For years, my flower photography was an indoor affair. I had the perfect setup – a cozy corner bathed in soft, natural light that produced consistent high-key floral portraits set against a white background. If you scroll through my older instagram posts, you’ll see this signature style. I clung to it for a long time, hesitant to try anything different for fear of disrupting my curated feed.
Looking back, it seems silly to resist change for the sake of an Instagram aesthetic, but it felt important to me at the time. I realise now that holding on to that one style was holding me back. The only way to grow as an artist is to step outside of your comfort zone, experiment, and embrace change. Your work evolves with every new technique you try, even if the results aren’t perfect. Growth doesn’t come from staying the same, it comes from trying, learning and sometimes failing.
Eventually, I decided to branch out and experiment with new techniques, as I’ve shared in earlier posts. This shift led me outdoors, to my own garden, the local botanical gardens, and even the front yards I pass on my morning walks. While exciting, outdoor flower photography has been a steep learning curve.
Managing the variables of shooting outdoors has been challenging, I’ll be honest. It’s not uncommon for me to visit a favourite location, only to be frustrated when the wind springs up or the bright sun comes out (the nemesis of a flower photographer) or find the perfect specimen flower I have chosen is crawling with insects. Sometimes I don’t even notice this until I open the file up on my computer at home. Yet occasionally, an unexpected moment of creativity strikes. I might abandon my original plan, try something completely different, and end up with a result that surprises me in the best way. Experimenting with your camera does not guarantee that you will always be happy with what you capture. I can often spend a few hours in the gardens and have only two or three photos that I really like.
Despite these challenges, the rewards are worth it. The natural vibrancy, and unexpected play of light, and the spontaneity of outdoor shots bring a special magic that I could never achieve indoors. When everything aligns the results are very rewarding.
What about you? If you enjoy shooting flowers outdoors, what challenges do you face. Is it the weather, lighting, or something else entirely? I’d love to hear how you overcome these hurdles in your own creative journey.
