What Do Photographers & Gardeners Have in Common?

Those of you who have followed me since my wedding photography days will have noticed that since I relaunched the business this Spring, I am increasingly going off on a seemingly random tangent and talking about gardening. I mean, what does that have to do with photography?!

Well, a lot has changed in my personal life since those crazy days of darting around all over the country each weekend to capture couples in love saying “I do”! As I build a little family of my own, I’m naturally leaning towards a quieter life at home with them and increasingly finding the peace and headspace I crave in the garden.

Take me to a garden - any garden - and I’ll be in my element exploring the space, checking out new plants and filling my brain with ideas to trial at home. Buy me a mocha and a fresh pastry at some point along the way and we’ll be friends forever!

From the early days of dabbling in my first garden, to now taking on a bigger space and creating a green sanctuary where we can play and make memories, I admit that designing and cultivating a garden is fast becoming just as much of a passion for me as photography.

It might seem like an odd blend, but over the past few weeks I've been reflecting a lot on all the things a photographer and a gardener have in common. So here we go, let’s delve in to my 8 parallels between photographers and gardeners:

1. Planning and Preparation

• Photographers: Successful photography often begins long before the shutter clicks. Photographers will often plan their shoots; scouting locations, studying weather conditions and preparing their equipment. They think about the timing of the day for the best light, anticipate potential challenges and prepare to ensure they capture their intended vision.

• Gardeners: Gardening also requires careful planning and preparation. Gardeners must consider the layout of their garden, the seasonal requirements of different plants and the timing of planting and harvesting. They plan for soil preparation, irrigation systems and pest control measures.

2. Observation and Attention to Detail

• Photographers: A good photographer will play close attention to the details in their frame before they press the shutter. They’ll observe the interplay of light and shadow, the arrangement of subjects and the subtleties that can transform a bog standard shot into something special.

• Gardeners: Similarly, successful gardeners must observe their plants closely. They’ll notice the slightest changes in their garden; the first sign of pests, the subtle shift in leaf colour indicating nutrient deficiencies, any weather damage or the moment a flower begins to bloom.

3. Patience and Timing

• Photographers: Capturing the perfect moment often requires immense patience. Landscape photographers might wait hours for the light to be just right. Documentary photographers will anticipate a moment then wait quietly in the background ready to capture the perfect expression or the ideal movement to get their shot.

• Gardeners: Gardening is a long game. It involves planning for the right moment to sow seeds or plant out. Then it is a case of being patient; waiting for seeds to sprout, plants to grow and flowers to bloom. Gardeners understand that nature operates on its own timetable and the best results come with time.

4. Composition and Design

• Photographers: Composition is crucial in photography. The arrangement of elements within the frame can convey mood, focus attention and create a sense of balance and harmony.

• Gardeners: In gardening, design and composition are equally important. Gardeners arrange plants to create aesthetically pleasing landscapes, considering factors like colour, height and seasonal changes to maintain beauty all year round.

5. Use of Light

• Photographers: Mastery of light is essential for photographers. Whether using natural light or studio setups, understanding how light interacts with the subject is key to achieving the impact they desire.

• Gardeners: Light is also a critical factor in gardening. Gardeners must understand the light requirements of different plants, how sunlight moves through their garden and how to provide adequate light for optimal growth.

6. Tools and Techniques

• Photographers: A photographer’s toolkit includes cameras, lenses, tripods and editing software. Mastering their tools and techniques is essential in order to create beautiful images.

• Gardeners: Gardeners rely on tools such as trowels, secateurs and watering cans. They also use techniques like pruning, mulching and companion planting to cultivate a thriving garden.

7. Creativity and Expression

• Photographers: Photography is an art form that allows for creative expression. Photographers use their vision to tell stories, capture emotions and present their unique perspective as well as the perspective of their subjects.

• Gardeners: Gardening is also a form of creative expression. Gardeners design their spaces to reflect their personal style and evoke a particular mood through their choice of plants and features.

8. Respect for Nature

• Photographers: Any photographer who takes pictures outdoors will develop a respect for the environment in which they work. They understand the difference the light, the season and the weather can make to their photograph and they’ll often be inspired by the natural world around them.

• Gardeners: Gardeners inherently have a deep respect for nature. They work with the natural processes, understanding the importance of soil health, biodiversity and sustainable practices to maintain a healthy garden and build a green sanctuary of their own.

There are many overlaps between photography and gardening, from the skills required to the planning and execution processes. Both require a keen eye, patience, creativity and an understanding of their respective environments. Whether you're designing a 3-dimensional garden space or a 2-dimensional image, it's important to have an understanding of composition, colour, contrast, texture, balance, rhythm, form and perspective... the list goes on!

Gardens and photographs are both expressions of creativity, skill and imagination and can therefore both be used to tell a story or evoke a particular feeling in those experiencing the space or viewing the image.

For a while there I forgot about "art" and it feels really good to invite it back in again. Even the discipline of creating a weekly blog post has revealed so much about what it is that moves me in this season of life. I'll no doubt lose a few followers who found me when they were planning their wedding and now wonder why I'm posting about family portraits one minute and tulips the next! And that's OK. I'm sharing what I love in the moment and it turns out these two pursuits can help and inform one another. The skills I’ve learned as a photographer might actually make me a better gardener and vice versa!

I believe we all need a creative outlet or two to live full and happy lives. I totally get that it can feel hard (or even selfish!) to find time to create when life gets busy and you have loved ones depending on you, but it is an important human pursuit. If you don’t have a job which enables you to make something from nothing then I implore you to rediscover your favourite act of making. Do you remember what it is?

Send me an email and let me know what creative pursuit fuels you! I’d love to hear from you.