How to Photograph at the Mantua Poppy Fields | Whitney Beth Photography

Want to see some before and after of all the photoshopping that went into getting this picture completely free of people in the background? Voila!

If you’re confused because there’s no people in the unedited picture, aside from the family, you’d be correct. No one, aside from my clients and a few random passerby’s were there. Let me repeat that; WE HAD THE WHOLE FIELD TO OURSELVES. And if you’ve ever been to the Mantua poppies - or heck, even any of the popular, time sensitive Utah locations, you know how big of a feat that is. 

And it’s not just a fluke. This is my second year of sessions up there for the beautiful poppy bloom - this year I even had four shoots back to back on the same day. 

So what’s my secret? It comes at a sacrifice, but it is one that has proved useful over and over again. (Capital blossoms anyone?) 

 Sunrise session on a weekday.

That’s it. Buuuut it’s not as easy as it seems - for me at least. You see The Manuta poppies are located in the Boxelder Campground - which is about an hour and 20 from my house. Sunrise is about 6 am. I like to shoot about 45 minutes to an hour after the sun has risen at this spot since there are so many trees. That means that I need to leave my house at 5 (I tell myself 5, but really like 5:20) to get to the poppies before my clients do. Which also means that I need to wake up at 4 something depending on how presentable I want to look (lol)

But it’s all worth it. So worth it, in fact that I was 35 weeks pregnant during this years’ sessions. 

I’m also a hard core sucker for morning light. I think I might even like it more than evening light. And with the way the field is situated I get my sunlight all yummy and diffused and golden peaking through the tree line. I can’t imagine shooting a session in the evening since it would look so different (and be so crowded!) 

So there you have it. My big secret to avoiding photoshopping out random people from the background. Did you see it coming? Would you ever attempt a morning shoot? 2 out of the 3 of my maternity pictures have been during a morning shoot, and there is no better feeling than having pictures done and the day ahead of you! Tell me in the comments if you’d ever do one!