Sounds complex? Don’t worry. We will guide you with everything from the setup to editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Ready? Let’s dive right in.

What You’ll Need

You can take time-lapse videos with your smartphone, but we are going to use a DSLR and take photos at different intervals. We will then combine them into a video in post-production.

So, here’s what you will need:

A DSLR or mirrorless camera Any flowering plant with buds Artificial lighting (continuous lighting or a speedlight) A tripod Diffusers An extra battery for your camera (optional) Spare rechargeable batteries for your speedlight (optional) A black background (optional but highly recommended)

Preparing the Setup

It will be easier if we tackle this one thing at a time…

The Flower

Let’s start with your plant—after all, it is the star of the show. When looking for a plant, choose one with many buds in different stages of blooming.

We recommend this for two reasons. First, in case your first attempt fails, you will still have more buds to try. Second, it will be helpful if you watch a couple of flowers bloom so that you can know the approximate time it takes for them to bloom.

Without knowing the time, you will be wasting a lot of energy and time prepping up. You don’t want your lights running and camera clicking away for weeks together.

In our example, we have chosen orange lilies. Once the buds were about an inch and a half long, it took about three to four days for the lilies to open.

Make Space

If you have a dedicated studio space in your home, it’s a great place to keep your plant and set up the camera. If not, find a corner, or your kitchen table will do. Let everyone living with you know that the place is off-limits for a few days. Remember to keep the setup away from curious kids and pets.

Camera Settings

When it comes to making a time-lapse, most DSLRs have a built-in time-lapse photography option. But if you want complete control, you may want to ignore it and go for interval timer shooting. Why? The time-lapse option takes pictures in JPEG, while the interval timer gives you RAW images.

We don’t want to beat the drum again for shooting RAW, but it is crucial to have all the flexibility when making a movie out of pictures taken at different times of the day. A slight change in white balance can ruin your final video’s look.

RAW files will take up space, so ensure your memory card is formatted and ready to go. Have your camera’s battery fully charged. If you have an extra battery, charge it as well.

Shoot in manual mode, keep the settings like white balance and focus manual too.

If you have ample space to work, choose a telephoto lens. Else, go for a normal one like our favorite nifty fifty. When your photos are zoomed in tight on a bud, you will not be able to capture the fully bloomed petals.

When attaching your camera to the tripod, make sure the battery compartment is accessible—there shouldn’t be knobs and levers in the way.

It’s All About Lighting

Have continuous lighting at hand? Then, go ahead and use it for this project. Remember, you shouldn’t disturb the setting for a few days; your lights will have to be continuously on. You can also try a DIY option using daylight lamps from your hardware store.

We used a speelight mounted on a camera. And we diffused the light with an on-lens diffuser.

There is no right or wrong way to light up your scene. You can choose either one based on your situation. Continuous lighting can give you a seamless white balance and exposure. With speedlights, you may see a slight difference in them.

If you’re using a speedlight, keep an eye on it for a couple of shots. You may lose the images if your speedlight goes to sleep between intervals.

Since we are taking pictures day and night, using natural light will not work for this project. Also, using a black background will beautifully highlight your subject and bring it alive.

Shooting With the Interval Timer

The interval timer can be under different names in different cameras. Check your camera’s manual for more information.

You set a start time, add an interval like 15 minutes or 30 minutes, and calculate the number of pictures. You can figure it approximately based on your interval and the number of days your flower needs to bloom.

For example, we calculated 384 based on 15-minute intervals for four days for the lily.

Once you set it up, leave it alone without disturbing it. Water the plant between the intervals. It is easier if you start the timer at the exact hour so that you can plan your watering schedule.

When your flower is fully bloomed, feel free to stop the timer. You don’t have to wait for the camera to finish the timer cycle.

Editing in Lightroom and Photoshop

Making a time-lapse video is pretty straightforward if you have Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Here are the steps to follow…

Step 1

Open your RAW files in Lightroom, and do your basic editing. Check for any apparent exposure differences between the images and correct them.

Step 2

Export the files as a sequence into a folder.

Step 3

Open the files as a sequence in Photoshop. Make sure to check the Image Sequence box.

Choose a Frame Rate. It is common to go for 24 or 30 frames per second. Once open, you will be able to see them as a video in Photoshop.

Step 4

Go to Image > Canvas Size.

Change the Canvas Size to 3840 x 2160. This is for 4K resolution.

Proceed with the warning.

Step 5

Go to Edit > Free Transform.

Click Convert to change the video layer into a Smart Object.

Step 6

Adjust the border to fit your video.

Step 7

Go to File > Export > Render Video.

Add your desired location to save the video. You can see your video saved in the location you’ve given.

Debugging the Common Problems

If your camera has missed a few shots for some reason, it is not a big deal. You don’t want too many photos missing; an occasional few is fine. So, it is essential that you keep an eye on your setup and frequently check if things are working as expected.

Find your video too fast or too slow? Play around with the frame rate to get the desired look you want.

Sometimes, the video can flicker. This can be due to minute exposure changes. Unfortunately, you cannot correct them in Photoshop. Instead, you will need proper video editing software like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro. You may also need a special add-on like Flicker Free.

Enjoy Nature’s Miracles With a Blooming Flower Time-Lapse

Planning and taking a blooming flower time-lapse is no easy feat. But, the result is sure to take your breath away—you will be utterly amazed by nature’s wonder. Refer back to this guide when you want to try it.