How to Create Stunning Floating Flower & Fruit Pool Shots

Floating floral displays in pools may seem like the type of décor you’ll only see at your wealthier clients’ homes. But it’s actually easier than you might think to decorate even a small pool with flowers and fruit, and take vibrant, summery shots bursting with color and energy.

Some pools are “living” bodies of water, with actual water lilies and other aquatic plants in, usually planted in containers that can be removed. Others have fake flowers strewn across the surface, or real flowers attached to buoyant devices to keep them afloat.

There are simple yet striking arrangements, and those packed with leaves, fruit, and other greenery just calling out to be photographed.

Follow my guide to setting up floating flower and fruit pool shots and taking vivid images that stand out on social media or in your portfolio.

The Impact of Floral Pool Photography

Why do we love flowers so much? It probably has something to do with the vibrant, bright colors most have; they’re immediately eye-catching, with even small, subtle ones standing out against the greenery they’re usually placed against.

They can smell amazing, and some studies suggest that being around or viewing flowers could even help reduce stress. No wonder so many people fill their homes and yards with them, and sometimes even their pools.

Floral or fruity displays in pools aren’t too common, of course. They tend to be used for big events, like weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries.

Flowers may be used to decorate a pool at a family event where the pool is not in use. They look pretty and double as a deterrent to anyone wanting to wade in when they shouldn’t be.

You can match floral colors to the existing garden décor or theme, or add completely contrasting colors to create something incredibly vibrant. The shock of pinks and yellows against blue-green pool water can make for some jaw-dropping, scroll-stopping shots, in my experience.

If, like me, you can’t get enough of photographing beautiful flowers, check out the guide to sunflower photoshoot ideas, including posing tips.

Now, on to my top tips for setting up and snapping some flowery, fruity pool shots that are sure to impress.

1. Tri-color Simplicity

Most people think of huge, floral arrangements when they think of floating pool décor. But I find that some of the most genuinely eye-catching shots are the simplest.

Choose a simple flower, like a frangipani, with its delicate curves and two complementary colors. Yellow and white work well.

Take just two or three flowers and gently place them in the pool. They will float without aid, at least for a while.

Take the shots quickly, especially if the weather is hot, as despite the water, they will start to dry out in the sun. Once that happens, they will not look as vibrant and may wilt.

You’ll see that the white and yellow petals look dramatically vivid against the blue of the pool, particularly if the pool has blue tiles (as most do).

Where the pool is completely clear and has white tiles, you may want to choose a pink or purple flower to create contrast. If possible, take these shots in bright, direct sunlight to ensure the colors are as vivid as possible.

Take the shot from above, experimenting with shutter speeds to get the right feel of motion. A fast shutter speed will ensure crisp, clean edges to your petals, while a slower speed might capture some ripples on the water’s surface, for a more dream-like quality.

2. Pool Fruit Salad

Setting up a pool like this doesn’t really have a purpose other than to create a striking image that sparks conversation. The goal is to have large pieces of fruit floating in the pool, looking as if they perhaps fell from the cocktail bar, or were dropped on the way to becoming a delicious fruit salad.

You may be surprised to know that there are many fruits that float without any help from interfering photographers. Pineapples are fairly buoyant, as are most citrus fruits.

Even though they’re heavy with juice, they’re less dense than the pool water, which is why they bob around happily on the surface.

Scatter large fruits in the pool, and allow them to come together, but not so close that they’re all touching. The blue or clear water creates contrast with the oranges, yellows, and greens of the fruits.

Take several shots, leaving some empty water either at the top or side of the frame. The impression should be that the fruits are floating into view, and the viewer isn’t really sure where they came from.

Leaving a gap like this also makes the image perfect for advertising purposes. A slogan or logo for a cocktail bar or event could easily fit into that space.

3. Floating Formal Arrangements

Not every floral or fruity look has to have a carefree, DIY feel. Professionally crafted floral arrangements are a stunning addition to a pool that’s not being used for swimming or paddling.

They’re especially suitable for events, special occasions, and gatherings like reunions. They show that the host has taken extra care to make the event as beautiful as possible, and showcase real attention to detail.

Don’t worry, though, I’m not about to recommend that you become a professional flower arranger as well as a photographer. Leave the actual arrangements to the experts.

If you’ve been hired to snap some photos at a pool party or event where you know these floral arrangements will be in place, see if you can find out beforehand what they might look like. The size and color of the arrangements may affect what equipment you bring with you.

Tall or domed arrangements will look amazing snapped from the side or just slightly from above. The pool water rippling alongside the floating islands of flowers will accentuate the shape and color of the flowers.

Flatter, more 2D arrangements look best from a bird’s-eye view, especially when they cover a pool’s surface or create patterns.

4. A Floating Picnic

You can buy special, oversized trays that float on the water, designed to let people eat and drink in the pool. Why not use one of these to create a themed floral or fruity moment, like a citrus-loaded breakfast?

Fill the tray with delicious-looking treats on themed crockery. Plain white is very effective, as it helps the other colors stand out even better.

Don’t go too fancy with the tray or props. While this isn’t a true floral arrangement, you still want the colors and shapes of the fruit and flowers to pop, not become overwhelmed with clutter.

Where possible, look for a spot near the pool that has a splash of natural color, like a flowering bush or some climbing ivy or clematis.

One of the things I love about this type of setup is that it’s not just about the props. Get some people involved, sitting by the pool or, where appropriate, in the pool, eating, drinking, or enjoying the flowers.

Have at least one person drinking or eating something that’s the same color as the predominant shade on the tray. A glass of orange juice will draw the eye to the citrus fruits on the tray, pulling the composition of the image neatly together.

5. The Faux Living Pool

Living pools can contain real-life flowers and plants that can be moved because they’re grown in containers. They look amazing because they have striking flowers like water lilies that you can’t grow in dry conditions.

You can emulate that look for a natural vibe by using a combination of fresh flowers and dried leaves.

Dried leaves that have retained their green color are ideal for this, because they will float without curling up, at least for a short time. Scatter these around large flowerheads with plenty of petals, for example, chrysanthemums.

Where the water is very blue, I recommend opting for pale yellow, gold, or orange mums. As long as you have plenty of green leaves, though, any color will stand out.

Don’t worry about getting actual chrysanthemum leaves. Big, round leaves are better because they mimic the look of water lilies, creating the impression of a natural, watery wonderland.

You can make this look even more magical with floating candles. Look for waterproof LED candles to avoid any fire hazard and to stop them from getting snuffed out by stray splashes of water.

6. The Faux Fruity Pool

This shot goes the opposite way from the last one, with real, refreshing fruits but fake water. The idea is to create the impression of the pool without one actually there.

Because you’re not going to use any water, you can pick any fruits. Choose a rainbow of colors, ranging from red pomegranates to deep purple grapes.

Or you could pick out all greens, in apples, avocados, and pears, or a collection of yellow and orange melons or citrus fruits.

Arrange the fruits on a blue and white surface. It doesn’t need to look exactly like water, but the more random the color placement, the stronger the impression of water will be.

You can scatter your fruits artfully or line them up. Consider the purpose of the end image; if you want if for advertising, leave space for text or logos.

If it’s for your portfolio, use lighting and framing to accentuate color and focus. Where there’s wordplay happening, such as the name of your client’s business being something fruit-related, make sure that fruit is more visible than the others.

To make it seem like your fruits are actually floating, you could even use toothpicks or cocktail sticks to raise them up slightly, and edit any visible sticks out later.

Additional Tips for Floral and Fruity Pool Shoots

Consider how you’ll keep flowers and fruit fresh on a hot, sunny day. Mushy berries are not something you want to deal with while you’re operating expensive photography equipment.

A cooler can help, or bags filled with ice packs. If you’re on good terms with your clients, ask if you can drop fresh fruits and flowers off the day before the event or shoot, so the fruits can go in the refrigerator and the flowers can live in a shady spot in a bucket of tepid water.

Keep fresh flowers cool where appropriate, but avoid freezing them or exposing them to unsuitable temperatures, as this can damage them and cause wilting.

Choose firmer fruits where possible. Citrus fruits are ideal, while smaller fruits like blueberries are fiddly and easy to lose and squash, plus they stain many materials.

Where your client has chosen the flowers, ask them which ones are important to them so you know what to focus on when taking photos. If their favorite flower is tiger lily, look for the arrangement that contains that and make it a central point when framing certain shots.

Utilize the rest of the garden or yard. While most of the shot setups I’ve recommended focus on the pool and the fruits or flowers themselves, showing the whole arrangement within its environment can be very effective.

More: Guide to Flower Photography

Final Thoughts

While the vibe here is undeniably summery, don’t feel like you have to lock yourself in, seasonally speaking. Pumpkins floating on a candlelit pool can be a delightfully atmospheric way to depict fall.

You can create wintry scenes with holly and ivy (carefully, of course), and even photograph fruits against the surface of a frozen pool, if you live in a climate where the temperature drops that low.

Get creative, and you’ll end up with some truly striking images for your clients and your portfolio.