How to Photograph Floral Arrangements at Special Events

Most of the special occasions we attend in life, such as weddings, engagement parties, graduation celebrations, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, quinceañeras, and retirement parties are adorned with gorgeous floral designs and breathtaking bouquets. When flowers fill the space, whether it is an indoor or an outdoor venue, we are transported to the immaculate beauty of nature which takes our breath away. Oftentimes the flowers are so exquisitely beautiful, we want to capture them in pictures to adore forever. To ensure the resulting picture is great, the experts here at Rose Hill Flowers – Wedding  & Events are sharing a few tips with you used by professional photographers.

Beautiful flower composition with autumn orange and red flowers and berries. Autumn bouquet in vintage vase on a wooden table with pink tissue and candles

Choosing a Flawless Background

The first step to getting a great picture of a flower bouquet or a floral centerpiece is to make sure the background is as clutter-free as possible. Elevating the bouquet by squatting down and taking the photo from a low angle will get more of the sky in the background which makes for a wonderful, clear picture of just the blooms. You can also seek out spots to pose the florals such as under a floral arch or outside in a grassy field, near a pond, or by a solid-colored building, or brick wall. Floral centerpieces do best when placed in the center of a fully set table with flatware, napkins, and lighted candles. Just be sure to take their pictures early before purses get put on the tables and napkins are in disarray. Just remember that backgrounds should not detract from the beauty of the flowers and should be as clear or minimal as much as possible.

Wedding bouquet. Bride's flowers

How to Pose with Flower Bouquets

Moments when the bride or bridesmaids hold a beautiful bouquet of flowers in front of them make for terrific photos. Make sure the pose is natural, though, with the flowers held in a natural, not too tightly way. Capturing an image of the bride looking down at her bouquet admriing their beauty is a classic shot. So too are shots that are zoomed so the bouquet takes up most of the space with the gown being in the background.

Colorful wedding bouquet on a bed. Bridal bouquet, white bedding. Luxury hotel room. Valentine's day or mother's day present

Getting Just the Right Lighting

Indoor shots allow you to have more control of the lighting by opening (or partially closing) the shades or turning on a light. To prevent harsh shadows, bright, slightly diffused light is best. For a dramatic shot, increasing the brightness level on the flowers will capture them in all their vibrancy and vividness. When taking pictures of flowers outdoors, avoid being in direct sunlight as it will cause harsh shadows and overexposed colors. The best outdoor light for taking pictures is when the sky is slightly overcast or it’s around sunrise or sunset, where the sunlight is softer allowing the richness of the flower colors to come through.

Wedding bouquet . The bride's bouquet. Bouquet of red and pink flowers, black berries and greenery, with a ribbon of color Marsala lies on a log by the lake

Using Professional Cameras VS. Smartphones 

Smartphones have made some incredible advances in the area of photography over the last several years. Once upon a time, it was obvious to tell the difference between photos taken by a camera and those taken with a cell phone, but not so much anymore. While high-end special cameras and lenses are always best for taking professional photos, you can get pretty close with your smartphone camera if you use it properly. With the above tips, you’ll have no problem putting together an impressive collection of flower photos with your smartphone to be cherished forever.