5 Tips for Photographing Cherry Blossoms

spring has sprung and that means one thing in washington dc…cherry blossom season is right around the corner.  i always compare waiting for cherry blossoms like a mama to be waiting for labor.  you don’t know when it is going to happen, but you better have your bag packed and ready to go.  but instead of packing cute little onesies and comfort items, your bag will be full of your best lenses and camera.  because as soon as the cherry blossoms arrive, they are gone just as quickly.  whether you live locally or are traveling to washington dc to see the cherry blossoms, be sure to keep these 5 tips for photographing cherry blossoms in mind as you prepare for the bloom.

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5 Tips for Photographing Cherry Blossoms

BRING THE RIGHT LENSES.

as you pack your photography bag, be sure that you are bringing the right lenses with you so you can photograph the cherry blossoms in the very best way.  yes, i said lenses.  you will most likely want to bring more than one lens with you because, as you know different lenses serve different purposes, and you will want to have the right gear to take advantage of the beautiful cherry blossoms.  i recommend bringing:

• a 50mm lens.  let me tell you, the cherry blossoms are even more breathtaking up close.  i recommend bringing a 50mm lens so you can capture the little details of the cherry blossoms.  i love my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens because it allows me to capture the delicate details of the cherry blossoms, while using a low aperture to create a soft depth of field and maintain my focus on the blossom.
• a zoom lens.  okay, let’s be real.  there are a lot of people visiting the tidal basin during cherry blossom season to do the same thing as you…photograph the cherry blossoms.  because there will be times where you can’t get close to the cherry blossoms, having a zoom lens will help you get a closer shot when you can’t physically get close to your subject.  i love my nikon 24-85mm f/3.5 – 4.5 lens because it allows me to have a wider angle but also allows me to zoom closer to my subject.

CARRY A GOOD CAMERA BAG.

carrying a good camera bag to the cherry blossom festival is actually really important.  and you will thank yourself later.  because you are going to be in such a crowded area, you won’t have room to set down your camera bag while you are getting the perfect shot.  be sure to bring a camera bag that has an over the shoulder carry strap that will allow you to keep your gear close to you, while allowing you to stay hands free so you can maintain your focus on your camera.  i recommend the journey bag, made by shutterbag usa.  not only does it comfortably carry all my gear, but the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry.

DON’T FORGET THE EXTRAS.

prepare to be down on the tidal basin for a few hours, so make sure you pack some extras in your camera bag along with your gear.  i recommend bringing extra batteries, memory cards, and snacks for your photography adventure.  this is probably one of the most important tips for photographing cherry blossoms because there is nothing more frustrating that running out of memory card space or having a low battery light start flashing.

EMBRACE THE CROWDS.

listen, there are going to be a lot of people visiting washington dc during cherry blossom season.  not only because they are beautiful, but because they only bloom for a few days before they are completely gone.  knowing this ahead of time, get in the mindset that it is going to be crowded.  don’t waste your time being frustrated with the crowds, and instead embrace them.  have fun with your camera settings so that you can still capture the beauty of the cherry blossoms, while reducing the number of people in your photographs.  one way to do this is really watch your aperture.  it’s possible to turn a crowd of tourists into a gorgeous bokeh backdrop as you manipulate your aperture.

WATCH YOUR APERTURE.

your aperture is going to be your best friend as you photograph the cherry blossoms.  keep your aperture in mind as you think about what photographs you would like to achieve during your time amongst the cherry blossoms.  to capture a crisp photograph of the cherry blossoms amongst the monuments, be sure to set your aperture to a higher number like f/4 or higher to get everything in focus.  use a lower aperture like f/2.8 or lower to capture the cherry blossoms in crisp focus in your foreground with a soft background blur.

cherry blossom season is breathtaking.  the first time i photographed the cherry blossoms, i literally cried.  they are so beautiful in person and you will always remember your experience.  to keep your cherry blossom experience a positive one, be sure to keep these 5 tips for photographing cherry blossoms in mind both as you prepare for your outing and during your time on the tidal basin.  more importantly, have fun and take some beautiful pictures.

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