There’s something inherently surreal about hot air balloons. They don’t rush or roar. They drift. They hover like props in a dream. And when the sky is full of them, it doesn’t feel real, until you try to photograph it.
And that’s the catch.
For all their wonder, hot air balloons are oddly hard to photograph well. The light shifts. The scale is hard to convey. The shots that seem amazing in person sometimes flatten into “just another balloon photo” on your camera roll.
But with a little planning, and a few tricks that go beyond aperture settings, you can create images that actually feel like the moment.
Here are 10 practical, thoughtful tips to help you do exactly that.
1. Get There Early. Seriously Early.
Most balloon launches happen at sunrise for good reason: winds are calmest, light is golden, and the weather is still cool. But what matters even more is everything that happens before the first balloon even lifts.
Inflation. Fire. Crew movements. Shadows stretching across dew-covered grass.
If you arrive at launch time, you’ve already missed the story. Show up at least an hour before sunrise, scout your surroundings, and watch the process unfold. Some of the most visually striking shots happen in the half-light of prep, not in the sky.
2. Shoot During the “Blue Hour” and “Golden Hour”
These aren’t just photography clichés. They’re essential for balloon shoots.
The blue hour, that quiet, steely window before sunrise, creates a moody, ethereal palette. Balloons against this backdrop glow with internal fire from the burners. It feels cinematic.
The golden hour, just after sunrise, offers warmth, long shadows, and flattering angles. Balloons turn into glowing orbs, and their colors pop against the changing sky.
Midday you’ll lose contrast, flatten colors, and blow out the highlights. Unless you’re doing overhead drone work, avoid it.
3. Choose the Right Lens for the Story You Want to Tell
There’s no “perfect” lens for balloon photography. It depends on your vision.
- Wide-angle (14–24mm): Ideal for capturing the entire scene, such as launch fields, balloon clusters, and dramatic skies. Great for showing scale and context.
- Standard zoom (24–70mm): A versatile choice if you want both landscape and some close-ups without swapping glass.
- Telephoto (70–200mm or more): Perfect for isolating one balloon, catching expressions in the basket, or compressing distant scenes for dramatic effect.
Pro tip: If you’re in the balloon, a wide or standard lens is usually best. If you’re on the ground, telephoto helps capture emotion from afar.
4. Think Like a Storyteller, Not a Technician
Settings matter, but story matters more. Ask yourself: What’s happening? What does this feel like? Who’s part of it?
Photograph:
- A pilot’s face as the burner roars.
- Kids watching in awe from a hilltop.
- Two balloons drifting toward each other like they’re dancing.
Get close. Pull back. Document the anticipation and the letdown. It’s not just about big sky visuals. It’s about the quiet, grounded moments too.
5. Watch Your Background and Horizon Lines
Balloons already look surreal. The last thing you want is a distracting background, like power lines or parking lots, breaking the illusion.
Shoot low to the ground and angle your lens upward to place the balloon against a clean sky. Or climb a slight hill to position them against mountains, trees, or even mist.
Also, don’t let your horizon line cut awkwardly through the balloon. It splits the composition and breaks the flow.
6. Use a Fast Shutter, But Not Too Fast
Balloons are slow, but people aren’t. Burners flare. Crew members hustle. And in low light, motion blur can creep in.
Start with a shutter of at least 1/250 to freeze human action during setup, and 1/500 or faster for inflight shots. If you want to play with motion blur, dip lower intentionally, but don’t risk unintentional softness.
Pair that with a wide aperture (f/2.8 to f/5.6 depending on your lens) and adjust ISO accordingly.
7. Focus on Color and Contrast
Hot air balloons are color bombs in the sky. But under harsh light, those colors can wash out. To capture their full richness:
- Slightly underexpose your image to avoid blowing out reds and yellows.
- Use a polarizing filter to deepen blue skies and reduce glare.
- Shoot in RAW so you can recover highlights and tweak white balance in post.
And don’t oversaturate. The sky at dawn doesn’t need Instagram filters. It needs subtlety and balance.
8. Get Inside the Balloon if You Can
One of the most underrated balloon shots is from inside the balloon during inflation.
If you’re allowed by the crew (and safety rules), step inside while the envelope is partially inflated. The light filtering through the fabric, the abstract patterns, the echo of flame—it’s unlike anything else in outdoor photography.
Frame for texture, symmetry, or silhouettes of workers moving within. It feels like another world.
9. Anticipate, Don’t React
Balloon launches are slow. Once the balloon lifts, your best window closes fast.
So watch the crew. Listen to the chatter. Notice which balloons are inflating first. Track the wind direction. Anticipate the trajectory and choose your angles ahead of time.
Some of the best shots happen between moments, like when a balloon just starts to tilt upright, or when the flame lights up a still-dark envelope. If you’re reacting, you’re already behind.
10. Tell the Whole Arc. From Ground to Sky to Return.
Most balloon photography stops at liftoff. That’s a mistake.
Photograph the takeoff. Then track the balloon mid-flight against changing backgrounds. Then drive to the landing field and capture the final descent, the crew’s disassembly, and the post-flight smiles.
There’s beauty in the whole journey, not just the peak.
Tell the full arc: tension, lift, drift, return. It’s not just about altitude. It’s about humanity grounded by flight.
Bonus Tips:
- Bring layers. It’s cold before sunrise and hot once the sun’s up.
- Keep spare batteries warm. Cold weather drains them quickly.
- Respect boundaries. Don’t step over crew ropes or interfere with launches.
- Know your gear in low light. It’s not the place to fumble through menus.
Don’t Just Document. Participate.
Yes, you’re the photographer. But don’t forget to look up without a lens sometimes. Feel the silence in the sky. Smile with strangers. Marvel.
Because the best hot air balloon photos don’t just show a scene. They preserve a feeling.
And those feelings float long after the balloon has landed.