Spring always brings with it a sense of renewal after a cold, dark, long Winter. Everything is warmer, brighter, and full of a sense of wonder. And it couldn’t be a better time to get out your camera and start taking some Spring photos!

There are so many wonderful things about shooting in Spring. If you are looking for some inspiration for your next Spring photoshoot I have you covered. I am breaking down my list of all things Spring you will want to take advantage of this season.

BLOOMS

The number one thing that comes to mind when I think of Spring is all those beautiful Spring blossoms and flowers!! All those colors make for a wonderful photoshoot. Think about how you will incorporate Spring blooms into your next photo session. Will you use tree blossoms or flowers? Tree blossoms make for a beautiful background in any photo. Or maybe you want your subject actually climbing a tree. Don’t have trees with beautiful blossoms? How about simply smelling the flowers? Maybe you can find a patch of daffodils? And this brings me to my next topic which is location…

LOCATION

Start scouting your Spring photoshoot locations early. Because those Spring blooms are so fleeting, you are going to want to keep an eye out for when those beautiful blooms are going to be at their peak. Is there an orchard in your area that is full of beautiful Spring blooms, or perhaps a nearby tulip field or flower farm? Or perhaps there is a singe tree that blooms every year that you can use for your photoshoot. I found this row of beautifully blooming trees in the photo above in a parking lot near my house. 

If you don’t have access to an orchard or flower field then bring the flowers to your photoshoot. Fresh cut tulips and daffodils are the perfect symbol of Spring and can be used both in and outdoors. In the photo below I used daffodils I bought from the grocery store. They really help to convey the mood of Spring, especially since the surroundings were still so brown.

EASTER

Whether you celebrate this Spring holiday or not, it can be a fun way to incorporate Spring themes into your next photoshoot. Bunnies, carrots, eggs, and baskets all make for amazing Spring photo props. Bonus: they are also a creative way to get little models excited about taking photos. My kids are always excited to hunt for eggs while I am busy snapping away.

Think of ways you can use these fun Easter themed props in your next photoshoot. If you have children of your own maybe you want to document the tradition of dying Easter eggs. Or you just want to dye your own eggs! Or maybe you want to capture the excitement of your annual Easter egg hunt as your children (nieces, nephews or friends) race around eagerly searching. Think of all the ways you can capture those photographable Easter moments!

BABY ANIMALS

With Spring comes the birth of baby animals. So what better way to incorporate Spring into your photos than to include…you got it…baby animals!! Think ducklings, bunnies, lambs…there are all kind of babies born in the Spring! Don’t have access to newborn baby animals? (I know that’s a long shot for many of us!) Try visiting a local farm! And if you can’t find the real thing who says you can’t used stuffed animals!! I bet you can easily get your hands on a stuffed toy or two! I used some rubber duckies in this photo of my daughter playing in a puddle and I think they add the perfect element of Spring!

FLOWER CROWNS

Another Spring prop I can’t leave out is the flower crown. Flower crowns come in soo many shapes and sizes these days that the possibilities are limitless. From fresh cut flowers to artificial, you can be sure to find a flower crown that will go perfectly with your next Spring photoshoot. 

Flower crowns truly embrace the celebration of Spring and the end of Winter. What better way to celebrate than by wearing a crown! From tiny delicate headbands to wreaths dripping with large blooms, there is a crown to be found for every style. Etsy is an amazing place to find all kind of flower crowns. And if you are into DIY, there are so many great tutorials to be found like this one here.

EMBRACE THE RAIN

You know what they say, “April showers bring May flowers.” Embrace the rain or overcast weather. One of my favorite times to shoot is when the sky is overcast. The light is so even and beautiful and you can shoot any time of day. I especially love shooting after it has recently rained and everything is still wet. The light truly glistens!

And while I may not shoot in the actual rain often (because my camera gear and my models don’t really love getting wet), I certainly love to incorporate all things rain in my Spring photos. Think pretty umbrellas, colorful boots and rain coats, and lots of fun puddles to splash in! I have yet to find a young model who doesn’t enjoy splashing in puddles for a photo!

Pro Tip:

If you really want to capture the Spring rain without getting wet, try this fun exercise! My 7 year old had so much fun doing this with me. Get out your umbrella and use your hose to create your own rain while keeping you and your camera at a safe (dry!) distance. Try to angle the spray of the hose upward as much as possible so that the water looks like it is falling directly down. Too much of an angle doesn’t look as realistic. 

Here is the shot of my daughter in the “rain.” You would never know that my husband is actually just spraying the hose on her umbrella. I like to do this trick on an overcast day so that my lighting looks realistic. Doing it on a bright, sunny day may not appear as authentic.

PASTELS

Since you are going to be using all those colorful props, I cannot forget to mention your Spring color palette. Nothing says Spring like pastel colors! Think soft pinks, yellows and blues! From the blooms, to the Easter eggs, to the rain gear, using pastel colors will make your images scream Spring even louder!! Pastels also go so well with the fresh green color of Spring, so be sure to consider your color theory when planning your next Spring photoshoot.

So the next time you are planning to take some Spring photos don’t forget these key elements;

• Blossoms – Think trees and flowers.
• Location – Is there an orchard or flower field in your area? Keep a close eye on when those blooms will peak.
• Easter – Use fun themes from this holiday when selecting props or document family traditions.
• Baby Animals – So many adorable animals are born in the Spring!
• Flower Crowns – Celebrate Spring with flowers on your head
• Rain – Embrace this rainy season and all the fun it has to offer in your Spring photos. Think umbrellas, rain boots and puddles!!
• Pastels – The ultimate Spring colors!! Pastels work so well with the fresh green of Spring.

Now go get your camera and take some Spring photos!!

XO

Ruth

P.S. I’m participating in a super fun blog circle with some of my photographers friends. Check out my friend Jillian who is a Calgary Family Photographer and her post all about the 5 reasons to book a graduation photoshoot

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.