Time to Shoot: 

The best time to shoot is in the morning, about 30-60 minutes after sunrise, or late afternoon, around an hour before sunset. The lighting is soft and warm, which makes the pink and white petals pop. 

Try positioning yourself so the sun is behind the blossoms or use side lighting to make the petals glow. It’ll give you that perfect dreamy look. 

Also, on overcast days, the clouds work as a natural diffuser, giving you soft, even lighting. This helps bring out the delicate pink shades of the blossoms and creates a calm, serene vibe. 

It’s also a great time to take close-up shots, since the light is even and there are no harsh contrasts.

Lens Suggestions:

Wide-angle lenses (16-35mm, 24mm, 10-22mm) are perfect for capturing landscapes and street views. They help fit the entire row of cherry trees into one frame, make roads and sidewalks stand out, and create that beautiful tunnel effect when the branches arch over the street.

Standard zoom lenses (24-70mm, 18-55mm) are super versatile for cherry blossom photography. Especially, I love to use 24-70mm lens because it’s great for both landscapes and close-ups shots. You can zoom in on the blossoms while still keeping the background, plus they’re perfect for capturing candid moments of people enjoying the blooms. 

Telephoto lenses (70-200mm, 135mm) are perfect for isolating cherry blossoms and creating that compressed, fuller look. They’re focusing on certain branches or clusters, while making the rest of the scene softly blurred, which is perfect for portrait shots under the trees!

Pay Attention Composition:

Composition is key when you’re shooting cherry blossoms because how you arrange things in the frame can really take your photo to the next level. 

Here are a few simple tricks you can try:

• Get a low-angle shot, looking up at the blossoms with the street in the background.

• Hold a branch of blossoms close to the camera and focus on the street ahead to create a soft, dreamy vibe.

• Stand in the middle of the street and use the road as a leading line that draws the eye to the blossoms.

• Frame the blossoms with modern buildings in the background for a cool contrast.

Mastering these tricks will help make your cherry blossom shots pop and capture the beauty of spring in an unique way.

Capturing Emotions:

Emotion really makes a photo stand out, especially with cherry blossoms. 

Whether you’re snapping shots of people enjoying the blooms or focusing on the flowers themselves, adding that emotional vibe can make the photo more powerful and connect with your viewers. 

Here are some easy ways to capture that emotion in your cherry blossom shots:

• Capture people in the moment, whether they’re smiling while enjoying the view or having a peaceful moment under the trees. Those small reactions add so much to the story.

• Zoom in on the details, like a close-up of a petal or a drop of water, to show the delicate side of the blossoms and create a calm, serene vibe.

• Use soft lighting, such as golden hour or even an overcast day, to create a warm, peaceful feel that perfectly matches the cherry blossoms. 

• Add some movement, whether it’s someone swaying in the breeze or petals falling from the trees, to bring your photos to life.

When you focus on capturing emotions, your cherry blossom photos will feel more real and connect with people on a deeper level.