One of our favorite Spring/Summer activities is berry picking. Every year without fail my kids always jump for joy when I announce that we are going berry picking. Strawberries and blueberries are hands down our favorites! If you are anything like me then you will most likely be carting your camera along with you to document this fun activity. In this blog post I am going to share my favorite tips for making your berry picking photoshoot a delicious success!

SHOOT WHEN THE WEATHER IS OVERCAST

My favorite weather for a berry picking photoshoot is most definitely a cloudy/overcast day. Overcast weather makes for the most beautiful, even lighting. It takes a lot of pressure off of me and the kids because I don’t have to worry as much about harsh shadows or sunlight washing everything out. And my skin tones always turn out so beautifully!

 The kids can run a pick berries and I don’t have to worry about positioning them as much as I would if it was a bright sunny day. Golden hour/ sunset would be another great time to shoot, but so far I haven’t found a berry patch that stays open that late!

Another reason I love doing our berry picking photoshoot on an overcast day is because it is inevitably cooler! I cannot tell you how unpleasant it is to haul a group of hot sweaty children through a berry patch with the sun beating down on you. And don’t even mention while also carrying my gear, and trying to take photos at the same time. Never again – no thank you! I always, always plan ahead and do my best to go on an overcast day. 

GO DURING THE WEEK

While we are on the subject of choosing when to do your berry picking photoshoot, I always try to go during the week if possible. It tends to be much quieter and you don’t have to worry about crowds of people in the background that you are going to have to edit out later.

*Berry Picker Pro Tip – It never hurts to call the patch ahead to see what they have available. There have been several times when I have called on a Monday only to learn they were completely wiped out of berries from a busy weekend. You don’t want to go to all that trouble of packing up kids and gear only to find out there are no berries to pick! 

WARDROBE

Ok we know when we want to shoot, now let’s talk about what your subjects are going to wear when you shoot! Think of the colors you are going to encounter on your berry picking photoshoot. There is going to be a lot green from all the berry foliage. In my case, it’s usually red or blue (strawberries or blueberries) that are going to provide a tiny pop of color. Because I want my subject to stand out against the background of the berry field I am not going to choose green! In my opinion they are just going to blend into a sea of green. You could choose something green if it had a pattern – as long as it makes them stand out. 

In this particular berry picking photoshoot I chose a blend of creams and soft beiges for my children. They are natural tones so they go well with the soft green but they also separate my subjects from the background. When you look at these images it’s easy for your eye to quickly spot my children…they stand out clearly against the background. A pink/red for a strawberry field or a blue for blueberries would also be a wonderful choice to enhance the berry picking theme and would still make your subject pop!

And don’t forget that there are lots of fun props you can bring like hats and pretty baskets. Just be aware that they may end up covered in berry stains by the end! 

SHOOTING

OK let’s get onto the actual shooting already! We have done our best to pick the right day and plan the right outfits and props. When you are shooting in a berry patch it can be tempting to just shoot up and down the rows. I see this done all the time and there is nothing wrong with it at all and I do it myself. But don’t forget to shoot across the rows too! It’s a great perspective to add to your berry picking photoshoot. 

And don’t forget to be aware on your background. Go to the middle of a row and look both ways…which background is more appealing…the one with all the farm equipment or the other side with the pretty trees? 

And finally down forget to get down low. You subjects are most likely squatting down low busily picking their berries so make sure you get down on their level too. It is a much more flattering angle and it gives the viewer the impression they are participating in the activity instead of just watching from a distance. 

LET’S RECAP!

• Try to go when it’s overcast!
• Go during the week if possible
• Make sure you choose clothing that will coordinate well and allow your subject to stand out in the scene. Add don’t forget cute props!
• Don’t just shoot head on – play with perspective
• Be aware of background 
• Be prepared they might be covered in berries by the end!

Good luck on your berry picking adventures! And if you need more tips for shooting this Summer check out my Guide to Capturing Your Best Photos This Summer.

XO,

Ruth

P.S. I’m participating in a super fun blog circle this month with some of my photographer friends. Check out Iana, an Aberdeen Scotland headshot & brand photographer and her blog post all about smashing myths about brand photography.

Ruth Young is a professional, portrait photographer and photography educator located in Culpeper, Virginia. She photographs her daily life with her 5 small children and has a passion for teaching photography. For more about Ruth follow her on Instagram where she posts daily.