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.
On a Mac, photos synced from your iPhone live in the Photos app rather than in your folders — in the upload window, click Photos in the left sidebar (under Media) to pick them directly. Full walkthrough: How do I upload photos from my Mac's Photos app?
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.
How do I upload photos from my Mac's Photos app?
Get iPhone photos that live in the Mac Photos app into SimplyScapes — pick them right from the upload window, drag and drop to the Desktop, or export a copy.