fluff out around you if you sit on the ground.
Hats can really add another fun element! You can pose with them, they add a whimsical element, and they elevate a simple outfit (plus they protect you from the sun when photographing outside).
This hat is similar to my boater hat featured in these photos. I’ve upgraded to this firm brim boater linked above, which has a charming shape and it’s great quality!
Flower photoshoot ideas
This blog post will be updated as I get to explore and go on more flower adventures! Check back for meadow ideas, a picnic flower aesthetic, and more!
1. Sit in the flower rows
Get low and squat or sit in-between the rows of tulips for a dramatic photo surrounded by flowers.
I had the joy of visiting Holland, Michigan during Tulip Time and visit their tulip fields.
2. blur the SUBJECT
You can also play around with focusing the camera on the flowers to make the subject blurry. The subject doesn’t always have to be the main attention of the photo!
I find that a blurry portrait can make for a dreamy photo. You’re still in the photo but the flowers are the main focal point.
3. Selfie from a flowers POV
Place you phone low into the flowers and snap pictures of yourself from this vantage point! It creates a cute selfie!
Tip: Take multiple shots and don’t be afraid to angle your head and look away from the camera.
4. Throw Your Hands up
If you’re ever not sure what to do, try throwing your hands up in excitement!
5. take Horizontal photos
Don’t be afraid to take horizontal photos to capture a wide view. So many things are vertical because of our phones and social media dimensions, but it’s refreshing to have a horizontal photo now and then.
6. shoot lower
Whether you’re in a flower field or not, the angle matters. Shoot lower so that the flowers look fuller.
7. Look away from the camera
Try looking away from the camera or taking a shot from far away! When you don’t show your face directly, the viewer can draw their own conclusion about the emotion being conveyed.
8. Unique flower ideas
Taking pictures of flowers can be tough depending on what you’re trying to portray. I like dramatic photos like shooting directly overhead, straight down a row, or up close.
You can also shoot flowers up close and depending on your camera, this can create a bokeh effect (out of focus blur in the background that can look like bubbles or circles).
9. twirl your dress or skirt
Whenever you’re not sure what to do, try twirling or holding out your dress.
10. Use flowers as a prop
Use a bouquet of flowers to your advantage and show them off in your photo. We visited this lavender field in Michigan and I got the u-cut flowers because I could use them in my photos and also because I love them!
11. Pictures in action
Take a photo of you in action! Take photos of you enjoying your time, whether that’s cutting stems, walking through a meadow, or leaning down to smell a rose.
12. Show Off Your Bouquet
Hold up your pretty flowers! You can also use them to cover your face as another cute selfie photo idea.
13. Look Over Your Shoulder
There’s lots of cute ways to take a selfie without the traditional hand on the hip, body angled straight towards the camera shot. Try looking over your shoulder!
14. Take Photos of the scenery
It’s fun to remember the adventures that we go on, so don’t forget to take pictures of the flowers themselves!
15. partially hide Your Face
Maybe you’re a bit shy, or don’t want the main focus of the image to be about the subject. In idea #7, the suggestion is to fully turn away from the camera.
There’s lots of ways to do this! Some of my favorite poses are using a hat to cover most of my face or looking up and away at an angle.
16. flower close-ups
Taking photos of flowers seems simple enough. Everyone has their unique eye for photos that they like to take, and I’m sharing mine below.
Focus on the flowers closet to you. You can create beautiful bokeh in the background with a low aperture setting. Some camera phones can do a nice job at capturing bokeh too!
Get low! Crouch down and take pictures from this low vantage point. The lower you shoot, the fuller the flowers can look.
This also works for blooming trees. I like to bend down and point the camera up into the branches to create a photo that feels like we could live inside the gorgeous tree (like little fairies).
Shoot right overhead. Let the flowers fill up the whole screen in a dramatic way.
Find patches of flowers that have an interesting pattern or arrangement.
17. Add flowers to your photo
Add flowers into your pictures for an instagram or pinterest worthy photo. Bring a simple bouquet to a picnic or to add a nice touch to your table.
18. Take pICTURES AT gOLDEN hOUR
Go out during golden hour and focus on using backlight to shoot flowers in a warm, golden light.
19. Candid Photos
Sometimes you might come across pretty flowering trees, bushes, or find flowers in unexpected places (the photo below was at a winery!). These unplanned, candid photos are lots of fun!
I often carry this tripod for my phone in the car or with me for random photos (just in case I don’t have my DSLR camera), or if you’re with someone ask them to take a photo for you.
Not everyone is a pro at taking a photo and that’s okay! When asking someone to take my photo, sometimes I have them pose, I take the photo, and then show them what I’m looking for. Although, the candid photos can turn out nice too.
20. Flower Selfies
Take some selfies with flowers! The lilac had bloomed and smelled amazing, so I wanted a selfie of spring in bloom.
21. Use The backgrounds
If a farm, garden, or other nature center you’re visiting has cute backgrounds to interact with, use them!
I hope this blog post on flower photoshoot ideas was helpful! I plan to update it as my flower adventures continue.
