Introduction to Flower Photography

Let me tell you something about flower photography, it's one of those things that looks dead easy until you're lying on your belly in wet grass at 6am trying to get the perfect shot of a dewdrop on a rose petal. Trust me, I've been there more times than I can count. After 17 years of working with florists across Australia with Lily's Florist, I've seen thousands of flower photos, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly (sorry no offence intended!). So when our partner florists started asking for photography tips, back in the day, to showcase their work, we thought, why not share what we've learned?

Why Listen to Us About Flower Photography?

Before I dive in, you might be wondering what a flower delivery company like the one I work for knows about photography. Fair question! Since 2007, I've worked with over 200 partner florists, reviewed literally tens of thousands of flower photos for our website, and learned (sometimes the hard way) what makes a flower photo sing versus what makes it, well, stink. I've also hired professional photographers, worked with amateur enthusiasts, and even had a crack at it myself - with varying degrees of success, I'll admit!

The Real Deal on Lighting (Not the Textbook Version)

Everyone bangs on about the "golden hour" (especially my 14 year old daughter Ivy - haha) that magical time just after sunrise or before sunset. But here's what they don't tell you: in reality, most of us aren't getting up at 4:30am to catch that perfect light. I remember one morning in Kingscliff, dragging myself out of bed before dawn to photograph some native flowers for our website. My daughter (she was about 8 at the time) came with me, and we're stumbling around in the half-light when she goes, "Mum, why don't we just use the torch on your phone?" Kids, right? But she had a point.

Here's what actually works:

• Yes, golden hour is brilliant - but if you miss it, don't stress. Find a shady spot around 10am or 3pm. The light's still soft enough.
• Cloudy days are your secret weapon - seriously, overcast skies are like nature's softbox. Some of our best flower shots happened on drizzly days.
• That harsh midday sun? Use a white umbrella (yes, a regular one) to create shade. We discovered this by accident when one of our florists in Cairns was shooting outdoors and grabbed a customer's umbrella. Game changer.

Quick story: We once had a florist partner in Hobart who swore by using her car's sun visor as a reflector. Sounds mad, but her photos were consistently gorgeous. Sometimes the best tools are the ones you already have.

Backgrounds: The Make or Break Element

After reviewing probably 50,000+ flower photos over the years (not exaggerating), I can tell you that backgrounds are where most people stuff it up. You've got this stunning bouquet, perfect lighting, and then boom, there's a garbage bin in the background or someone's elbow creeping into frame.

Here's what we've learned works:

• The "tea towel trick" - One of our partner florists in Murwillumbah mentioned this to us in a visit I made there in 2007. Iron a plain tea towel and hang it behind your flowers. Instant clean background for under $5.
• Your garden is gold - But here's the thing, walk around it first. I once spent 20 minutes setting up a shot only to realise there was a garden hose snaking through the background. Rookie error.
• The car boot method - Open your car boot/trunk, lay down a blanket, instant outdoor studio. Discovered this during a delivery run when we needed product shots ASAP.

Getting Up Close and Personal (Without Expensive Gear)

You don't need a $2,700 macro lens to get stunning close-ups. Here's a trick one of our florists shared that blew my mind, from Cairns I believe, use your phone's camera with a magnifying glass held in front. Costs about $10 from the newsagent or your local bargain shop and gives you incredible detail shots.

But here's the really important bit, and this comes from years of seeing what sells flowers online, people want to see the details that matter:

• The texture of the petals (are they velvety? papery? glossy?)
• The centre of the flower (especially for things like gerberasor sunflowers)
• Any unique features (like the speckles on a lily or the gradient on a rose)

I remember when we first started photographing our arrangements, we'd always shoot from the side. Then a customer complained they couldn't see "into" the bouquet. Changed everything - now we always include a top-down shot where possible.

The Rule of Thirds (Or As I Call It, The Tic-Tac-Toe Grid)

This sounds fancy but it's dead simple. Imagine drawing a tic-tac-toe grid on your photo. Put the interesting bits where the lines cross. That's it. But here's what they don't tell you - sometimes breaking this rule works brilliantly. We had a photo of a single rose dead centre that became one of our most popular images. Go figure.

Editing: Where Good Photos Become Great (Or Terrible)

Right, let's talk about editing. When we first started, I went absolutely mad with the saturation slider. Everything looked like it had been dipped in radioactive paint. My partner took one look and said, "Unless we're selling flowers to aliens, tone it down." Fair point, I said, with a sarcastic chuckle.

Here's what actually matters:

• Brightness: Just enough so the whites are white, not grey
• Contrast: A tiny bump, like adding a pinch of salt to cooking
• Sharpness: Only on the focal point. Over-sharpen and flowers look like they're made of plastic

True story: We once had a florist partner in Sydney send us photos that were so heavily filtered they looked like oil paintings. Beautiful? Maybe. Helpful for customers trying to order flowers? Not so much.

The Bottom Line (What This Really Means for You)

After 17 years in the flower business, here's what I know for sure, the best flower photo is the one that makes someone stop scrolling and say "I want that." It doesn't need to be perfect. Some of our highest converting photos were taken on phones, in less than ideal conditions, by people who just loved flowers.

We've seen partner florists transform their businesses with better photography. One florist in regional NSW told us her orders increased by 40% after she started implementing these simple techniques. Another in Brisbane said customers started specifically requesting arrangements they'd seen in her photos.

Your Turn to Bloom

Look, I could write another 10,000 words about flower photography (and my partner would probably tell me to stop boring everyone with a theatrical yawn), but the best teacher is practice. Start with one flower, your phone, and a window. Take 10 photos. Try different angles, different times of day, different backgrounds.

Send us your best shot - seriously, we love seeing what people create. Who knows? Your photo might end up inspiring the next person who's just starting their flower photography journey. Just like that nervous conversation in a Murwillumbah flower shop all those years ago led to Lily's Florist, your single photo could be the start of something beautiful.

Remember this, every professional flower photographer started with their first shot. Even Ansel Adams probably photographed a daisy at some point (though knowing him, it was probably in black and white and absolutely perfect). The point is, start where you are with what you have. The flowers are waiting.