Looking for something to photograph? You really can’t go wrong with a Flower.

A flower is always beautiful. It will never cancel on you at the last minute, and it won’t throw a fit or give you an awkward expression, well usually anyway. It’s also not going to move around a lot to blur your photos.

Flowers may be an easy subject matter, but there are things you can do to ensure your shots look great. Here are some tips.

Shoot on an Overcast Day

You may think nature shots should always be captured when the sun is shining. But if you are looking to take pictures of flowers, a cloudy day may be the perfect time to shoot. It will not produce harsh shadows and bright spots and you’ll get a nice even exposure.

If you choose to shoot when it’s overcast, avoid shooting too late in the day when the sun is disappearing, or you may not have enough light. Midday is best.

Use Backlight

Another option is to use backlight. Backlight will come when the sun is directly in front of you, so it lights the flowers from behind. This will give your flowers a terrific glow. The effect will work best when the sun is near the horizon to backlight you flowers more directly.

Avoid Wind

Flowers are a pretty stable subject, but when the wind blows, you could be dealing with blur. To avoid wind, try shooting early in the day before it’s likely to pick up. Alternately, you can choose to shoot inside.

Do Macro and Close Up Shots

Macros and close shots will produce unique images. You can get this effect by using a telephoto lens to zoom in. Be sure to pay attention to the minimum focusing distance (MFD) to ensure your camera can focus at close distances.

If your camera is not able to focus close up, you can use extension tubes or a close-up filter. However, close filters can reduce image quality while extension tubes are difficult to use. A dedicated macro lens may be your best choice.

Use a Reflector

It’s best to shoot flowers on overcast days. If you don’t have enough light, use a reflector to bounce light on your subject.

Use a Simple Background

The last thing you want is a background that detracts from your image. Determine if your image is too cluttered before taking the picture. If it is, consider moving the flower. If that’s not possible, try a different angle.

Use a Shallow Depth of Field

With a shallow depth of field, your subject will stay sharp while the background is slightly blurred. This can be achieved if your aperture is set to a low number like f/2.8 or f/4. It will also help if you get close to the flower.

Keep Details Sharp

When using a shallow depth of field, you will want to keep parts of the flower sharp. The best way to do this is to increase the shutter speed and focus carefully. If you’re shooting in poor light, use a tripod and remote release to avoid camera shake.

If your focus still isn’t right, focus manually to get the desired results.

Switch Things Up

You may be surprised to find what kind of unique shots you’ll get when you try different angles. Try shooting from the side and even under the flower to get a variety of takes.

Focus Through Another Flower

Focusing through another flower will provide a terrific abstract look. To achieve this effect, adjust your position until one flower sits between your lens and your subject flower. The flower closer to the lens will come out like a blur producing a great result.

Flower photography is classic. The tips in this article will ensure your images come out terrific while offering unique variations. What elements do you incorporate to make your shots of nature even more impressive?

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