5 Tips For Planning Your Photo-Worthy Garden

still life

Mar 6

Written By

Spring is arriving soon, you're about to plant your garden, and you know you'll want to photograph it. From the tiny details through a macro lens, or the expanse that you can capture with a wide angle, there are some tips for planning your photo worthy garden that will give you some wonderful options.

Planning a Photo Worthy Garden

Tip #1

Before you even start working the ground, the items you'll be using can make engaging photography subjects, too. Just look at these beautifully finished garden hand-tools by Barebones. By incorporating them into my images along with seed packets, flower bulbs, and my garden book, the story of planning and planting the garden begins.

photo friendly garden tools by Barebones

Tip #2

When installing the plants and seeds of your garden, allow for plenty of room to both work in the garden and to photograph it. You may need space in which to back up for a wide angle composition in order to include a variety of plants in your image. Often after I plant my garden it seems a little bare. But, remember once those plants mature, they will be taking up plenty of space.

Tip #3

Include other related items of interest in the garden like bird feeders, a water feature, benches, buckets, garden art or even a pathway. In addition to the lovely vegetables and flowers, these additional props add interest and more elements to the story and feel of the garden.

Tip #4

Plant in layers of both color and height. A well planned photographer's garden encompasses lots of different textures, heights, and color. Depending on your style, you may want to cluster similar colors together so that photographing that area gives a definite personality to your photographs; warm colors with warm, cool tones with cool. I like to plant the shorter, low growing plants along the outside edge or what I consider the 'front' of the garden so the taller plants act as a backdrop.

Tip #5

Consider incorporating plants that attract butterflies, birds, and bees to your garden. Those little visitors to the garden are fun photo subjects as well and they are a huge benefit to your garden.

No matter how large or small your garden plans are, you will have some incredible subjects to photograph. Good luck with creating your photo worthy garden! I'd love to hear how it goes. To see more about my garden planning, go to 'The Nature of Garden Planning'.

*****

Garden tools photos using Tranquil presets by Nadeen Flynn Photography.
Receive them free by subscribing to my Newsletter. Link at the top of this page.

*****

All landscape, fine art, and still life images are available for purchase.

SHOP NOW

Please CONTACT ME at nadeen@nadeenflynn.com with any questions or to schedule your learning session.

I am a published, award winning northern California fine art photographer. Living in the greater Sacramento area, I specialize in fine art landscape and still life photography. My style is authentic, fresh and personality-driven. I offer in-person workshops, hourly lessons, and mentoring. While currently living in rural northern California with my husband and a couple thousand walnut trees, I post regularly to Instagram.

Locations include Yuba City/Marysville, East Nicolaus, Wheatland, Lincoln, Woodland, Roseville, Rocklin, and the greater Sacramento areas.

(530) 633-7575