The Magic of Texas Bluebonnet Photography

Texas Bluebonnet Photography Tips

I am not a Texan. This became abundantly clear after my first spring in Texas.   My husband and I moved to west central Texas in April of 2010.  And as we drove through Dallas on I-20 we were thoroughly confused and amazed at the amount of cars and people pulled over on the side of the highway!

We thought surely there must have been some big accident, or a fire, or an air show.  But we looked and looked and all we saw were cars, cameras, people, and the flowers.  Surely, we must’ve missed “the show.”  We have wildflowers on the sides of the road where I’m from in Massachusetts, but you pull over only for ONE reason and it’s not to take pictures...of Little. Blue. Flowers.

It wasn’t until the following Spring that I discovered, as a photographer, what all the hoopla was about.  I received floods of emails asking, “Are you taking pictures in the Bluebonnets?” and “Where are the Bluebonnet fields?”  I had to google what a Bluebonnet was.  These were not just weeds, these were not just flowers, these were Texas Bluebonnets - Texas State flower! 

I’ve come to find the Bluebonnet to be a welcome burst of springtime color and a justifiable source of Texas pride, and like any treasure, you might need a map with an "X" marking the spot of where to find the perfect Bluebonnet field.

Photographers will lie, cheat, and sell their youngest to Rumpelstiltskin to protect the location of “their” Bluebonnet patch if they were lucky enough to find one.

So, if you find that elusive patch or strike it lucky and find a field, how do you get the most out of your photos?!

1. Shoot During the Golden Hour

Try to plan your photography session for 2 hours after sunrise or 2 hours prior to sunset.  I actually tighten this golden hour requirement up to 1 hour, especially when the Bluebonnets tend to be in wide open fields with lots of direct sun.  Also, I tend to be shooting small children who do not respond well to “don’t squint.”

2. Use Props

Let me elaborate.  Use simple props.  All sorts of God’s creations tend to be hiding in the Bluebonnets.  Snakes, thorns, and fire ants.   I use props to safeguard children against these sneaky little hazards.  

Keep the props simple (an apple crate, a simple wooden chair) as you don’t want to distract from the beauty of the bluebonnets or your subject.  Some prefer to use blankets, but use them sparingly, as you don’t want to flatten the flowers for those after you!

3. Dress for Success

Organic, muted tones in the flowers are best.  If it were up to me, I would pick earth tones, denim and boots.  If you prefer a little more color, wear colors complimentary to the bluebonnets (yellows/oranges/peach).  Avoid neon colors and patterns.

I hope these tips help and I wish you much success in capturing the magic of the Texas Bluebonnet!

Additional Recommended Reading: 10 Essential Bluebonnet Photography Tips

Do you have any questions or comments about Texas Bluebonnet Photography?  Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!