Kelly Bentley is a local photographer and plant lover. We’ve been lucky to get to know Kelly during her visits to our store and through the beautiful photos she shares with her followers on Instagram and on her website. Kelly has a talent for capturing the “realness” in her images – be they of people or plants – and we were curious to hear how she brings out the true personalities she sees in her subjects. So we asked – and she graciously answered.
Here, Kelly shares a bit about her approach with tips for creating beautiful plant photos right on your phone. The answers lie in noticing the simple details that make each plant and its surroundings unique – and in utilizing a few post-capture editing techniques to highlight those qualities.
How long have you been interested in photography?
In 2010, I felt this nagging desire to throw myself into some kind of creative hobby. I bought my friend’s old Nikon off of her and started shooting anything and everything I could. It was…an ugly start. I’m self-taught – with the guidance and patience of a couple of creative friends. It took me years to develop a “look” that I was happy with – that felt more to me like an artistic expression instead of your standard smile-stiffly-at-the-camera portraits. Today, I run my own photography business and work with the most wonderful clientele. And I adore shooting at Mulhall’s in the winter months – the plants help add an element of liveliness that’s hard to find elsewhere.
In your opinion, what does flora bring to an image?
Life. Texture. Depth. The most stunning variation of greens. Proof that you can keep something other than yourself alive. I love driving around and discovering new spots to photograph around Omaha. We have a massive amount of beauty within this city, but just take a short drive to the Loess Hills and it’s like another world. My favorite spot to wander around is Folsom Point Preserve. It’s the best-kept secret that I’m not sure I want to share…
What are some of your favorites from your own houseplant collection?
I have a ridiculous amount of plants, especially for the size of my home. They are on almost every surface. I do have a couple of favorites though. My monstera is definitely my pride and joy. At first sight of new growth, I do a happy dance because watching a new monstera leaf unravel is truly a thing of joy – and they are the softest thing ever. I also love my ZZ plants and my fiddle leaf fig – which has almost reached my ceiling.
Do you have certain houseplant types or families you’re devoted to?
I’m an equal opportunity plant employer. I don’t stick to certain types or families. I like visually interesting plants that aren’t always tame or pretty.
Don’t be fooled. I’ve killed every air plant I’ve ever tried to love.
What suggestions do you have for best times of the day to shoot?
It depends on the look you are going for. Morning light tends to be cooler (more subtle, blue tones) whereas evening light has that golden glow-y goodness (more red, orange tones). The cameras on phones these days are so advanced that you’re able to take photos even in low-light conditions and then edit them to achieve the look you want. Experiment with different lighting to see what kind of vibe you like. Shoot close to windows for the bright/direct light. Shoot further away for the more filtered look, where the light is evenly spread.
What are your top apps for taking photos and editing? Why?
I use VSCO to edit all of my phone photos. As a member, I have access to all of their filter packs, so I can swipe through to see which filter looks best on my photo. Once I’m happy with a filter, I go in and adjust exposure, contrast, crop/skew, white balance, and then typically add a bit of grain and fade to the photo. Here are a few of my favorite filters for plant shots: A9, M4, A6, E1, L1. After I export from VSCO, I import the photo into the Preview app, which gives me a chance to see how it will look with the rest of my Instagram feed before I post it.
Is there anything specific to plants that affects how you take a photo?
I wipe off the leaves and ensure my plant is well-watered and perky before I take a photo. I’d encourage people to showcase what they love most about that plant. You don’t always have to include the entire plant in your photo. For example, I love the pointed tips of my big snake plant, so I focus on those and play with incorporating negative space to create more of a minimalist look. So, the photo ends up with a lot of white wall and just the tips of my snake plant. Maybe your monstera is unraveling a new leaf and you focus in on that new growth in the midst of the mature leaves.
Who are your top Instagram handles that incorporate live plants into their grid?
Some of my favorites are @haegur, @verdurouswomen, @thegreenhouseomaha, @suskandbanoo, @ivymuse_melb, @urlocalplantboy, and @nolongerwander.
Any other tips you’d like to offer on how to take a killer photo with your phone?
Play with angles. Shoot straight on, overhead, between leaves, from underneath, holding the plant out in front of a wall. Get creative. Keep composition in mind. Frame the photo in a visually appealing way. Lock the focus on your camera and play with the exposure slider to lighten up a dark environment or to create more dramatic lighting in bright environments. Play with depth of field too. Portrait mode on the iPhone makes this easy, but the focus lock on the regular camera provides a more subtle background blur. Hold down on what you want to focus on in the photo (like a droplet of water) and watch how it transforms the entire look.
Share Your Favorite Plant Photos
As fellow plant enthusiasts, we know how rewarding it can be to create photos of your favorite plants to share your passion with others. Fortunately, capturing amazing images isn’t a secret only the professionals know, and we hope Kelly’s tips have inspired you to give it a try. For more in-depth information for beginners, Kelly suggests checking out iphonephotographyschool.com as well. Then grab your phone and your favorite houseplant and start shooting. And be sure to share them with us on Instagram using #mymulhalls – we’d love to see your photos too!
