Although the technology behind photography and the cameras I have used over the past 25 years has changed immeasurably, the fundamentals of capturing the best garden and plant images haven’t changed at all. We probably all use our phones more than we should, but sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you at the time.
I’m going to share some top tips on how to capture gardens and plant portraits that are as relevant today as they were when I first started.
8 tips for photographing your garden
1. Consider the light
Light is everything, and as garden photographers, this is our studio lighting. The best conditions are always achieved either at sunrise or sunset during the golden hour.
2. Train your eye
Really study how the light behaves, where it’s coming from and how it draws your eye, then compose accordingly. The more you observe, the more you’ll see. Using this technique will truly train your eye to identify the best images.
3. Check the corners
When looking through your viewfinder to compose your image, be sure to check all four corners of the frame. The success of a composition is as much about what you leave out as what you include.
4. Shoot into the sun
Try shooting directly into the sun to backlight your subject. This works best during the golden hour when the sun is lower in the sky but can also be achieved later in the day. Look for trees or foliage to diffuse the direct sunlight and prevent it from flaring into your lens. This technique works well for both wide views and plant portraits. You can even achieve this on your phone—just make sure the sun doesn’t flare too much.
5. Play with angles
Backlighting your subject always produces the best images, creating layers and highlighting texture. This reveals separation between the elements in your composition, which is always effective. The direction of light is so important, and I almost never position the sun directly behind me. I either backlight entirely or have the light coming in at a 10-to-the-hour or 10-past angle.
6. Look for shapes
If you’re struggling with composing wide views, look for shapes and lines that draw the eye in. Shapes and paths leading into the garden can often help, as well as the structure within the garden. Think about your composition in three parts: foreground, midground, and background. Each is just as important as the others.
7. Don't forget the background
When photographing plants, the background is crucial to the success of your image. Ensure there are no strong shapes, branches, or twigs that could draw the eye away from the plant. Use a wider aperture (f/2.8–5.6) to create the softest background possible, and always scrutinise the image afterward, studying both the background and the plant itself.
When shooting with your phone, try to apply the same technique. Many phones have a portrait mode, which creates a shallow depth of field—so be sure to use it. Plant portraits are also great to capture on overcast days when the light is soft, with the clouds acting as a large diffuser.
8. Keep your lens clean
Last but not least, if you only have your phone to shoot with, make sure to clean the lens with a soft cloth before using it. This is often overlooked, but it can really improve the quality of your phone images. Our phones are kept in pockets and bags, so it’s no wonder they can get dirty.
How to Photograph Gardens by Jason Ingram is published by Ilex Press (£26) and will be available to buy from 13th March 2025.
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For more in-depth advice, why not take Jason Ingram's online Gardens & Landscape Photography Masterclass at Create Academy?
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