Spotlight: Licensing Contributors shooting awesome pet photography

Long gone are the days of stock photography that feels outdated, posed, and cliché.

Today, content creators are diversifying their commercial portfolio with content types that lean into relatable and real moments. This shift is directly inspired by the rising wants and demands of the consumer market.

At 500px, we strive to provide our Contributors with up-to-date insights on trending concepts and guides to top-selling content. Shooting content that speaks to the consumer market is a great way to build a salable portfolio. But as commercial photographers know—the concept is only half of the work. Executing a shoot is where the creative magic happens. At 500px, we constantly remind Licensing Contributors to consider finding their models and locations close to home. This saves time and money but is also a great way to personalize your content, share your passions, and consider how your voice can be represented within commercial advertising.

If you have never experimented with this before, and are curious how and where to begin, we encourage you to read on and see how these four 500px Licensing Contributors turned their lens on their own pets to create authentic and genuine content!

Sam Brockway is a 500px Ambassador and 500px Licensing Contributor. He has been using his adorable golden labs in his wanderlust aesthetic content for years.

Meet Baker and Poppy!

Friendly, adventurous, and downright cute is what comes to mind when we see his content featuring his pup duo.

By incorporating his dogs into his shoots, it allows the viewer to relate more easily to the photo and develop an emotional attachment. The connection to the photo almost becomes second to the stunning landscapes and locations in the background. There is a whole psychology around using animals in advertising—research has proven that using animals creates a positive emotional response in consumers. According to Harvard Professor Gerald Zaltman, “95% of purchasing decisions are subconscious.”

The photo above is an excellent example of how using an animal can break down barriers within your work. The photo illustrates concepts of relaxation, camping, and adds a smidge of humor as the pup adopts a human action. By featuring a dog and not a human, the photo gives us anthropomorphism—“an instinct that we have to give animals, as well as inanimate objects, human-like characteristics.” This technique, when used in advertising, is highly effective and captivates audiences.

Don’t be timid when it comes to adding people into your scenes. The examples above show the models either looking away from the camera, or their face is completely anonymous. This is another trick that Contributors may want to consider, as it also helps consumers visualize themselves as the anonymous person and place themselves within the scene.

All of these photos could have been captured with hired models and been staged down to the last detail, but they are simply representations of Sam’s life. He travels around west America with his partner as a freelance photographer, shooting outdoor and travel content. We love the authenticity that we constantly see from Sam!

Check out this guide on how to improve your landscape and wanderlust content! How to take landscape photos that stand out to content buyers

Iza Lyson is a well-known dog photographer from Poland who is very skilled in this genre. Iza is an excellent example of a Contributor who combines her passions in her Licensing content. Originally, Iza strictly shot dog photography in her stunning signature style, but after engaging with 500px Licensing Quests and Briefs, Iza discovered her talent for lifestyle content. Naturally dogs, especially Opi, her fur baby, became the star of her shoots.

Iza’s portfolio is filled with content featuring everyday moments incorporating Opi and his friends. From typical dog-centered themes, like bath time and walks, to more creative concepts such as baking doggie Christmas cookies and yoga, Iza has stunned the 500px team with her creativity and genuine content!

Cooking is a great concept for all Licensing Contributors to explore. Whether you are new to Licensing, or a seasoned pro, consider a shoot that narrates the process of preparing a meal and enjoying it with family and friends, or packing it for lunch, etc.

Also, consider people who you know that have different interests and passions from yourself. Shadow them, and capture the details of their story. We love Iza’s doggie yoga shoot seen below.

Another great way to make saleable content is to consider what is trending in the consumer market. Iza does a great job of incorporating her daily life into her photos, with inspiration from trends that consumers want to see. Look at how she captures themes of sustainability and technology all while using her favorite muse.

Check out these guides on how to incorporate sustainability and technology into your Licensing content:

How to incorporate sustainability in your commercial portfolio
How to shoot technology for Licensing

Olha Doobsh is a photographer based in Spain. Her content is exceptionally diverse, and she is constantly expanding her portfolio. Her portfolio stands out as one that is very timely and relevant—an excellent resource for beginner contributors to look at.

Olha shoots her rat Pepa. Pepa pops up now and again in Olha’s shoots and we LOVE it!
Her content featuring Pepa typically shows “a day in the life of a rat” and that is a perfectly good concept to capture for Licensing.

Olha captures candid shots of herself, and her family, interacting with Pepa in realistic and genuine ways.

See more ways to incorporate your furry friends in this guide: Licensing photos of animals

Check out these Licensing Contributors from our 500px Licensing Discord who took stunning shots of their pets for Licensing.

Niko Angelopoulos shot this photo of his sweet Lina (below).

Say hello to Django and Juancarlo from Pablo Reinsch (below).

Jaks is Trevor Tinker’s adorable Chihuahua-Terrier mix (below).

Join our 500px Licensing Discord here.

The post Spotlight: Licensing Contributors shooting awesome pet photography appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]

Spotlight: 500px Prime Creator Iza Lyson

Meet our newest 500px Prime Creator and learn more about how Licensing is creating a more inclusive world through visual storytelling.

Iza Lyson is a Polish photographer specializing in dog photography and lifestyle content. Having been a 500px Contributor for over eight years, her Portfolio has captured the attention of 500px for its stunning and genuine content that encapsulates various timely themes and concepts. Iza’s approach to Licensing is consistently fun and personal—traits that are often overlooked when shooting commercial content. By incorporating her passions and daily life into her shoots, Iza has successfully captured everyday micro-moments that consumers can relate to.

500px is thrilled to have Iza as a 500px Prime Creator and be able to recognize her as an exemplary content creator for the 500px Licensing Collection.

Q: Hello! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

A: Hi, My name is Iza. I’m 26 years old and have been a photographer for the past 14 years. I don’t really remember a time in my life without photography. From the very beginning of my photography career, I began photographing dogs—my adventures started with my golden retriever, Luna, that I got when I was 12. Hundreds of thousands of photos later I found myself here, a 500px Ambassador for the past six years. Throughout my career my pictures have received awards in top-class contests. Additionally, I was honored as a guest judge for Dog Photography Awards—largest dog photography contest. Other than that, I am a proud owner of two border collies—Opi and Tra—with whom I frequently travel through Europe.

Q: We are thrilled to have you as a 500px Prime Creator! Your commercial Portfolio illustrates the type of content we advocate for in our 500px Licensing collection. Can you tell us about your experience in Licensing and how it began?

A: I remember when I sold my first picture—I was in high school at that time, so the amount of money that I earned seemed so huge, I thought that I would never have to work another day in my life. What was even more surprising, was that I just uploaded this picture to my 500px Portfolio and ticked one checkmark—add to Licensing. Of course, later on, the tough reality came that I actually needed to sell a few more photos to sustain myself in my adult life. Since then, I have been adding to my Licensing Portfolio on 500px and building up my gallery of images on a regular basis.

Recently, I started capturing lifestyle content strictly to be sold as “stock” photos. I am currently very happy with my 500px Licensing collection, which I must admit sells quite well.

Q: You are traveling to the Netherlands soon! What are you most excited about, and do you have any photoshoots planned?

A: Apart from the photoshoot I have planned of my own dogs in the tulip fields of Netherlands, I cannot wait to meet up with my friend Auderey Bellot. Auderey is also a dog photographer! Photography is not only about taking pictures, but it is about the community and new friendships. I enjoy talking and exchanging experiences with other photographers.

Additionally, I would also like to recreate some of the shots I took last year in a much smaller tulip field in Poland. The shoot I would like to recreate was of my younger dog Tra, who was four months old at the time. I would love to see the contrast between the two photos as a representation of how she grew.

Q: Your Licensing portfolio is a great example for other Contributors to learn from. Can you share with us your process of conceptualizing and executing your lifestyle shoots?

A: Most of my lifestyle photos were taken because of the 500px Licensing Quests. The first brief I participated in was based on the topic of “sustainability”. This was at the start of the pandemic. That was the first time I asked my friends to pose for photos; this was a completely different genre of photography than I was used to. The next Quest I participated in was “home sweet home” during the pandemic. I taught myself how to cook (so I could photograph this process). The results I achieved led me to keep participating in 500px Quests. The Quest “50 over 50” allowed me to finally take the time to get some pictures of my dad and grandmother. Now I am a big fan of the Monthly Shot List Quests! Apart from that, I just like having my camera near me to photograph my dogs when they play or sleep. Same with my dog photography—apart from beautiful portraits I try to catch the moments where the dogs are just being dogs and are enjoying themselves.

Q: In regards to your dog photography, can you tell us how you recruit your models?

A: I always start with asking myself, “what do I want to photograph?” Then, whether I can execute this plan with the cooperation of my dogs, or my friend’s dogs. If not, I announce on Instagram or Facebook that I am looking for specific models, and quite often, I manage to find them. Sometimes I just find an account of a dog on Instagram, and it inspires me to visualize a photoshoot in some specific location and then I write to the owners with a proposal for cooperation. And other times the customers contact me, and together we choose the best conditions for their dog.

Q: We are always reminding Licensing Contributors that you can usually find great models pretty close to home, whether turning the lens on pets, family, friends, or even yourself. Do you have any tips or tricks for shooting self-portraits?

A: Of course—I take hundreds of pictures using myself as the model! Currently the most convenient solution for me is to put my camera on a tripod, books, or even a stack of clothes, and then launch the remote app on my phone. If you don’t have the ability to connect to your camera via Bluetooth or WIFI, you can use a remote control or set the camera to take pictures every two seconds. In situations where I am taking self-portraits with my dogs, I often need the help of another person who can press the shutter button and photograph a series of predetermined shots I have planned out. That’s how most of my portraits in the mountains were made.

Q: What are your go-to camera and lens choices? How does shooting dog photography versus lifestyle content influence your setup?

A: Currently, I use Nikon Z9, which I must admit is quite heavy, but the quality of photos is just astonishing. Thanks to a high number of FPS, I can capture the ideal moment of even the most dynamic scenes. When it comes to the lens, in dog photography I mainly use the 135mm f/1.8 for both portraits and dynamic pictures. On the other hand, when I create lifestyle content, I prefer a shorter focal length—for example 35 mm. This allows me to be closer to the model, and show more of the surroundings.

Q: Commercial photography and Licensing are always changing and evolving to reflect the concerns, needs, and values of the times. What is one way you would like to see the industry change in the future?

A: I hope that it will change in such a way that my pictures will be the ones selling the best! Of course, I am joking, but just a little. In my photos I show the everyday pleasures that are sometimes hard to admire. Of course, I also love to capture the pure happiness in dogs that I think we can all learn from!

Q: If you had an unlimited budget to execute any shoot you dream of, what would it be?

A: I would love to do a photoshoot of my dogs in Iceland! Unfortunately, the thing stopping me is not only the finances, but also the fact that you can only bring your own dog to Iceland after a one-month quarantine there. That is why I probably won’t be able to fulfill this dream, but maybe I will be able to compromise and photograph someone else’s dogs

Q: What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever had to do to get the perfect shot?

A: There have been times when I had to lay on the ground in crowded city streets or have someone piggyback me, all to capture the best perspective. I also drove 1,500 kilometers one way just to photograph a beautiful ice cave in Switzerland. As it happens, while I was returning from the ice cave, I stopped at a waterfall where I took my most famous photo featured in the Sony World Photography Awards.

Q: Do you have any unique or quirky personal rituals or routines that you follow before a photoshoot?

A: Usually, my rituals are arriving a little early to scout the best location and get familiar with the space and best lighting. Thanks to many years of experience, it only takes me a moment, after which I can move on to shooting. But, if I photograph my own dogs, I always give them as much time as they need to familiarize themselves with the place and to calm down.

Keep up with more work by Iza Lyson:
500px
Instagram
Website

Not on 500px yet? Click here to learn about Licensing with 500px.

The post Spotlight: 500px Prime Creator Iza Lyson appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]

Meet the 500px Global Photography Awards Commercial Content Category Winner

The 2022 500px Global Photography Awards serves creatives working with photography and provides them a chance to showcase their skill and be rewarded for it. The second edition of the competition consisted of six categories: Technical, Storytelling, Commercial Content, Documentary, Fine Art, and Landscape. Today on the blog we’re talking with the winner of the Commercial Content category, Halyna Vitiuk, as she walks us through the BTS of her winning image and more.

Hi Halyna, please introduce yourself.

I am a photographer from Odesa, Ukraine who came to photography at the age of 35 from the IT sphere and the world of online sales.

At first, I started as a commercial photographer and went to Artworks after the start of the war in my country, Ukraine.

“Focus on good thoughts and all will be good.” This old Jewish wisdom is my main motivation in life.
I feel that right now is the time to share my creativity, support Ukrainians, show the people’s faith in the goodness and beauty of our world, and hope for the best.

My images are carefully prepared and always have a surprise element. My style is clear and bright, with accents and contrasts at the same time. Familiar objects captivated with unusual presentation. This leads to slight confusion and creates space for imagination. These pop-art tools help to entertain a viewer, create a positive rhythm, and grab attention. My art tells people about joy, hope, faith, and dreams, the simplicity of beautiful things, and a world in which nothing is impossible.

The winning image: “Sweets sweets sweets”

Commercial photography has some rigid requirements. For instance, if there is a recognizable place and no model release the image won’t make the cut. What are things that you keep in mind when creating licensing content?
Commercial photography is a blend of artistry and legal compliance. While creativity is essential to crafting images that capture a viewer’s attention, ensuring that the final product is legally compliant is equally important.

I approach licensing content creation as a balancing act between these two factors. I must be attentive to the rules and regulations governing commercial photography, while still pushing my creativity to the edge to produce an image that stands out.

Do you approach your photography practice differently when creating images that are for licensing purposes versus your own personal portfolio?
Yes, I do approach my photography practice differently when creating images for licensing purposes versus my personal portfolio.

When creating images for licensing, I focus more on creating images that are marketable and have a broad appeal to potential clients. This may involve incorporating specific themes or concepts that are in high demand, or shooting in a style that is popular among clients.

In contrast, when creating images for my art portfolio, I am more focused on my own artistic vision and creating images that are meaningful to me. This may involve experimenting with different techniques or subjects that may not necessarily be marketable but are important to me as an artist.

All photographers have their preferred gear. What is yours, and what gear did you use to create “Sweets sweets sweets”?
I still have my first Canon 800d camera. It seems to me, that for the last four years, I can shoot with my eyes closed on it. For food photography, in my opinion it is more important to shoot with lenses with a fixed focal length, as they provide excellent image quality.

For “Sweets sweets sweets”, I used a Canon EOS 800d with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens, a tripod for stability, and two Godox Ad 200 pro flashes. I also used frost film and a bit of backlight to make the chocolate and honey sparkle and taste delicious.

Framing and taking the shot is only a sliver of what it takes to make a strong image. The other equally important part is editing, how did you use editing tools to elevate your image?
Editing is of course an integral part of my creative process.

Since the summer of 2022, I have been using an iPad for photo editing, Lightroom (for color correction), and Affinity Photo for work with layers or retouching.

For “Sweets sweets sweets” I used my phone Apple Xs. in the Lightroom application, I made color corrections and tweaked the texture and highlights on the candies. And in the Photoleap application, I connected three frames on which the honey over the candies was more beautiful.

Using a phone for editing, or an iPad, was my conscious choice— I had reasons for this. I love the process of photography itself, and I am ready to spend more time shooting a clean picture so that there is a minimum of editing later, and just a phone is enough. But I can’t recommend this way to everyone.

I maybe agree that, if you have the opportunity, learn Photoshop.

Your work feels very inspired by color. How do you use color and other props so effortlessly? Keeping the images high contrast and fun while not feeling too busy?
Color is a key part of my photography style and I love to play with bright colors, or only one color, to create images that are visually striking and memorable. In my previous profession, before photography, I never worked with visual art, so I studied color and color combinations. It’s only with practice that I’ve developed an intuitive sense, and some feelings of how to use color and props to create compelling and memorable images.

To keep the images from appearing too busy, I pay close attention to the composition and placement of the props and the subject in the frame. I often use negative space to provide a visual break and draw attention to the main subject.

What are the perks you’ve experienced through submitting your work to licensing, and how have you finessed your portfolio to have more success when submitting commercial content?
The licensing of my work has opened up a whole new world of opportunities to earn income from my creative pursuits. The market for my photos is now the whole world and not just the brands I work with.

Having a defined style can be key to thriving as a photographer and makes your work easy to identify. How have you been able to cultivate your own style over the years, and what do you suggest to other photographers who might feel overwhelmed and not know where to start?
Developing my photography style was a gradual process that evolved with practice. To find your own style, start by experimenting with different techniques and styles that resonate with you. Start with an exploration of your passions and interests. What inspires you? What do you care about? Let your curiosity guide you, and experiment with different techniques and approaches. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or take risks. It’s through trial and error that we learn and grow as artists.

Look at the work of other artists for inspiration, but avoid copying them too closely. Developing a personal style takes time and practice, but stay true to your vision and keep pushing yourself creatively.

I’m the type of person who didn’t have a hobby of photography and a connection with visual arts. And, in four years, I managed to find myself in the world of photography, winning the competition for 500px, and others. Therefore, from my experience, I believe that if you have a goal, work hard, and believe in yourself, everything will work out.

Check out the other 500px Global Photography Awards winners:
The Landscape Category Winner
The Fine Art Category Winner
The Technical Category Winner
The Storytelling Category Winner

Not on 500px yet? Sign up here to explore more impactful photography.

Submit to our Quests challenges to test your skills and win exciting prizes.

The post Meet the 500px Global Photography Awards Commercial Content Category Winner appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]

Meet the 500px Global Photography Awards Storytelling Category Winner

The 2022 500px Global Photography Awards serves creatives working with photography and provides them a chance to showcase their skill and be rewarded for it. The second edition of the competition consisted of six categories: Technical, Storytelling, Commercial Content, Documentary, Fine Art, and Landscape. Today on the blog we’re talking with the winner of the Storytelling category, Kevin Wood.

Hi Kevin, please introduce yourself.

My Name Is Kevin Wood, and I’m a portrait photographer from Accra-Ghana, the firstborn of Mr. Emmanuel Kwesi Wood and Ms. Regina Martey. I’ve been doing photography for 7-8 years and the style of photography I focus on most is portrait photography.

I started my photography journey in 2016 with a Canon 1200D, which was gifted to me by my uncle, Mr. Lawrence Sam. Later on in my journey, I worked with a Canon 550D, 6D Mark ii, and a 5d Mark ii. My photography was inspired through my digital arts.

The winning image: “Creating Adam and Eve”

What is the story behind the image “Creating Adam and Eve”?
In my photographic storytelling image, you can see a connection, satisfaction, and unity between a man and a woman. This image was taken to express my faith in God (Supreme Being), and highlight nature’s excellence and beauty. I believe that everything has an origin story, and with my camera, I want to tell that through my lens in a unique way.

“Creating Adam And Eve” has always been my favorite storytelling image, because I had great teamwork with a perfectly executed vision.

What was your thought process when choosing what photos you were going to submit to the awards?
My thought process was mainly focused of the following:

The Eyes: The male’s pose depicts satisfaction and peace in the female while the female’s pose depicts the confidence and trust in the man, which bonds them together.

The Sky: Symbolizes the covering and togetherness artistry nature of God, and a reminder that he exists.

As a young photographer from Ghana, does your culture and location impact your photography?
Yes! Ghana is a very lovely and peaceful place to live. The youth here are free-hearted people and very open to any ideas concerning photography and that makes my work as a photographer easy. And, the tradition and culture really inspire me and have a very powerful impact on my photography.

How do you make sure the person in front of the lens feels comfortable?
First off, I’m loved by the circle of people around me, and they really listen to me whenever I bring up an idea to execute. Making them feel comfortable in front of the lens comes out naturally, because of the love and respect we all share.

When looking at your winning images the subjects’ stares, although not directly at the lens, still manage to hold such depth and intensity. How did you direct them, and is there a reason you didn’t want them to look straight into the lens?
The image shows a connection/unity between the male and the female. Directing them came out verbally with instructions concerning the concept with a mutual understanding. I felt that, if they had posed with their eyes directly looking into the lens, they wouldn’t be expressing their emotions to my viewers. I also wanted my viewers to feel the presence of them as if they stood right there to witness them and feel their connection.

Creating the image looks like it was a very collaborative process between you and the models, whom you thanked after winning the Storytelling award. Do you have any tips for other photographers on how to foster relationships with other creatives?
My message to all photographers—every model deserves the highest respect/love because they spend their time with us as subjects to create wonderful images through art. It doesn’t matter if they were paid for the concept or not. Always build a great and loving connection between you and your model, human or not. That’s how you get a perfectly executed image with your vision.

Can you walk us through your editing process for this image?
Photoshop is a very powerful tool for me when it comes to editing and perhaps color grading too, so I choose Adobe Photoshop for all editing processes.

-I cropped the image as I saw fit for a portrait, to capture the audience’s attention.
-I adjusted the highlights, contrast, and exposure to blend into my color grading style.
-I sharpened the image, worked around selective color, and gradient map in photoshop to finalize my storytelling image.

I used a Canon 550D and A Canon Lens Ef 75-300mm.

When you look at this image, what do you hope it communicates to viewers?
The whole concept and delivery is to foster and promote unity among mankind, discouraging racism/discrimination and highlighting that the creator of the universe (God) exists.

God wants us to live in unity. One humanity for us all!

Despite the wars and conflict amongst us, we should be able to overcome the hate and resentment that divides us and live under the roof of love and unity.

Check out the other 500px Global Photography Awards winners:
The Landscape Category Winner
The Documentary Category Winner
The Fine Art Category Winner
The Technical Category Winner

Not on 500px yet? Sign up here to explore more impactful photography.

Submit to our Quests challenges to test your skills and win exciting prizes.

The post Meet the 500px Global Photography Awards Storytelling Category Winner appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]

The Licensing Rush winners are…

March was an exciting month at 500px, as we launched a new, thrilling contest, Licensing Rush, in dedication to our amazing 500px Licensing community.

We were blown away by the number of photographers who participated in the contest and the volume of submissions. The competition was fierce, as photographers vied to have the most photos accepted to Licensing throughout the contest period.

We’ve counted the numbers and are excited to announce the winners of the cash prizes!

In first place is IndigoLotos—Oleg Begunenco—$300 US prize

Oleg is a Modovia-based stock photographer. He takes first place with 603 accepted photos throughout the month of March! Oleg’s submissions focus on everyday items shot against white backgrounds. Using close-ups, he is able to capture rich colors and textures in a creative way.

Coming in second place is AllNea—Olha Dobosh—$150 US prize

Olha’s submissions focus on lifestyle and conceptual imagery. With 165 accepted photos, Olha is able to capture a variety of different scenes and scenarios that easily connect with popular commercial themes of sustainability, travel, adventure, self-care, and mental health.

Lastly, third place goes to Luboschlubny—Luboš Chlubný—$50 US prize

Taking the bronze with 104 accepted photos, Luboš’s photos focus on the beauty of the natural world around us, capturing stunning landscapes and a variety of wildlife.

There were many more awesome photographers who came close to taking one of the top three spots. Be sure to watch out for the next Licensing Rush announcement, and your chance to win!

Check out our Licensing Quests for more opportunities to win prizes.

Not on 500px yet? Click here to learn about Licensing with 500px.

The post The Licensing Rush winners are… appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]

Flower portraits: Beautiful examples and must-have tips

From Horst P. Horst’s 1951 picture of the fashion model Evelyn Tripp in a ballgown to Tyler Mitchell’s now-famous 2018 cover photo of Beyoncé for Vogue magazine, flowers have always had a place in creative portrait photography.

A few years ago, Emily Soto made this portrait for Allure on film to celebrate springtime in New York.

On 500px, contemporary photographers like Jovana Rikalo, Bella Kotak, and Eivind Hansen continue to master the art of floral portraits, incorporating the golden yellows of the winter mimosa flower, the vivid reds of fresh roses, or the deep purples of gypsophila.

In honor of springtime, we curated this selection of photographs from the 500px community for inspiration and put together some of our favorite tips for working with flowers in portraits.

Use color to your advantage

When brainstorming for your next portrait session, consider the color wheel. Two classic and timeless color palettes to consider are monochromatic and complementary schemes. In the first one, you’ll use the same color throughout the portrait, matching the flowers, clothing, background, and makeup so that they’re all different shades of the same hue—similar to what Bella has done with purples in the portrait above.

In a complementary color scheme, you’ll use two colors on opposite sides of the color wheel: yellow and purple, red and green, or blue and orange. These pairings create contrast while also keeping your palette simple yet eye-catching.

When photographing amongst the dahlias on a summer evening, Bella selected a blue dress to perfectly complement the salmon oranges of the flowers themselves.

Consider your wardrobe

Flowers give you permission to embrace and experiment with fashion; sometimes, it’s the clothing that inspires your choice of flowers, and sometimes, it’s the other way around. Feel free to play with romantic vintage finds and timeless, thrifted items to give your photos a one-of-a-kind vibe. When making this portrait, Laura Ferreira brought out a pale 1980s wedding frock to harmonize with these blush-colored periwinkle flowers.

Incorporate symbolism

Throughout art history, flowers have carried specific meanings: at times, carnations symbolized love, while rosebuds have represented courage. When selecting flowers, consider their histories and meanings. The photographer Eivind Hansen created this richly symbolic portrait using a headpiece he made himself, with flowers supplied by the florist Yan Skates.

It’s part of the project Forget Me Not, created to honor the beauty of marginalized communities and named after the Myosotis flower, a symbol of love and remembrance. The individual flower(s) were chosen to represent the unique experiences of the models themselves.

Open your aperture

One beautiful way to photograph people with flowers is to widen your lens’s aperture to create a shallow depth of field. As you put the flowers in front of, or behind, your model, you’ll find that they fall out of focus, creating a dreamy blur, while leaving your subject in focus. Lauren Naylor opened up her lens to f/1.8 to create a painterly, ethereal atmosphere in the portrait below, causing the flowers to resemble brush strokes.

Change your perspective

Adjusting your angles so that you’re looking up at or down on your model can elevate your portraiture, so consider bending down or using a ladder to shift your vantage point. Try a closeup of the face, and then step back to include more of the environment to see what works best. Position your subject to the side in relation to your light source for dramatic side-lighting, or place them in front for glowy backlighting.

Go for the golden hour

If you’re shooting outdoors, aim for the early morning or late evening for the best light. The warm tones of the golden hour naturally bring out the softness of floral portraits, as in this sunset frame by Natalia Brodalka.

Play with shadows

Shadows on the face can make or break a portrait, and Segun-Kabir Sani is a master of using them to creative effect. As this portrait proves, sometimes the shadows cast by flowers can be just as romantic and delicate as the florals themselves. Move your flowers around and see how the light falls; try different angles to see what you can create.

Ratan Ravesh, meanwhile, takes shadows further into the realm of abstraction with this shadow self-portrait, where the shadows create contrast and allow the flowers themselves to pop off the page (or screen).

Plan ahead

Certain flowers, like cherry blossoms, only last for a very short window (a matter of days, in some cases). So, if you plan to photograph a specific flower, especially in the wild, a botanical garden, or a private garden, be prepared well in advance. Some parks, like New York’s Central Park, also have cherry blossom trackers and similar tools to help you plan.

Sergey Vinogradov made this portrait during May’s peak lilac season. It can help to have a mood board or even some sketches to share with your model before the shoot; if you’re working with a stylist or makeup artist, share your ideas with them as well. That way, when the flowers do bloom, you’ll be ready to go with talent, wardrobe, and any props you might need.

Shop local

Choosing locally-grown flowers is more sustainable, and it also gives your work a unique, personal touch. Do some research into what flowers are in season throughout the year in your area, or visit a farmers’ market to connect with local growers who will have seasonal tips they can share. For natural, sustainable bouquets, choose flowers grown without harmful pesticides. Online shops like ReVased also offer sustainable options.

It’s best to use the flowers right away when they’re at their freshest, but if you have to wait, you can store them in water in the fridge.

Think creatively

From flower crowns to bouquets and far beyond, there are countless ways to incorporate florals into your portrait photography. You can use smaller flowers to adorn your model’s hair, as in the portrait above by Naja Benali, or apply individual petals to the face with eyelash glue.

Experiment with new settings and ideas. Jovana Rikalo used a shallow inflatable pool when creating this dreamy, fairytale-inspired water portrait. “Avoid harsh light,” she suggests. To follow her lead, look for areas of soft light and open shade.

Not on 500px yet? Sign up here to explore more impactful photography.

The post Flower portraits: Beautiful examples and must-have tips appeared first on 500px.

[NDN/ccn/comedia Links]