The Documentation Photo
Why is lawn photography so important? Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s never been a more true adage than in today’s Instagram world. More photographs are taken today than at any point in history because of the easy access to cameras thanks to smartphones. Even more importantly, these pictures are more shareable than ever thanks to the ease with which we can publish them to social media. Most people today love to share pictures of the things that bring them pride in their lives: primarily their kids, pets, vacations, and purchases. When most homeowners are spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year on lawn care to keep their yards looking nice, lawn photography becomes a popular venture to capture the success of their investment.
Lawn photography can serve three main purposes that require a different method for the best success. First, there is the documentation photo: this is going to be a picture taken within the lawn of a weed, disease, or similar concern that the homeowner wishes to report to their turf management company. Second, there is going to be the magazine photo: this is the perfectly staged picture that makes the lawn look like something out of a lawn and garden magazine. Third, there is the renovation photo: this is going to be a series of at least two pictures from the same location in the yard over time to document the progress it has made with some good TLC.
A low angle photo focusing on a PPLM sign.
The Documentation Photo
This type of lawn photography is the most important in the client/provider relationship when a homeowner hires a professional turf management company to care for their lawn. The greatest mistake that homeowners make when taking a documentation photo is to stand toward the edge of the lawn and take a zoomed out picture of a large expanse of turf. Unfortunately, while this might point a lawn care representative in a certain direction, it doesn’t show enough detail to enable a diagnosis. The documentation photo is best taken low and close, with distance photos only for context. A close up shot of a weed, of a diseased blade of grass or section of turf, or of a pest will provide much more information… so long as it is in focus! The only thing worse than a long distance documentation photo is a blurry one.
A close up shot of a weed.
The Magazine Photo
This form of lawn photography is going to be the most popular option for Instagram. When a lawn is looking thick, uniform, and green, it’s worth showing off! Just like with people, even a lawn with some imperfections can be given an amazing appearance with the right angles and lighting. The best time of day to photograph a lawn is in the morning or in the late afternoon, when the sun is at an angle. This gives your lawn dimension and texture thanks to discrete shadows and can greatly enhance the richness of the lawn’s green tones. There are many angles at which you can photograph your lawn, be it head on or from a corner, but be aware of your decision and explore how they change the look of the lawn. Most importantly, go low or go high. Photographing a lawn at a crouch improves the appearance of the lawn’s thickness and health, while photographing from a higher angle will show off mower stripes or landscaping better. When capturing stripes left from a mower, be sure to take the photo from an angle that utilizes the light to make the stripes stand out even more.
A well staged photo of a lawn.
The Renovation Photo
This method of lawn photography is the favorite of most turf management professionals. Because seeing improvement in a lawn can be a drawn out process, it’s easy to forget how rough a lawn was by the time it’s become Picture Perfect. A good set of before and after pictures memorialize the progress that has been made, but consistency is key. Lawns naturally change in appearance based on the time of year, so most renovation photos should be taken as close to the same time of year as possible for the sake of continuity (disease or weed treatment photos are among the exceptions). Additionally, the more closely renovation photos are taken from the same place in the yard, the more visible improvements will be. By removing other variables like seasonal change and different angles of the yard, the more you can focus on the actual change in the lawn’s quality.
A before and after pairing of photos to show the results of fall seeding.
Whether you’re a lawn care professional wanting to photograph your properties for marketing or a homeowner who just wants to brag a little, lawn photography is easy to master and makes a big difference when done well. However, the greatest rule when taking a picture of your lawn is to lay off the editor! It’s tempting to adjust the picture with a boost of saturation or contrast, but the victory of capturing your Picture Perfect lawn is so much sweeter when you get to caption it with #nofilter.
lawn with a fresh design that will have your
neighbors turning their heads! We take pride in our services, and as a family owned business, we treat our customers like family.
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