Taking photos of your Phalaenopsis orchids when they’re in bloom allows you to enjoy their stunning beauty year-round. Frame your favorites or turn them into desktop wallpaper. You should be able to get good photos of your orchids with any digital camera. Use these tips to take great photos of your Phalaenopsis orchids:
- Pay attention to the background. The orchid, not the background, should be the focus of the photo. Background objects and colors should not distract the viewer’s attention from the flower. Look for uncluttered backgrounds in neutral or complementary colors.
- Avoid using the flash. Particularly at close range, camera flashes tend to white out part of the flower and throw the rest into deep shadow. Take advantage of natural lighting by photographing your orchids on a bright, sunny day or illuminate the area by positioning lamps near your orchid. Experts recommend positioning lights behind you and slightly on either side to prevent your shadow from obscuring the orchid.
- Use a tripod. Taking good close-ups requires a steady hand. If you have one, use a tripod to hold the camera steady. If you don’t have a tripod, try sitting your camera on a small stool and using the timer to get a blur-free shot. If you have to snap freestyle, holding your breath as you click the shutter will help steady the shot.
- Switch to macro mode. If your digital camera has a macro function, use it for close-up photos of orchid blossoms.
- Frame the shot. Play around with shooting angles and zoom to see whether a landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) orientation frames your orchid best. Instead of centering your orchid in the middle of the frame, position it about a third of the way from either the left or right side of the frame.
Need inspiration? Check out the results of our Simply Beautiful Fan Photo Contest on our Facebook page.
