Interview with Marina Walker

She is based on the Hertfordshire & North London border, and regularly covers London, the Home Counties and beyond.

Starting out on social media and developing her passion to career – Marina has now photographed for M&S, RHS, London College of Garden Design and many more. 

As well as garden photography commissions, Marina teaches 1:1 flower photography workshop in-person and online for those wishing to increase their skills, and speaks at events about her photography.

About You

Can you tell us a little bit more about you and how your photography career began?

I have always been a creative person. During my teenage years I developed a love for art, going on to study Art History at university. Originally, I had planned a career within the arts/heritage sector, but the allure of photography and gardens took over in my early twenties. Plants were subjects that were readily available to me as a hobbyist, after inheriting my mother’s garden after her passing in 2014.

I found flower photography to be incredibly relaxing and healing while I was experiencing grief. It never occurred to me back then that I would manage to turn it into a career. I started by selling greeting cards and prints to gauge the interest in my style of photography. Gradually as I gained confidence in my skills, I expanded my portfolio to wider garden landscape shots and began offering my services professionally. I feel incredibly proud to be able to say I turned from amateur to professional entirely self-taught, and it’s particularly meaningful remembering how it all started in my mother’s garden.

How did social media help develop your career?

Just as I was beginning to take photography more seriously, Instagram was growing as a platform, so I started sharing my work there as there was a thriving flower photography community.

At first, I didn’t share my full name, opting for an alias username. But making the decision to share it (@bymarinawalker) was a turning point and made it clear I was aiming for photography to be more than a hobby. I found that people started to become interested in not only my work, but my life, and this connection with an audience has been key in growing. I like to think photographers don’t have to be these silent, faceless entities, but can be a personality that people want to learn about. I know social media gets a lot of hate, but I owe a lot to Instagram in those early years; not only did it serve as an online portfolio of sorts, but it also allowed me to network with other photographers and people in the gardening world.

What surprised you most about the photography industry?

What has surprised me most is how supportive everyone in the garden photography industry is. You’d think that, with everyone essentially competing for work, there’d be some level of rivalry, but the most valuable support I’ve had during the early years of my career has been from other photographers.

The Garden Media Guild and Professional Garden Photographers’ Association have been a wonderful support in my career, especially. I used to feel like a small fish in a pond of hugely talented individuals with extensive portfolios, but I learnt to carve my own path and I hope it’s inspiring to see a woman in her mid-30s succeeding in this genre of photography.

About Your Garden Style & Design

What do you hope to convey to viewers through your photography?

My style embraces colour and light and so I try and convey the natural beauty and joy of plants and gardens. It’s been so important in my career to stay true to the style of photography that best reflects how I personally experience gardens. While moody, muted and documentary-style photography can be fashionable, I have always maintained naturalistic vibrancy and warmth in my work because that’s how gardens make me feel - uplifted! I love that there’s a place for all different styles of photography.

What is the most magical or memorable moment you've experienced while photographing a garden?

There’s not been one standout moment, but I’d say it’s the overall peace and tranquility I feel. We are so lucky in the UK to have access to so much green space, so to be able to spend a large proportion of my working time outdoors in these beautiful gardens is so good for my mental health. I think every person who loves gardens can attest to this!

How do you stay inspired and continue to develop your skills?

I try to visit as many gardens as possible, even when it's not in a professional capacity. I find the National Garden Scheme open days great for this, as they showcase lived-in gardens and the passionate, creative people behind them. It’s particularly nice when I come across a plant I haven’t photographed before, so I’m always being challenged. It’s a never-ending journey developing my skills. As technology develops, I’m always learning and perfecting new editing techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Garden Advice & Design

What three pieces of advice would you give to a photographer starting out?

1. Don’t take just one photo and then move on. If you’ve got a flower in front of you, take multiple shots from a variety of angles and levels. Work your subject. Spending time on composition and working out which is the most flattering angle (much like having your portrait taken!) will elevate your work. 
2. Immerse yourself in art. Go to an art gallery, watch films, study the way light is used and the way emotion is captured. Having well-rounded artistic knowledge is really beneficial. 
3. Take up practical courses with professionals or listen to them speak at events if you are able. I offer 1:1 garden photography mentoring in person and online for those who want to learn directly from me. 

Do you have any tips for capturing the beauty of my garden in different seasons?

Capturing a garden’s beauty through the seasons is all about working with the unique light, textures, and moods each time of year brings. In spring, focus on the energy of new growth - fresh leaves, delicate blossom, and the first bursts of colour after winter. Summer spoils us with flower after flower blooming and is perfect for golden hour shots that highlight lush foliage and vibrancy. Autumn offers rich, earthy tones and interesting contrasts as leaves change colour and late-season plants take on a sculptural quality. In winter, embrace minimalism – highlight bare branches, frost-covered details, whilst low light can create striking, atmospheric images.

What three pieces of advice would you give to a gardener starting out on a new garden project?

1. Take your time to observe the space before making big decisions. Notice how the light moves throughout the day, how the soil behaves, and which areas feel naturally inviting. A garden that works in harmony with its surroundings will always feel more effortless.
2. That said, I have a ‘if I like it, I’ll plant it’ approach, and that means I may not have the most cohesive planting scheme, but if it brings me joy, who cares if the colours clash a bit?! There’s a reason my own garden isn’t very photogenic! 
3. Embrace patience. A garden is never truly finished, and plants take time to settle in and flourish. Experiment, adapt, and enjoy the process rather than rushing to an end result. Some of the best garden moments happen in the in-between stages.

Marina Walker Website & Instagram