The Art of Flower Photography

With their delicate beauty, vibrant colors, and intricate details, flowers have successfully captivated humans from time immemorial. Since the invention of the camera, the art of flower photography has allowed us to capture and immortalize these ephemeral wonders of nature.

From the tiniest petals to the grandest blooms, taking flower photos offers endless possibilities for creativity and expression. And with basic photography equipment (even if it’s just a smartphone) and some flowers, you can try your hand at flower photography as a beginner nature photographer.

What Is Flower Photography?

Five pink and white roses with green stems lying on a dark brown wooden table top. — In the Skillshare class “Still Life Photography: Creating A Beautiful Rose Flat lay Photo Using Natural Light,” teacher Denise Love uses natural light to capture the beauty of roses.

Flower photography is a specialized genre of nature photography that focuses on capturing images of, well, flowers. That could mean individual petals, exquisitely arranged bouquets or fields of wild blooms—the choice is yours.

By experimenting with the fine art of photographing delicate, beautiful flowers, you can showcase the intricate details, colors and textures of flowers, emphasizing their natural beauty and exploring one-of-a-kind artistic interpretations.

Equipment and Settings

A person’s hand holding a Nikon DSLR camera body in front of a white-painted surface. — In the Skillshare class “Building a Complete Photography Kit: Cameras, Lenses, Storage and Tools,” teacher Tabitha Park shows students the ins and outs of a DSLR camera.

Before delving into the world of creating flower images, set yourself up for success by learning the basics about cameras, lenses and settings.

Cameras and Lenses

While digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are often prized for their versatility and image quality, you don't necessarily need an expensive camera to capture dazzling flower photographs.

Many high-quality point-and-shoot cameras and mirrorless cameras are available on the market for much less than their DSLR counterparts, and they can often produce equally impressive results. In the same vein, you may prefer to use a traditional film camera rather than a newer digital one, depending on the look you’re going for.

No matter what type of camera you use, the key is to choose a camera that allows you to control its settings manually (more on that below).

In terms of lenses, macro lenses are particularly popular for flower photography. These lenses enable you to capture the finest details and achieve a shallow depth of field, effectively isolating the main subject from the background. A macro lens with a focal length of around 100mm is commonly used for flower photography, but lenses with shorter focal lengths like 90 or 85 can also produce eye-catching macro images.

Smartphone

Smartphone cameras have made significant advancements in recent years, allowing photographers to capture stunning images without carrying additional gear. Many smartphones now feature dedicated macro modes, which can help you capture close-up shots of flowers with impressive detail.

So if you don’t want to invest in a camera just yet, don’t sweat it — your smartphone can help you create plenty of stunning flower pictures.

Camera Settings

If you’re using a standalone camera other than a smartphone, it’s crucial to understand its settings for successful flower photography (and nature photography in general, for that matter).

While an in-depth explanation of every possible camera setting could fill a book, these flower photography tips can help you get on the right track.

Using the manual mode or aperture priority mode gives you control over the depth of field. A shallow depth of field, achieved by using a wide aperture (small f-number), helps create a pleasing background blur, including bokeh, and draws attention to the flower itself. Experimenting with different apertures will allow you to achieve a variety of effects.
Adjusting the ISO setting is essential for controlling the amount of noise (a type of visual distortion) in your images. Keep in mind that using a low ISO, such as 100, will produce cleaner and sharper images, while higher ISO settings may introduce noise. As such, we recommend using a tripod or otherwise stabilizing your camera to keep it steady and make lower ISO settings feasible.
Shutter speed determines the amount of light that enters the camera. If you’re photographing flowers in a natural environment, it's important to use a fast enough shutter speed to avoid motion blur caused by the flower or camera movement. If you’re shooting in low light conditions, though, you can increase the ISO or use a tripod to compensate for longer shutter speeds, while eliminating worry about camera shake.

Ideas and Tips

Two photos of wilted roses arranged side by side. On the left, a bouquet of them rests in a white stoneware vase. On the right, we see a close-up of their petals lying on a surface. — In the Skillshare class “Still Life Photography: Creating A Dark & Moody Flower Setup,” teacher Denise Love shows students that flowers don’t need to be in full bloom to be stunning.

After gaining an understanding of flower photography equipment and settings, it’s time to start shooting. To get the ball rolling, explore some ideas and tips to inspire your next shots.

Macro Flower Photography

In a nutshell, macro photography involves capturing extreme close-up images, revealing the intricate details of the subject. When applied to floral photography, macro techniques allow you to explore the fascinating world within the petals, revealing textures, patterns, and other features that are often overlooked by the naked eye.

Microscopic

Going one step beyond macro photography, microscopic photography involves using a microscope (or a very powerful dedicated macro lens) to capture the most minuscule details of flowers and their anatomy. Depending on the power of your microscope, you may even be able to capture images of individual plant cells.

Black and White

While flowers are often associated with vibrant colors, black-and-white flower photography can be just as compelling as its full-color counterpart. Why? Stripping away color draws attention to shape, form and texture, allowing the viewer to appreciate a greater number of fine details. Black and white photos of flowers can evoke a sense of timelessness, elegance and refinement, so if that’s the aesthetic you’re going for then don’t be afraid to go color-free.

Still Life

Flowers make exquisite subjects for still life photography. By carefully arranging flowers in a controlled environment, you can create beautiful, intentional compositions and experiment with different props and lighting setups. For instance, you might arrange a bouquet of flowers in a vase, or place individual blooms on a flat surface.

Wildflowers and Flower Fields

Visiting flower fields or gardens can provide a wealth of opportunities for capturing breathtaking landscape photography. Meadows dotted with wildflowers, nurseries with rows of perfectly cultivated blooms, and even private gardens—any type of flower field is sure to provide dazzling colors and patterns for you to capture.

Abstract

Flower photography doesn't necessarily have to be about capturing the entire flower in a traditional fashion. Abstract flower photography allows you to focus on specific details, shapes and patterns within the flower, creating artistic images that might not even look floral at first glance. Experiment with close-up shots, selective focus, and unconventional compositions to create uniquely abstract interpretations of flowers.

Modeling Shoots

You don’t always have to focus on flowers exclusively. By incorporating flowers into modeling shoots and portraiture, you can use them as accessories for human subjects. Think of a model twirling in a field of flowers, or laying in the grass with flower petals in their hair.

Creative Lighting

When you’re just getting started with flower photography, natural sunlight can often provide all the lighting you need. But when you’re ready to expand your photographic horizons, try experimenting with creative lighting techniques to find the ones that work for you. You could use various types of flashes, for instance, or shoot at different times of day to capture a broader variety of moods.

Frozen Flower Photography

Looking to capture the beauty of flowers in a truly spectacular way? Try freezing petals, whole flowers or even whole bouquets in ice. Just pour water into a container, arrange the flowers toward the bottom of the container and place it in the freezer. Once your creation is frozen solid, pop out the block of ice, put in on the surface of your choice and snap away. For different effects, experiment with backgrounds of various colors and textures.

Let Your Creativity Bloom

Flower photography is a captivating and rewarding form of artistic expression. By understanding your camera, equipment and settings, as well as exploring new ideas and techniques with tutorials, you can unlock a world of creativity and capture the beauty of flowers in breathtaking images.

So grab your camera, find some beautiful blooms and let the enchanting world of flowers inspire your next photographic adventure.