Sping is finally here and so are our flowers in full bloom. The winter of 2020 was a long one, am I right? Seeing patches of wildflowers along the roads inspired me to put together this post with some of my favorite flower photos from adventures past.

Mother Nature does a fantastic job setting a picture-perfect scene with her alluring details, shapes, patterns, and colors. Despite the natural beauty found in nature, I have a few tricks I use to help my photos pop. Even though I am writing this post to focus on flowers, these tips can be applied to a variety of smaller subjects, especially mushrooms and butterflies.

~ Mind the Background

Remove any distractions from the background to create focus. In this original photo, there were pink flowers in the background that ended up looking like distracting pink dots. I removed them to keep the focus on the subject.

~ Blur the Background

Blurring the background always makes the subject appear crisper and helps your eye focus on the details no matter how small or intricate.

~ Add Water Droplets

Yes, I said ADD. I prefer to shoot in the morning when the natural dew is still visible. If not, I add the water droplets myself. I always carry a tiny spray bottle filled with water in my camera bag. I find the photos much more eye-catching when water droplets are added. I discovered this on accident when I was photographing one day in the rain and realized I loved the look.

~ Place an Element in the Foreground

Sometimes the added element can cause a framing effect, drawing your eye directly to the subject while also creating another level of interest. It helps if these elements are out of focus, even if you have to blur them in post. When shooting in nature there may be leaves or grass that naturally get between you and your subject. It’s not always possible to move them out of the way and you may prefer the look. You can always hold up a blade of grass, leaf, or petal in front of the lens to create this effect.

~ Fake it

Nothing wrong with pretending a flower from the florist is still growing like I did for this temporary tattoo campaign. I’ve been known to seek inspiration from flower shops, picking up a few blooms and staging a shoot.

~ Use Leading Lines

Leading lines are another way to draw your eye to the subject. These are easy to find since so many flowers can be found with long leaves or near blades of grass.

~ Add in Elements

There are dozens of phone apps or good old photoshop that can help you add in orbs, bees, butterflies, rainbows or snow for a more whimsical look.

I hope this posts inspires you to get out and get creative with your flower photography now that spring has sprung. If you use any of these tips, I’d love to see what you create. Have a w0nderful day!