Ins and Outs to Sacramento Almond Blossom Minis and Family Portraits
Do you live in the Sacramento Area and are hoping to view beautiful Almond Blossoms or even have your pictures taken for Almond Blossom Minis by a photographer? Only blooming in February and March, these orchards are beautiful to look at and even more amazing to photograph in, and make one of the best backdrops for absolutely amazing family or maternity photos. Here is an all-inclusive guide of where to go, when to book, what to wear and all other almond blossom photos or considerations!
Where are the Sacramento Almond Blossom Orchards located?
There are almond orchards located all across the Greater Sacramento Region, but there are some notable areas where there are more than others. Yolo County as well as Yuba and Sutter County have the highest amount of different almond farmers, with Woodland and Yuba City having the highest density of fields in the area. But there are plenty of other farmers near Wheatland and Lincoln, as well as Loomis, Auburn and Elk Grove. So where you choose to have your almond blossom mini session or full photo session will primarily depend on where in the Sacramento Region you yourself are located in. There are definitely better or bigger farms, but finding one near you is always a perk.
As a Sacramento photographer myself, I personally host my almond blossom mini sessions in two different locations, in Yuba City as well as Lincoln, where I have relationships with two different farmers. Contact Me if you want to book a February or March photo session at either location. In my personal experience, the larger Woodland almond farms charge significant venue fees that are far higher than the surrounding region, perhaps because they are larger facilities and more in demand. So that is one consideration to keep in mind if you live on the Western side of Sacramento.
Do’s and Don’ts for Almond Blossom Viewing and Photo Session
Do: Take a drive on public roads viewing the beautiful flowers. Yolo County near Woodland has some especially nice roads to take.
Don’t: Enter the almond tree groves unless you have the owner’s permission It is important to remember that the almond trees are someone’s livelihood and private property! Definitely do not get out of the car to walk onto someone’s field without permission. Good and conscientous photographers (like me!) get prior permission from a property owner before hosting a photo session on their field. This is very important! Never trespass onto someone’s field without permission and do not go with a photographer who hasn’t secured prior permission (unfortunately trespassing photographers are also sadly all too common).
Do: Choose Footwear Carefully Almond tree groves can get quite muddy, especially during the time of year in February and March when they bloom. Wear shoes with that in mind.
Don’t: Pick blossoms or step on watering hoses. If given permission to enter an almond tree grove, make sure to leave it like you came. Feel free to pick up blossoms that have fallen to the ground but do not pick any blossoms or snap branches from the trees. Be careful where you step, so that you do not accidentally damage water hoses.
Do: Do Book An Almond Blossom Photo Session! In my opinion, an almond blossom photo session is among the most beautiful photos you can have of yourself or your family. Almond trees in bloom create such a beautiful backdrop. They make graceful maternity photos, cute milestone pictures and elegant family memories!
Knowing When To Have Your Photo Shoot
When do Almond Trees blossom?
The exact timeframe of the almond bloom varies year by year, but on average the bloom takes place between mid February and mid March. A warmer sunnier January will lead to an earlier bloom whereas a very cold January might delay it. There is definitely a science to finding the best time for a photo session! Too early, and the trees won’t fully be blooming yet, but as soon as the bloom occurs, it can be a race against time before a major storm knocks down the bloom. On average, between February 15th - 30th will have the best flowers!
When to book your photo session?
The best time to book an Almond Blossom photo session is in January to make sure your photographer has availability! That being said, it will likely be a shorter notice booking than other seasonal sessions because photographers are busy watching the trees to see when the best bloom time will be. For myself, I tend to take a waitlist in early January for interested families but open bookings for almond blossom mini sessions in the last week of January or first week of February, which is enough time to get a feel for when the best blossoms will be available.
What time of day should your photo session be?
The best time for outdoor photo sessions of any kind are around sunrise and sunset. Interestingly enough though, the best time for almond blossom sessions will primarily depend on the size of the trees in the almond groves! Photographers utilize almond groves of all ages and sizes, and this drastically affects how the light will react! Taller trees will cast more shade and the best time for a session might be an hour or even two before sunset, because it might already be too dark in the almond grove closer to sunset. Meanwhile, shorter almond trees will cast less shadow and will need a time closer to sunset for best light. It is a red flag if your photographer is asking you to meet them for a photo session mid day on a sunny day! The light will not be ideal and will result in lower quality images!
What to wear to Sacramento Almond Blossom Minis?
What you wear to your photo session makes a huge difference in the final look of your photos. Especially almond blossoms have a very distinct look, and certain colors and styles work better than others. Here are a few suggestions to how to style yourself and your family for a photo session in the Sacramento area almond blossoms.
What colors to wear:
Pastel colors: Pastel colors such as light pinks and blues look particularly good with the white almond blossom flowers.
Think Deep or Light, not Bold and Bright: Definitely leave the bright yellows, reds or oranges at home, as the stark contrast with the white flowers can be quite jarring. A deep but more subtle navy or purple on the other hand can make a great contrast, while not being overwhelming. As previously mentioned light colors such as light blues and soft yellows work too.
Avoid pure white. Even though its better to stick with lighter colors, it’s best to avoid straight white. This is because it is too similar to the white blossom flowers. That being said, if you enjoy low contrast images, this might be the perfect color for you!
What style of clothing to wear:
Besides the color, the style of clothing can also make a huge difference for your family during their almond blossom photo session. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Say Yes To The Dress! Dresses are definitely encouraged in almond orchards, and I usually recommend leaving the jeans at home for women or girls. The almond flowers create such a classy look that are complimented the best with dresses. Think of a dress that you might wear to church or for Easter, and it will probably look amazing in an almond tree grove!
Think Flowy Not Tight! Flowy and looser clothing generally looks great in this environment, much more so than super tight clothing. This allows more flexibility in the movement and poses your family will be able to comfortably do during their session, and also looks great too! I love nothing more than swishing dancing twirling dresses in an almond grove!
Western/Cowbow Aesthetic If fancy dresses aren’t your thing, a western vibe is another look that can look great in an almond tree grove, and create a nice farm feel. Jeans and cowboy hats will look great too! Just be careful with which shirts you choose to pair. I would strongly suggest against flannel, especially red, and would recommend more solid color shirts such as a nice navy shirt.
Sacramento Almond Blossom Resources and Links
Here are some additional links and resources that you might want to consider :
To Book A Family or Maternity Photo Session: Click Here
Yolo County Almond Bloom Resource: Link
Esparto Almond Festival: Link
