Word of the day

Inflorescence. (n) I like to showcase cannabis with inflorescence shots also known as branch shots.

There are many botanical terms that are misused in the cannabis community and industry. I’ve mentioned before words matter, that’s why I’m sharing this passage that explains when you we are referring to a branch or a cluster of branches we are actually talking about an inflorescence. If you check out the page on wikipedia, it can go pretty deep with botanical terms when describing the different aspects and morphology.


“An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches.[1] Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed. The modifications can involve the length and the nature of the internodes and the phyllotaxis, as well as variations in the proportions, compressions, swellings, adnations, connotations and reduction of main and secondary axes. One can also define an inflorescence as the reproductive portion of a plant that bears a cluster of flowers in a specific pattern.

The stem holding the whole inflorescence is called a peduncle. The major axis (incorrectly referred to as the main stem) above the peduncle bearing the flowers or secondary branches is called the rachis. The stalk of each flower in the inflorescence is called a pedicel. A flower that is not part of an inflorescence is called a solitary flower and its stalk is also referred to as a peduncle. Any flower in an inflorescence may be referred to as a floret, especially when the individual flowers are particularly small and borne in a tight cluster, such as in a pseudanthium. The fruiting stage of an inflorescence is known as an infructescence. Inflorescences may be simple (single) or complex (panicle). The rachis may be one of several types, including single, composite, umbel, spike or raceme.”

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, November 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:50, November 23, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inflorescence&oldid=1055496407

How to prepare for a cannabis photoshoot

Platinum Cookies – Grown by Lowd

You’ ve decided the Who (photographer), What (Product/strains) and When (typically 1-3 days around harvest).

Want tips on how to prepare your space for a cannabis photoshoot? To help the professional photographer work efficiently? Help set them up for success for your on-site cannabis photoshoot. Keep reading.

Create them a workspace

Figure out how much space the photographer will need for your particular type of shoot. Different gear setups will require different space requirements. Depending on the photographers gear and the type of shoot they will be performing the specific needs will vary. Experience level and equipment your photographer possess will help determine a role on how much space they need.

Keep reading for general guidelines to set your photographer up for successful shoot

You will want to help find a spot that has:

  • Low traffic – If possible choose a spot without many other people needing to pass through.
  • Lighting – Firstly, Unless you’re after grow room shots, avoid having the photographer work under any grow lights. Grow lighting is really harsh lighting, it’s very difficult to make quality and beautiful pictures with. The photographer should be able to provide their own light and overpower standard room lighting.
  • Airflow – Turn off HVAC and fans for the workspace if possible for shooting branches, or on-site macro work. A fan can ruin a shot if stacking, the wind moves the trichome or fan leaf in between stacked shots.
  • Tools– You may feel inclined to offer your tripod, lights or some other piece of auxiliary photo equipment to the photographer. They will bring what they need to perform the job, like any professional. The photographers trust and experience is in their own tools, they have practised and know what works and the limits.
  • Space – The more space available the better, for product, macro or Inflorescence (live branch) photography. The greater area there is to spread out and setup a mobile studio the more efficient the photographer can be. It can be challenging if your tripping over your own gear and side stepping random grow equipment.
  • Vibrations – Are the enemy of macro and micro photography work. Depending on the level of magnification, it might make sense to schedule an after-hours shoot. This can allow more equipment, lights and traffic to be minimized.

Bonus preparation tips

  • Plan – Tag plants prior to the arrival of your cannabis photographer, help narrow the search down for the best specimens.
  • Shot list – Think about what content you will need, and for what purpose. For instance, if you said that you need a grow room shot for a website header banner. The photographer can help visualize they will need to frame the shot wide, that the main subject needs to work in more of a panoramic ratio. Making a list of needed shots and expressing what their use will be can drastically improve the results for your shoot.
  • Label – Be sure to have everything clearly labeled and legible. There is no shortage of acronyms or strain names, help stop any confusion from starting.
  • Water – Place stems in water if you cut any branches prior to the photographer arriving.This will help keep them plants from wilting. Just as you would for a bouquet of flowers or a christmas tree. For plants with larger fan leaves or highly magnified trichomes this is essential.

Every shoot and photographer will work differently. Hopefully these general guidelines will help you prepare for a cannabis photoshoot and help ensure its success. Reach out
Let me know what has worked for you, or any questions in the comments below!

Behind the Lens

Behind the scene setup for a lunar eclipse cannabis photo

My favorite personal shots have a backstory. I was determined to get a cannabis photo during a lunar eclipse this past summer. I could have created a better image with multiple angled shots and compositing – but this wasn’t for an ad -this was for me, it had to be real.


The Red of a lunar eclipse is for a short duration of the entire eclipse, that was surprising. After dialing in my settings, I realized the moon was higher in the horizon than I anticipated, and a fence blocked the view of the plant from shooting at ground level. I tried everything I could think of but nothing would quite get me that height I needed. My ideas were starting to get a little more risky, as the red started to fade. Finally I remembered my ladder. I use them all the time to get me to the right perspective, but somehow I needed to get that plant up there. At that point the Red had completely faded, it looks more like a moon shot-but this is my favorite lunar eclipse photo that I’ve taken to date.

Often we just see walls and obstacles, often it’s just our perspective we must change.


-Resinted Lens