I hope my instructions will be helpful to you. If you have questions or comments about anything I have written, please feel free to send me an email and I will answer promptly.
Shown here are 2 of my favorite iPhone flower portraits. Both were shot against a trifold white foam core board. Both were placed in a bud vase and stabilized against the side of the vase using some folded paper towels.
Instructions and Supply List
Open the camera icon and turn off flash at the top far left of the screen. Android users will need to find the flash option and turn it off.
Choose the photo option. The portrait option works best for very large flowers but, to be honest, I haven’t found a single instance in which it gave me a result I was happy with.
The focal length options depend on the phone you have. Mine has .5, 1x and 3. I usually stick with 1, but occasionally use 3 if I want to get in close.
The native app on the iPhone will focus as close as 4”. When I want to get in closer, I use Camera+.
I almost always use foam core boards or a Light Pad for my flower portraits because I prefer a plain background so there are no distractions to compete with my subject. The foam core boards I use are the science project trifold boards you can find at Hobby Lobby. I prefer shooting against white, but for a dramatic look, black works great! If you want a Light Pad, you can find that at Hobby Lobby or Amazon. If you prefer shooting outside, you will have wind to contend with. Even when you think it isn’t windy, there is a slight breeze that tends to move the delicate petals of a flower. That said, I do shoot outdoors sometimes. Another useful tool is the Wimberley the Plamp II. You can hold a stem with it or you might want to hold a small reflector to bounce some light onto the flower.
You will need a small vase and paper towels to easily position a stem just like you want it. I put some water in the vase and use some folded paper towels to trap the stem against the side of the vase to stabilize it. I also use a frog from time to time and find that it works great.
When you have decided on your composition, tap the screen where you want to focus. A little sun will appear on the screen and you can slide it up to increase exposure or slide it down to decrease exposure. If I am photographing against a white or a natural background, I almost always have to increase the exposure. If I am photographing against black, I almost always have to slide it down to decrease exposure. If you use Camera+, there is a slider that lets you adjust exposure.
Important things to remember before taking the shot:
- Be sure your light is soft and even with no harsh shadows. You can use a diffuser and hold it with the Plamp to block direct light that might cause harsh shadows.
- Make a strong composition – Decide whether horizontal or vertical works best with the flower you are photographing. Have some breathing room between your flower and the edges of the composition and you will never be sorry. It is easier to crop than it is to add background. Keep the Rule of Thirds in mind although sometimes a stronger composition is made violating that rule.
- Check around the edge of the frame to be sure there are no distractions
Before taking my shot, I look carefully at the flower to decide what might be the best point of view and position the flower accordingly using a vase, frog or Plamp. Look at the flower again to determine what point of the flower will be closest to the iPhone. Tap on that area on the iPhone screen to focus, adjust exposure and take your shot. If you focus behind that area of the flower you will probably be disappointed with the result.
Some of the apps I use for post-processing other than the native camera app are listed below and there are many more apps available. Some of the ones I use are just for fun.
- Snapseed (free) – My favorite post-processing app.
- Touch Retouch (3.99) – Very easy to use app to remove unwanted elements.
- BeCasso (free) – This app can make your photo look like a painting.
- Tiny Planet (.99) – Just a fun app.
- Camera+ – Another go-to app for me. If I want an extreme macro image, I use the camera in this app.
- Flood – You can make your flower look like it is in water with a beautiful reflection
- Distressed fx (11.99) – You can apply textures to your photo and there are many textures available.
Supply List
1. Trifold Foam Core board. I buy mine from Hobby Lobby but these are available at BH Photo, Amazon and many office supply stores. I have these in both white and black
2. Light Pad – These are available at Hobby Lobby and Amazon. It is a bit of an investment but I use mine a lot for iPhone as well as my Canon R5 macro and flower photography. You will be well served to buy the largest one they have.
3. Wimberley The Plamp II – This can be used to hold a stem or to hold a reflector. These are available at BH Photo, Amazon, Bedfords and other stores that sells camera supplies.
4. Frog – These are available at Amazon and Hobby Lobby. The picture below is an example of how you secure a stem in the frog. There are many sizes and shapes available. I have bought mine from Amazon.
5. Small reflector and diffuser– If you need some fill light, use the Plamp to hold this and a different tool to stabilize your stem. If you need to block direct light that is causing harsh shadows, use the diffuser. With the reflector shown, you have the choice between gold and silver. You can try both to see which is most pleasing. This can be found at Amazon, BH Photo or Adorama.
