Picture Perfect
It’s not always easy to find the time to stop and take a
photo of your arrangement before it leaves the store. But have you
considered that if you don’t snap a quick photo, you may have just lost
a potential tool that could increase your profits? All you need is a
little preparation and a camera. Any camera will do, but digital
cameras offer you greater freedom when you’re practicing your
techniques, as you see instant results. Taking good, quality pictures
of your designs can be intimidating, but there are some simple
techniques that can make your amateur photographs look incredible.
A suitable backdrop is essential for the overall quality of your photographs. You wouldn’t want to show a customer a photo of an arrangement you created, with a pop can, scissors, and a pile of floral foam in the background. It would draw attention away from your focal point. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your own backdrop. All you need is some fabric – a solid colour works best. Don’t use white, unless you have supplemental lighting and a photo tent. You might even want to consider buying a few different colours of fabric to alternate as your backdrop. Trim your fabric and either sew or tape the edges to make a clean line. Now you can hang your backdrop from the wall or hang it on a pole, which can easily be tucked away in a closet and pulled out when needed.
Proper lighting is another critical thing you must consider when preparing for your photo shoot. Don’t overestimate the camera’s flash – often it’s too bright at such a close proximity and it’s normally in the wrong position to actually light up the flowers properly. Soft, natural light is best, but if that’s not an option in your store, then the next best source is a standard 100-watt light bulb. Whatever source of light you use, make sure that it originates from behind you. Until you know what works best, make sure you take the time to experiment.
Now that your floral arrangement is positioned in front of the backdrop with the appropriate lighting, you’re ready to starting taking some pictures. Now I’m sure most of you are going to go stand beside your bouquet and take a photo. This is a good place to start, but don’t limit yourself. You should take at least three photos from different angles. Try standing on a stepladder and taking a bird’s-eye view, try kneeling, move to the left, move to the right, move in closer, take a few steps back – just be sure that your photos stay within the backdrop. If you find yourself unsteady while taking the photos, you might want to try using a tripod to reduce the chance of blurry images. Another option to enhance your photographs is to accessorize your arrangement. You don’t have to limit yourself by sitting your designs in a vase. Try using a crate, ceramic pot, a basket – anything in the store that will enhance your arrangement. The best thing to do is experiment. The advantage to digital is that you can take as many images as you want, and then review them to make sure you have a few options to work with.
Your floral designs express your unique style as a florist, but if you don’t take the time to photograph your work, your arrangements become distant memories. Floral arranging is a temporary art form. You can put your heart and soul into an arrangement, but you know it won’t last. A photograph can be used to capture every detail of your design, to ensure your hard work will be remembered. Explaining your design style to your customers can often be tricky, but if you have a portfolio of your work, you can show them exactly what you do. It’s an incredible selling tool that you shouldn’t be without.
|
