Wait—you should hire your own photographer for your wedding floral design work?

Yes, you read that right!

The wedding industry is all about the pretty, and pretty images are a must for any floral designer.

Building a Reliable Portfolio of Images Is Crucial

Image quality is king! We rely on gorgeous photos of our work to promote our websites, social media, marketing materials, and attract prospective clients.

To build a portfolio of beautiful photos, I initially chose to participate in styled photoshoots.

Designing for photoshoots taught me three valuable lessons:

1. They're Expensive—with a capital E!

2. Styled photoshoots don't always reflect my personal style and brand. They reflect the planner's or the photographer's.

3. I need to have creative control over all floral elements if I want photos to reflect my personal style and brand, but that's not always possible.

The other source of wedding floral design photos? Your client’s wedding photographer.

After the wedding day, I'd often wait excitedly for lots of gorgeous images of my floral design work only to be disappointed. I'd get lots of group images and only one shot of the bridal bouquet. Rarely did I get close-up photos of floral details, and never any of the behind-the-scenes (and understandably so!). The couple is the photographer's client, not myself.

Sadly, on a few occasions, photographers have chosen not to share their work at all! And wouldn't you know, it's usually the weddings I'm most excited about.

Owning the Images of Your Floral Design Work Means More Marketing Opportunities

Many people don't understand that the photographer owns exclusive rights to their images. Don't mistakenly think that because the bride and groom have consented to you using photos of their wedding that you're legally entitled to post away. It's a copyright infringement.

In most cases, it's illegal to post an image without the photographer's permission, even when credit is given to the photographer.

And when using a photographer’s images, always obtain the photographer's permission in writing. If the photographer generously consents, credit them with every image you use. Not only is it ethical, but it also authenticates your work and builds trust with clients.

That all being said, for me, the days of relying on the generosity of others for photos of my work are over!

I recently had the opportunity to flower my dream wedding. One look at the mood board, and I knew every aspect fit perfectly with my floral brand. The bride's relaxed yet elegant theme, the mother of the bride's exquisite taste and eye for detail, the wedding's waterfront location, and most importantly, the floral elements hit every note of my garden-style aesthetic!

Immediately my mind went to all the possibilities this feature-worthy wedding would provide in expanding my reach to my ideal client while leveling up my brand and my portfolio. I couldn't let the opportunity to have professional photos of all the beautiful floral elements slip through my fingers.

Hire the Right Photographer for Your Needs

First, I determined how I'd use the photos before deciding what photographer to hire. You may initially think a wedding photographer is best, but that's not always the case.

My most popular social media posts feature me at work or behind-the-scenes photos of my floral installations. I knew a photographer experienced with brand photography in addition to weddings was what I needed.

I wanted a mix of candid behind-the-scenes shots of my team and me setting up the wedding, photos detailing the materials and mechanics of the larger installations, as well as beautifully styled images of my flower arrangements.

I felt these photos would provide limitless options for blogging and social media that I was presently lacking. With that in mind, I created a list of images that were the most important to me as a floral design business owner.

Plan Your Shot List

Once I found the right photographer for my needs, I reviewed my shot list of images with her and explained how I intended to use them.

We negotiated her fee based on the following:

1. Travel to the venue.

2. The amount of time required to complete my shot list.

3. My provision of all styling elements for the photos.

4. The turn around time to receive the images.

As a courtesy, I also made sure bug spray (we were outdoors most of the time), snacks, lunch, and water were available while she worked—something I’m happy to provide for all my staff. As I expected I'd be in many of the photos and that would limit my time for actual set up, I also made sure I had hired extra floral design help.

Having a curated collection of beautiful photographs specific to my professional requirements was well worth the investment.

Hiring a Photographer Could Be a Huge Win for Your Floral Design Business

Remember the three valuable lessons I learned from photoshoots? I realize now that hiring my own photographer resolved all three of my core concerns.

1. A professional photographer costs less than flowers for a photoshoot.

2. Every photo is a representation of my style and brand.

3. I have total control over the flowers and the number and types of images I receive.

If you really want beautiful images that truly reflect you, your design work, and your brand, I seriously recommend hiring your own professional photographer for your next epic event. I promise you'll be glad you did!

All photos by Hilary Spencer.