The Flower Fields of Carlsbad in Southern California

Visitor and Photography Tips

The Flowers Fields is HUGE – 50 acres huge – so it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stay longer than you intend to. Make sure you have enough water and snacks with you so you don’t have to backtrack to their snack area (currently closed for 2021 season) which may seem miles away when you’re hungry or thirsty! I also recommend carrying extra batteries for your camera – you’ll be tempted to take lots of pictures!

It was actually quite hot when we visited at the end of March, so don’t forget your sunscreen! (I like this one from Supergoop.) I also recommend that you bring a hat to shield against the sun, such as this palm leaf fedora from Lack of Color available on Amazon.

Visit early or late, and on a Day with Clouds if Possible

If you live in Southern California, try to visit on a day when there are some clouds so that there will be less glare and harsh shadows on the flowers and on you. There were no clouds on a hot day when I visited, so that’s why I’m facing away from the camera in these pics! It’s always difficult to take pictures on these type of days, and difficult to edit harsh lighting on the face.

To further minimize glare from the sun, try to visit first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon near closing time.

Walk Further Down the Fields for Less Crowds

The most crowded areas are closer to the entrance of the fields, so keep walking further down the fields for much less people! In some of the areas closer to the entrance, there will be lines at the designated photo spots, but almost no lines further down the fields. My mistake was spending too much time near the entrance – I would head straight away from the crowds next time to try to get pictures in before the sun gets stronger. The pink and white fields that I liked the most were also further down the field.

Photography Positions and Angles

Walking onto the fields is not allowed, and they do have enforcers throughout the fields, but there are many designated walk-out spots that they have created for photo opportunities to make it look like you’re standing in the middle of the field. If your friend/photographer positions the camera correctly, the walk-out paths and ropes will not be so visible.

For example, if your photographer kneels down close to the ground and shoots slightly upwards, the ropes and metal separators should be mostly hidden. If there are some peeking through, you can easily edit them out using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. (Pro tip – your friend/BF/hubby/photographer might want to bring some knee pads for these situations that require kneeling. My husband Ken uses knee pads all the time for our photo outings!)

You can also stand on one of the benches for photos like I did and strategically crop out the benches later 😉.

Note – Their website states that photography by amateurs and for non-commercial purposes is allowed, but that “Excessive camera and video equipment will not be permitted.”  Professional photography can be arranged for a fee.

By the way, if you love flowers as much as I do, you might be interested in my post on the most beautiful flower books (it’s one of my most popular posts!). I also love flowers so much that I designed a series of flower-themed journals/notebooks!