Spring is just around the corner, which means the flowers will soon be in full bloom! If you love tulips, check out this quick and helpful guide: How to Plan Your Tulip Photoshoot!
How to Plan for a Tulip Photoshoot
1. Find a Tulip Farm Near You
The first step in planning a tulip photo shoot is finding a tulip farm near you. Conduct a Google search by typing in terms like, “tulip farm near me,” and “tulip farm in,” and then enter the state or area you live in. I was lucky enough to find a tulip farm that was only about an hour away from my house!
2. Contact the Tulip Farm
Once you’ve found your tulip farm, you’ll need to contact them to find out when the tulips are in full bloom. This can vary greatly by geographical location. Also, some years are better than others due to weather patterns. Shoot the farm a call or email to get the dirty deets so you can plan the optimal time for your photoshoot.
The tulip farm in central Texas told me mid-March was the best time for tulip photos and weekdays were the least crowded days – very useful information!
Ask the tulip farm near you about the best bloom times, least crowded times, fees, if they offer photography services, and any other questions you may have.
3. Find a Photographer... Or Don't
Some tulip farms will offer photography services. If you are going to go that route, try to find some of the photographer’s work online to see if you like it. Book with them if you want!
If the farm doesn’t offer photography services, you can check out this website to locate a photographer near you. Or you can use Google search to find a photographer. Schedule a session as soon as possible! Spring is a busy time for photographers!
If you prefer to go the cheaper route and have control over your photo choices and editing, you can plan to shoot the photo with a friend or even by yourself.
I shot the photos myself, which is why I only got one good shot. Selfies at a tulip farm are challenging for a variety of reasons. I had to find a spot with no humans and no ugly backgrounds, set up my tripod quickly, set the timer on my camera, and jump around like a weirdo before more people came to interrupt the shot.
I plan to go to the tulip farm again this year to get more photos.
4. Plan Your Outfit
Plan multiple outfit options and try them on before the shoot. Think of how the colors of your outfit will match or contrast with the colors of the flowers. Don’t forget makeup, sunglasses, hats, and accessories!
5. Plan Your Movements / Poses
Plan your movements and poses before the shoot so you can make the most of your time while you’re there. For tips on body movement and facial expressions click here.
Tulip farms can get crowded! If you find a whole field of gorgeous flowers suddenly to yourself, it may not be that way for long! When the fields are empty and the sun dips behind the clouds providing that perfect lighting, you want to be ready and know how to move and what facial expressions to use to nail the perfect shot!
For me, the perfect shot is usually found in jumping and running. I love motion shots because they allow me to capture a moment and add life to a photo. The challenge is controlling my face and arms! It takes a little practice to achieve the desired expression in my body and face.
6. Check the Weather!
Don’t forget to check the weather before heading out to your shoot location! You may have to reschedule to accommodate spring showers!
7. Make a List / Pack
It’s always a wise idea to make a list and pack your items the night before a shoot, especially if you are bringing multiple outfits, which is recommended.
Don’t forget your accessories, makeup, water, sunscreen, and snacks! If you are shooting the photos yourself, make sure your camera battery is charged, your SD card is ready, and your tripod is packed!
More Photoshoot Inspiration...
I hope this post has helped you plan your tulip photoshoot. Have fun! Thanks for reading! If you liked this post, please share it!
Need more flower photoshoot inspiration? Click here!
Also, check out this Cotton Field Photoshoot post, but don’t trespass like I did!
