How do I start a design from a photo?
Turn a photo of your yard into a landscape design. Pick or upload a photo, add a few details, and open it in the Visual Designer.
Starting your design with a photo of your actual space makes it easy to visualize exactly how your landscape will look. This is the most popular way to begin a design in SimplyScapes.
The photo comes first — you pick the space, then add the details.
Step 1: Choose your photo
- From your Designs dashboard, click "New Design" in the top right corner.
- The Start a new design window opens. Choose your photo one of two ways:
- Take a photo or upload — click the upload box to take a photo or pick one from your device. JPG, PNG, WEBP and HEIC files up to 25 MB are supported.
- Pick from existing photos — under "Or pick from existing photos," switch between Recent (photos you've used before) and SimplyScapes stock (our sample properties). Click "Show more" or "Browse all" to see the full library.
- Click the photo you want. SimplyScapes moves straight to the next step — if you're uploading, it keeps uploading in the background while you fill in the details.
Step 2: Add your design details
Your photo appears on the left, with a short form on the right. Every field is optional — you can add details now or later from inside the designer.
- Design name — what you'd like to call this design (for example, "Maple St. front yard").
- Client — on Professional workspaces, the client this design is for. Choose an existing client or add a new one.
- Select Property — the property address. On Professional workspaces, pick the client first.
- Design Area — the part of the property you're designing (Front Yard, Backyard, Side Yard, and so on).
- Click "Open design."
The Visual Designer opens with your photo as the background, ready for you to add plants, objects, and other design elements. Want to use a different photo instead? Click "Cancel & choose a different photo" to go back to Step 1.
Tips for best results
- Use a photo taken from eye level or slightly elevated
- Ensure good lighting (avoid harsh shadows or very dark images)
- Take the photo straight-on rather than at extreme angles
- Clear, well-lit photos work best
For more detail, see What makes a good background image?
Creating Your First Design
Create your first landscape design in SimplyScapes. Start from a photo of your own property, and learn what makes a great background image.
What makes a good background image for my design?
Get realistic results with the right property photo. Tips on lighting, camera angle, resolution, and file format for the best background image in your landscape design.