Fortunately, spring has started and so countless flower species are growing around us again! Spoiler: fresh flowers can easily wither when cut off from the plant which is why it’s efficient to use flowers made to last longer like the forever roses for flower photography. Aside from that bonus advice, we give you a number of tips to capture all the fleur and scent.
Large aperture
Give the flower you’re photographing all the attention in your photos by low depth of field. Shoot with a large aperture (small value) to get that smooth, blurry background that will illuminate the flower. Another reason to ensure little depth of field is peace in the photo. When photographing flowers you will have to deal with plants and other flowers in the picture and they would make the photo very busy if you do not work with a large aperture.
Distance
The distance you have to the flower with your camera also determines the depth of field in the photo. If you get closer to the flower, the depth of field will also decrease. That is precisely the intention! Do you want the softest and most even bokeh in your background? Then it is important that there is as much space as possible between the subject and the flowers or plants in the background.
TIP: Solution for the wind!
Flowers are light, so at the slightest hint of wind, they will start to move. This is anything but beneficial for your photography because a moving subject causes blur. You can deal with this by speeding up your shutter speed, but a more convenient hack is to hold the flower with one hand and photograph it with your other hand.
Light
Working and playing with light is something you always do as a photographer, so also when photographing flowers. A photo of a flower in the shade gives a completely different atmosphere than a flower in the sun. Therefore, use the sun in your photos! For example, backlighting from the sun can contribute to a warm, summery atmosphere in your floral photos. With a small tilt of your camera, the backlight with a flare in the image can already make a big difference. When it comes to flower photography, think of the golden hour.
ALSO READ: Strategies to Find Your Photographic Style
Fuller flower field
Are you not going for a macro photo but are you photographing a field full of flowers, for example, tulips or the sunflower? Then try to photograph the field from a distance and then zoom in. By zooming in, it seems as if the flowers in the field are closer together and the field is therefore fuller. An illusion, but a nicer photo!
Objective
Are you unsure which lens you will use? Then it depends on what kind of photo you have in mind. Are you going to the flower field? Then it doesn’t really matter what kind of lens you use. Also for a macro photo, you can choose a kit lens of 18-55 mm. Use the large diaphragm and sit as close to the flower as possible.
Do you still want to take that better macro photo? Then we advise to photograph with a 50mm F1.8, because the large aperture ensures that creamy background. But don’t worry, even with a telephoto zoom you can achieve this effect when you zoom in far enough on the flower. If you really want to capture all the details of the flower, then working with a real macro lens is the best choice. These lenses still focus on the smallest distances between you and the subject. Is a macro lens still a bit too expensive for you? Then you can also buy a secondary lens to start with.
Experiment with composition and point of view
We now know the flower photo from above, which is why it is important to play with your point of view and composition of the photo. Looking down on a flower is also not always the best angle for the flower. Go through your knees (on a garbage bag, if the ground is wet or dirty), or try every corner that gives you different backgrounds. A flower (or branch with flowers) can also contrast very nicely with a blue sky from below!
