The Art of Flower Photography
This page is the archive of my latest "how I took this photo" floral photography posts. All steps are described in each post: kit, lighting, settings, editing.
I also have a comprehensive free online beginner's photography workshop. Join here and get started today:
Have you wondered how some of those Instagram accounts get the subtle-but-eye-catching quirky colour effect on their flower pictures? It's a breeze in Lightroom. 2 steps and you're done.
If you're shooting into the sun, sometimes the lens hood just doesn't cut it. No need for new kit - fix this problem with your hand or a hat if you have one.
The easiest way to get the moody faded look is with the app VSCO. This post shows you how to tweak the HB2 filter for fine control whilst keeping a consistent look between images. At the end I show you the Lightroom edits that give you a similar effect to the VSCO HB2 filter.
Using one single stem of ammi, natural daylight and the same camera setup, you can easily create 4 completely different images.
Get effects previously only available to Photoshop users with a whole morning to spare. Gorgeous art filters in 1 click - all on your phone. Apple & Android.
How to play to the strengths of your phone camera in the field, and come home with images you are delighted with.
Do your white flowers often come out too dark when you photograph them? There's a quick fix to stop this happening.
All the decisions I made to get my favourite image of the year so far. Light, background, composition. Things that didn't work so well, and all the camera settings.
Do you struggle with auto focus when you're shooting macro? Switch it off. Use manual focus for precise control over how your final image looks.
Compare these 4 images, where the focus point only changes 2cm from the first to the last
What do you think? Overblown, hyper-realistic, too vibrant? Or a jump-off-the-screen bundle of June floral abundance?
The camera never lies, but your eyes will deceive you. Who knew that the shadows in a pink peony were actually yellow?
With a bit of Lightroom tweaking you can restore your disappointingly yellow peony to her pinkful glory.
This week, one of my A Year With My Camera students described in our Facebook group how he aspires to take high key flower photographs like Mandy Disher. Amateur Photography magazine published a fantastic piece from Mandy where she describes her set up, lighting and gives plenty of tips (click here to read the post). My student was not getting the results he wanted, so I had a go at following the tutorial, and have found a couple of steps missing - mostly at the editing stage.
When it's warm enough to shoot outside you can bring your flowers alive with some carefully placed natural daylight. Hopefully after reading this post you'll never shoot with your flowers in full sun again.
A very simple set up today. Very soft window light coming from the right, with the flowers well into the shade to reduce contrast.
These beauties were crying out for a simple, linear photo. The background was chosen to echo the parallel lines but provide a counterpoint that emphasises the bendy unpredictable stems.
The best subject to use with a Lensbaby Sweet 50 is one with natural lines in the frame to enhance the tilt-shift, not to fight against it.
What do you do when you want to create an anemone flatlay but you only have 6 anemones to work with? Bring out Photoshop.
Have you ever done a project 365? Or a 50 with 50? What about one of those 30 day photo challenges on Instagram?
I have started three P365s, and the longest I managed was mid-February.
I've tried to take 50 shots with my 50mm but after about 19 it seems artificial.
This week - creating artificial sky in the comfort of your own home. I did it with a shoebox, a tripod and a tweak in Lightroom.