Where to find bluebells in Gloucestershire
There are lots of places in Gloucestershire where you can discover swathes of bluebells. Check out this article from SoGlos for the best places to see bluebells in Gloucestershire. Our most local area to see bluebells is in Lassington Woods in Highnam. There’s plenty of parking (although it can get busy at the weekends with the adjacent football fields in use) and a good little play park too which my boy loves.
What is the best time to see bluebells?
Bluebells are supposed to be at their best between April and May, but sometimes they can be a little sparse by late April. It all depends on the weather so you might need to pop out a couple of times to work out the best time for bluebells locally to you.
What to wear to a bluebell photoshoot
If you’re hoping to head out and take some photographs of your family amongst the bluebells, I highly recommend having a think about the clothes that they’ll be wearing. As with any family photo session, you want the focus to be on YOU and not on what you’re wearing, however the right clothes will add a beautiful finishing touch to your photographs.
Avoid the temptation to wear matching outfits as it can sometimes look tacky. Instead, choose clothes that complement each other colour-wise. If you’re not great in that department, Coolors is a great tool that will help you find colour palettes that work well together.
When it comes to photoshoots in bluebell fields, the best colours that you can wear are neutrals such as white, cream or grey, or light pastels, such as pink or purple. Strong or bright colours and big patterns and emblems are going to draw the eye away from what’s important – you and your family.
Top tip! The small details make a difference. If one person has a coat on and everyone else is in pretty dresses or t-shirts, then it’s going to look a little odd. Add extra layers underneath for that person who’s always cold in the family – or just act fast!
When to head out for a bluebell photoshoot
Golden Hour refers to the time just before the sun sets (and just after the sun rises) and photographers love it because it produces the most beautiful, soft golden light. If you have a bluebell wood near you that’s fairly open, then Golden Hour may well be a great time to head out for your photographs. But if the bluebells are in a well covered area, then you may find that it’s too dark by that time.
Top tip! A quick Google will tell you the sunrise and sunset times for your area so you can plan accordingly.
Although it might seem odd, you should ideally avoid going out on a bright sunny day. A cloudy (but not rainy!) day is perfect as it will create a nice soft light – and try to avoid bright patches of dappled sunlight, which can be a bit distracting in your photographs.
How to take your own bluebell photographs
Firstly, please, please, please avoid trampling on the bluebells as this can kill them and prevent them from returning next year. Stick to paths or patches where there aren’t any bluebells. Ideally you’ll want to position your subjects in an area where they have lots of bluebells behind them and some in front of them too.
If you can get a nice low position for your phone or camera, you will hopefully be able to get a nice purple blur at the bottom of your photograph, but this might not work, depending on the quality of your camera. That said, a higher perspective can also help to show the beautiful blanket of purple behind so feel free to experiment!
Try and get a mixture of wide angle (zoomed out) and close ups of your family, as well as posed and natural photographs amongst the flowers. Avoid using the zoom feature on your phone where possible as generally this will degrade the quality of your photographs; you’ll get much better results moving in closer to take the photos.
Top tip! If you haven’t already seen my guide to taking better photographs of your kids on your phone, click here to get your copy!
Top tip! Use a tripod to set up your photograph with the rest of your family and then use a timer or remote so that you, too, can feature in your photographs! You can find really affordable and great quality phone tripods on Amazon. This one comes with handy little bluetooth remote too. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
If in doubt, get in touch!
If you’d prefer a stress-free approach to your bluebell photoshoot, where nice photos – that have YOU in them! – are guaranteed, then please do take a look at my outdoor photoshoots page to find out more about how I can help.
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