Vacation Photography

The Tulip Barn (Tulip Garden). Hillegom, The Netherlands

When the Weather Changes Everything: A Stormy Tulip Day in Hillegom

Not every photo session starts with a booking confirmation. Some begin with a message in a community group, a shared plan, and a bit of curiosity. This day started through Amsterdam Girl Gone International, a Facebook community where women connect to explore the city together. Someone posted that she wanted to visit the Tulip Barn in Hillegom. I was already heading in that direction that same day, on my way to photograph a proposal at Keukenhof, so we decided to meet there and walk the gardens together.


The original idea was simple: take photos of each other and enjoy the day. I didn’t plan this as a photo session, and we didn’t frame it that way. But when we met, I mentioned I had my camera with me. That small decision changed the whole experience.


The weather was intense. Heavy clouds, sudden rain, strong wind. One of those days that makes people turn around at the entrance. And because of that, the gardens were almost empty. This is something I’ve learned over the years: stormy days often create the most beautiful light. When the rain clears, colors deepen. Greens become richer. Tulips feel more alive. The sky adds drama you can’t plan for.


We waited, walked, paused when the rain passed, and kept going. The result was a set of images full of contrast, movement, and color. The kind of photos you simply don’t get on a calm blue-sky day.


There was another layer to this day that made it special for me. She photographed me too. And that might sound simple, but as a photographer, it’s rare. I don’t often have images of myself that feel natural, relaxed, or truly me. That exchange gave me something I didn’t know I needed. It reminded me how powerful it is to be on the other side of the camera. It also reminded me that photography doesn’t always need a formal structure to be meaningful.


Later that day, after finishing the proposal shoot at Keukenhof, we met again. We walked through the gardens together, explored slowly, and kept photographing. I’ll link that proposal story here, because the two moments belong to the same day, the same weather, the same energy. What stood out most was how easy everything felt. No pressure. No perfect conditions. Just showing up and responding to what the day offered.


I’m sharing this because it reflects how I approach photography in general:

- You don’t need perfect weather.

- You don’t need ideal conditions.

- You don’t need to be fearless in front of the camera.


What you need is trust, flexibility, and a willingness to stay present when plans shift. Some of the strongest images come from days that don’t go “as expected.” Storms pass. Light changes. Crowds leave. And suddenly, there’s space. This day was a reminder of why I love photographing people outdoors, and why I never cancel lightly because of rain. Circumstances don’t ruin photos. They shape them, and sometimes, they make them even better.


Here is the link to the engagement proposal that happened on this same day at Keukenhof Gardens.


Until next time in Amsterdam, or in a tulip garden close by,


Joanna

Your Photographer in Amsterdam








Tags

Photography Amsterdam Tulip season Netherlands Outdoor photo sessions Rainy day photography Portrait photography Keukenhof

Woman standing in a tulip garden in Hillegom, surrounded by pink and white tulips, with a traditional Dutch windmill in the background under dramatic clouds.
Portrait of a woman smiling among rows of tulips in Hillegom, wearing a black coat, with a windmill visible behind her after a stormy sky clears.
Woman standing between blooming tulip rows in a Dutch tulip garden, looking to the side as sunlight breaks through dark clouds.
Close-up portrait of a woman in a tulip garden, smiling softly with a windmill blurred in the background and dramatic spring sky overhead.
Woman posing among curved rows of purple and white tulips, eyes closed, enjoying the light after rain in a quiet tulip garden near Hillegom.
Woman seated among red tulips in a Dutch tulip garden, gently touching a flower as sunlight highlights rich colors after a storm.
Close portrait of a woman surrounded by bright red tulips, looking to the side, with deep colors enhanced by post-rain light.
Woman sitting on a swing in a tulip garden, framed by colorful tulips and a cloudy sky, creating a playful and calm spring portrait.
Wide shot of a woman on a swing surrounded by yellow, red, and pink tulips, with an open sky and quiet garden atmosphere.
Woman on a swing in a tulip garden, photographed through blurred foreground tulips, emphasizing depth, color, and a peaceful spring moment.
Woman in profile standing among colorful tulips at the Tulip Barn in Hillegom, with soft sunlight and spring flowers in the background.
Aerial view of a woman walking between long rows of pink and purple tulips at the Tulip Barn in Hillegom.
Woman walking through vibrant tulip rows in Hillegom, surrounded by pink, red, and purple flowers photographed from above.
Wide aerial view of the Tulip Barn in Hillegom with colorful tulip rows stretching into the distance and a woman walking through the center path.
Woman walking through tulip fields in Hillegom under a dramatic cloudy sky, surrounded by red, yellow, and white tulips.
Smiling woman standing among colorful tulips in Hillegom with storm clouds overhead, capturing spring atmosphere in the Netherlands.
Close-up portrait of a woman in front of bright red tulip rows in Hillegom, eyes closed and enjoying the moment.
Woman smiling among red tulip fields in Hillegom, photographed during spring with shallow depth of field.
Side profile of a woman adjusting her hair while standing in front of red tulip rows in Hillegom, Netherlands.
Portrait of a woman smiling directly at the camera with red tulip fields stretching behind her in Hillegom.
Woman walking through a field of yellow spring flowers in Hillegom, Netherlands, with rows of blooms stretching into the distance.
Woman sitting on a white bicycle surrounded by colorful tulip fields in Hillegom during spring, with dramatic clouds in the sky.
Portrait of a woman on a bicycle in a tulip garden in Hillegom, showing layered rows of pink, yellow, and red tulips.
Smiling woman standing among colorful tulips in full bloom in Hillegom, photographed after rain with soft light.
Close-up portrait of a woman crouching between tulip rows, surrounded by pink, red, and yellow tulips.
Portrait of a woman in a tulip field looking to the side, with rows of vibrant spring flowers creating depth behind her.

You may also like