The Art of Flower Photography
Create breathtaking floral imagery, indoors and out
Join any time
9 weeks of lessons. Work at your own pace or join the annual group run-through in June - you'll have access to the lessons for as long as Emma is in business.
Private community group
We have a private community group (not Facebook) so you can meet fellow students and work through the lessons together.
Shoot, edit, post process
The course gives you the confidence to plan, execute and finish a fine-art flower photography project.
Note: due to the number of students taking part Emma is no longer able to provide individual feedback on images and the price of the course has been reduced to reflect this. Photo School staff will be on hand for administrative help but no live teaching takes place.
There’s no difference in the content of the work at your own pace vs. start date courses. The only difference is that Emma advertises the start dates so you are more likely to be able to work alongside a bigger cohort of other students if you join in on the published start date. If you work at your own pace you can still share your images in the community.
“I’ve been photographing flowers for years, but Emma Davies’s Art of Flower Photography course made all the difference, it taught me how to see the whole of the flowers, how to get the lighting right, taught sound composition rules and as the icing on the cake the course showed how to use Lightroom to make the finishing touches.”
What’s included?
9 lessons with technical information, demonstrations and post-processing guidelines for each. A bonus short flower-arranging video series is also included.
Private community group.
Group run-through once a year The next start is 10 June 2024; or join any time to work at your own pace.
Curriculum
Part 1: indoors/studio
1: Basic table top studio flower portrait
2: Bigger arrangement
3: Still life
4: Introduction to macro
Part 2: outdoors
5: Shooting contrejour (against the light)
6: Hero flowers in the field
7: Stepping back & shooting wide
8: Dealing with bad weather
9: Using a lightbox
“I liked the fact that Emma advised on how you can use things in the house as props and equipment without the need to spend a fortune. I have been so proud of my resulting photographs and definitely more confident in my technical abilities in camera and post production”
No more snapshots
What gear do I need?
You will need a camera with manual controls - one where you can change aperture, shutter speed and ISO independently. You do not need to be able to change the lens, although you will not be able to do the macro lesson without either a macro lens, macro mode or extension tubes.
What software do I need?
Half of the course is editing. Emma demonstrates edits using Lightroom (Classic, not CC). You will need a copy of Lightroom to follow the editing part of the course. If you don't already have Lightroom but want to invest, one of the lessons in the Introduction walks you through everything you need to get started.
Do I need a tripod?
All of the indoor lessons require a stabilised camera to enable long shutter speeds. A tripod is the easiest way to go hands-free with your camera whilst being able to easily change its position between shots. You can use any kind of stable support though, in combination with a self timer - a pile of books or a bag of rice will get you started.
What do I need to set up a studio?
For the first 4 lessons you will need to set up next to a window. You will be using indirect natural daylight as your main light source, and you'll need a space about 1 metre square minimum for your flowers and background, plus what you need for you and your camera. Backgrounds can be as simple as a bare wall, or piece of wallpaper, or you can invest in professional, collapsible studio backdrops. Details are all included in the Introduction. The last lesson of the course calls for a light box - you can buy one, or construct one using a household light and diffused support.
What flowers will I need?
You will be working with a combination of single stems and larger arrangements. No prior arranging skills are required. In the one lesson calling for a larger arrangement, full instructions are included.
What feedback is included?
No feedback on individual images is included. This is a work-at-your-own pace course, with a completely private community group (not on Facebook) to share images and chat to other students. Moderators are available in the community group for questions about the course.
When do the lessons start and how long will I have access to them?
You will be able to access the lessons as soon as you join the course. All the lessons will remain accessible to you for as long as Emma is in business (at least 1 year).
I have another question
Email Emma at admin@emmadaviesphoto.com
“I’ve always wanted to photograph flowers well, especially macro shots, but it’s always been a hit and miss affair, with far too much of the flower being blurred, and me being not sure why, or being under or over exposed. I learned a lot technically but also creatively. It’s given me lots of new ideas plus practical tips to ensure I get consistently good results.”
Your instructor: Photographer Emma Davies was a Travel Photographer of the Year finalist in 2017 and has been shortlisted (2016) and highly commended (2018) in International Garden Photographer of the Year. She is published by The Telegraph, Gardens Illustrated, Outdoor Photography and Digital Photography Magazines and by the BBC. She wrote the Amazon #1 bestselling book A Year With My Camera.