High Definition: Paola Tello and the budding art of professional cannabis photography

April 4, 2025

Emily Wheeler,

Photo by Paola Tello

When Paola Tello moved to the United States in 2019, she wasn’t expecting her camera lens to focus on cannabis. After relocating to Kansas City for her husband’s job in the industry, she saw an untapped opportunity in the emerging market. At the onset of cannabis legalization in Missouri, she noticed local brands hiring out-of-state freelancers for photography.

“That’s when I realized it could be a great niche to explore,” she says. In turn, CannaShots KC was born. Tello’s artistic eye and technical expertise help her to capture the unique qualities of cannabis plants.

While Tello has always been passionate about photography, she never imagined it would lead her to become a cannabis photographer. Growing up in Panama, where the substance remains illegal for recreational use, Tello had limited exposure to cannabis culture compared to those in the U.S. “I didn’t grow up in a society where that was just the normal thing to do,” she says. Panama became the first Central American nation to legalize medical cannabis in 2021.

Photo by Paola Tello

Working in the industry in the U.S. helped her see its potential not only as a subject of art but also as a means to normalize the substance’s place in society. Tello found herself documenting everything from the intricate details of the plants to behind-the-scenes snapshots of cultivation sites. “I think it helps with the transparency aspect because when people don’t see something regularly, it’s easier to judge. When more content is shared about it, it becomes more normalized,” she says.

She gained most of her experience as the in-house photographer for BesaMe Wellness for over five years. Earlier this year, she made the leap to full-time freelance, eager to expand her reach. While she primarily works in Kansas City, she’s had the opportunity to collaborate in Columbia and St. Louis. She’s done photography for brands like Good Day Farms, Gold Rush, and Proper Cannabis. In the future, she hopes to spend time in the Minnesota market. The state legalized cannabis for adults in 2023 and started accepting business license applications earlier this year.

Her focus, however, hasn’t always been embraced, particularly within the broader photography community. Despite the growing interest in cannabis photography, some still dismiss it due to the subject she captures.

“People do think sometimes it’s not a serious job. I once had another photographer tell me I wasn’t a real photographer because of what I shoot,” she says.

Beyond the criticism, Tello points out that this style of photography often involves a steep learning curve, much of it being trial and error. Since the industry is so fresh, there is a lack of available resources for capturing the perfect image. She says a lot of it is figuring it out on your own.

“There is not a lot of information about how to photograph cannabis on the Internet or in books,” Tello says. Other experts in the field aren’t eager to share their insights either. “Most of the famous photographers within the cannabis industry, a lot of them don’t want to share how they do things because right now it is a very niche industry.”

Photo by Paola Tello

One of Tello’s biggest breakthroughs came after meeting Rhys Harper—one of the leading macro photographers in the field. She says she’s lucky to have found someone willing to teach her. “I was able to learn all the little things that I couldn’t get with experience. It allowed me to learn how to execute the ideas I had in mind but couldn’t do,” she says. One of those things was improving her macro photography. The class with Harper helped her familiarize herself with new software to help streamline her editing process.

Photo by Paola Tello

Tello uses a meticulous technique known as focus stacking to capture the finest details of the plants. She uses a focusing rail to capture hundreds of images at different distances. “You’re going to be taking anywhere from 100 to 500 pictures, and all of these pictures are going to have a very teeny tiny piece of the whole picture in focus,” she explains.

Once the images are captured, she puts them into editing software, where only the focused areas are merged to create the final, crisp picture. “This process is quite lengthy,” she says. But it’s worth the effort, as this technique allows her to reveal intricate details of cannabis that you just wouldn’t see with the naked eye.

One of the most captivating features in these close-up images is trichomes. These mushroom-shaped appendages are arguably the most crucial element in growing cannabis for both medical and recreational use. Ranging in size from 15 to 200 micrometers (yes, micrometers), they contain all the essential THC and cannabinoids that produce distinctive effects. You’ve likely seen them as the shiny, frosty coating on cannabis buds.

It was those very trichomes that sparked Tello’s interest in this sector of photography all those years ago. “I have always loved photographing plants and nature,” she says. “But it was macro photography that really caught my attention, and I think it does that for a lot of people.”

Photo by Paola Tello

While Tello’s specialty lies in capturing these hyper-focused photos of the plant, her work extends beyond the bud. She photographs all aspects of the industry, from grow houses to edibles and even accessories like bongs and vaporizers. “It really is unlike anything else,” Tello says.

As the industry continues to evolve, so does the demand for dynamic content. Tello recognizes the shift toward video, with platforms like Instagram and TikTok now favoring short-form content. Eager to keep up, she’s been honing her videography skills. “It was a goal of mine to improve my video content for a long time. Recently, I’ve been able to improve a lot,” she says.

Tello has big dreams for her career in cannabis photography. As she puts it, “Whenever there’s a brand looking for a photographer that specializes in cannabis, I want people to instantly think, ‘Paola. We have to call her.’” With her lens focused on success and a budding reputation, it’s clear her journey is just getting started.

To see more of Tello’s work, check her website.

All photos by Paolo Tello: