What We Packed For Pictures at the Tulip Farm
Good morning! âď¸ It has been a beautiful April and I am truthfully a little sad to see the month go. Spring always goes by in a blink, and before you know it, we are in the dog days of summer. Itâs either a mad dash to fit all the spring things in, or you can try to just soak it in with open windows, a passeggiata after dinner, draped in easy linensâŚ
Itâs not always âeasyâ though, or as effortless as that sounds. S did something real cute last week and surprised us with tickets to a local tulip farm that casually turned out to be the largest tulip farm on the east coast đ¤Ż. I have always thought that the most expansive flower fields were out west, but this just goes to show that you never know! Anyway, I had a few days to think about what to bring for a morning amongst the tulips â and letâs just say that the weather changed EVERYTHING!
We had heavy downpours the night before, so the tulip farm was a mud fest. The forecast called for a little overcast weather in the low fifties. My visions of a sundress and hat gave way to jeans and a sweater (kept the hat, though)! I am glad I bundled up, and while I love a beautiful look, I am so glad I dressed functionally. The only thing I wish I had were a pair of Hunter boots to combat the mud.
Picture Tips
What to Bring & Wear
Stroller and diaper bag with all of babyâs supplies.
Straw bag: a nice big catch-all for all of the belowâŚ
Clippers: they are not provided to the public, and if you want to cut your stems (they cost $1/stem) you will need to cut them yourself. Buckets and plastic sleeves were provided for easy transport.
Camera and phone
Towel (or two) - at the very last minute I put a large Turkish towel in our bag, and I am so glad I did. It was the MVP of the morning. We used it to wipe down our shoes and it kept our strollerâs seat mud-free. Makes for a great picnic throw, too.
Wear: I was really glad I wore jeans! I did get some mud on them and I was perfectly fine with it. I think a flowy dress is a beautiful idea in concept, but not practical for real life. So instead, I wore my beloved Sezane knit which was dressy but also warm. We had chilly weather and some breezes and I was really glad I was not in a dress. I also loved that a hat kept my hair from flying everywhere.
You will not be alone at the farm - but there are a few ways you can create the illusion youâre alone: all is takes is some good and thoughtful photograph composition!
Get down and pose amongst the flowers. This is my #1 tip - ask your photographer to do the same. This eliminates any busy backgrounds and lets you focus on the flowers rather than the grass, people, or sky in the background.
Donât worry about wearing âcuteâ shoes. Can you see them in my photos? Nope. Do me a favor and be sure to wear practical shoes.
Wear texture-rich clothes that are on the light/neutral side. Let the flowers bring the color!
Do something with the flowers - donât just stand there. Touch them, cut them, run through them!
Compose beautiful photos by:
standing in the middle of the flower rows vs. outside of them
crouching down near the actual flowers vs. standing in front of them
walking FAR back into the fields with less people nearby
using the rule of thirds (ex. 1/3 stem, 1/3 bloom, 1/3 sky)
These are just a few âhighlightsâ from our morning at the Tulip Farm. But keep in mind that this is indeed a highlight! The entire morning was a little metaphor for lifeâŚyou can focus on the mud, or focus on the flowers â your choice. It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning as a little family date. I know that I will treasure these moments and photos forever. If youâre in the area, check out Holland Ridge Farms in New Jersey for acres and acres of the most beautiful ruffly tulips!