This year was a good year for almond blossoms. I got a solid two weeks shooting in the blossoms. My chosen location is in Oakdale, CA near Modesto, CA in the Central Valley at the base of the foothills.

Almond Blossom portraits are a popular event here in the valley. Every year photographers rush to the valley to capture the only “snow” we ever see down here. I use the orchard of a family friend and with that comes privacy and room to move around. No bumping elbows with other families trying to get the best spot.

The orchard was dusted with gypsum right before my shooting dates this year and the result was magical! Every shot has an airy extra white look to it due to the gypsum covered ground. The rows were freshly watered and covered in beautiful long green grass. Perfect for placing young ones in. I love the look of the oversized trees surrounding them with the deep grasses.

Fair warning to those with a severe bee allergy or who are afraid of the bees. I did a good job keeping everyone clear of the bees, but they are out there, doing their important bee business. As long as you keep a fair distance from their boxes, they really want nothing to do with you.

Almond blossoms are popular for family photos, senior portraits, maternity and couples sessions. They really are good for just about everything, aside from newborn and headshots. I run mini sessions and full sessions every year in the blossoms. If you missed out this year, don’t worry they’ll be back next year! I start my booking in January for blossoms. I don’t like to book earlier than that due to the fickle nature of weather. A cold winter could delay blossoms, while a light winter will bring them early.

If you book a mini with me, I like to keep them short and sweet with minimal props. I have seating props for posing and helping infants sit up if they can’t on their own. Minis are great for kids that have short attention spans. A lot of people worry that we won’t have enough time to get posing done, but I’m quick and I have a very specific workflow for my minis to keep things flowing smooth. Most of my families have 40+ images to go through after their mini sessions.

Full sessions are up to an hour long and are great for larger families, quinceanera portrait sessions or maternity. Clients that book full sessions with me have full access to my client closet, along with special props, I’ll bring along for the day. I try not to go too prop crazy in the blossoms (with the exception of cake smashes), the flowers speak for themselves, but a floral crown or lace dress can be a fun addition to your session.

Keep an eye on my Facebook and Instagram, I make a post every year announcing the beginning of booking season for blossoms, you won’t want to miss it!