Capturing your own images

Ways to improve and develop your own photography.

We all know how important images are in today’s world, especially for freelancers, and florists running businesses. Done well, your images can set an instant impression and help clients and employers feel strongly connected to you.

There are lots of great services and people out there you can look to work with to gain wonderful images of you and your work, but if you’re not in a position to commission that right now there’s also some great ways to work on improving your own ability and technique.

We’ve talked before in our previous blog about collaborations and photoshoots, both of which are brilliant ways to gain well-styled, intentional images. As is setting time aside to capture images, especially for work created and event installs. We want to arm you with some great tips for making the most of those opportunities.

We’ve been lucky to work closely with photographer Lauren Barber during our time building The Freelance Florist, and we’re delighted to feature her in today's blog, sharing some of her top tips and advice with you.

Meet Lauren

Lauren is a lifestyle content creator and brand specialist who works and lives in the Peak District. Lauren works with small businesses, capturing the story of their brand and also teaching others how to style, capture and tell stories through their own imagery.

what would be your 5 top tips for florists WHEN capturing their own images?

Understand what you need to capture and share. Once you have clarity on your brand and the story you need to share in order to attract your dream customers, you’ll be focused on what to capture. This will save you a lot of time and allow you to be decisive on what content you need to create.
Plan when you are going to capture your content. Thinking about your day and the content you could capture along the way. Set a timer or use a post-it note above your workstation to remind you to capture your work.
Use what you have. If you don’t have a camera, use your camera phone. If you don’t have a tripod, find somewhere to lean your phone and use a timer or ask a friend to take the photo. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the fancy equipment, people like to see progress. If you need to get to grips with your equipment, invest some time into that. I know Apple offers free seminars on how to better use your camera on iPhone.
Be conscious of where and how you style your images. Position your subject near natural light, such, as a window or door way. When styling your images, consider the focus of the photograph, what are you showcasing in the image? Have you made that the main focal point? Styling your images is an art and something you will learn over time as you begin to discover your style. Content creation needs to be real and sustainable, but it has to encourage engagement and showcase your work to an elevated level. There is a fine line when it comes to being professionally authentic, remember don’t spend too much time on finding perfection, instead invest time in presenting your work in the best way possible.
Don’t be afraid to edit your images, but be sure not to distort or discolour your subject. The power of selling your services online comes with being authentic and showing your work true to life. I use my Presets, which are used via Adobe Lightroom. They are designed to edit images with one click, reducing your time editing and allowing your imagery to look consistent. However, as I always try to outline with all my clients, the beauty of Lightroom is you can still edit the Preset settings. Having complete control of editing your imagery is so important and can help you preserve the authenticity of your images.

what’s the best way to make your images look more professional?

I would say my 3 rules to helping your images look more professional are…

1 - Good natural light.

Natural light is the one vital tool I use in all of my photographs. I stay away from synthetic lights, ensure I switch indoor lights off and make the most of the natural light that streams through my windows.

2 - A tripod.

It’s the best thing I would encourage anyone to invest in. A tripod helps you to capture clear, crisp images, reducing any movement which can occur when the camera or phone is used in hand held mode.

3 - Be considered.

When your imagery is well considered it will speak volumes to those who look on. Your imagery should tell a story collectively and whilst standing alone. They should reflect your style & aesthetic. The colours and tones you have incorporated into your imagery need to be consistent. Finally, your imagery should give your dream clients an informative insight into who you are and what you offer.

What are the key things to think about when you are presenting yourself?

In todays online world it’s not enough to post pretty pictures of your business and hope for the best! There has to be real substance behind those images. You have to provide a tangible insight into your business, its values and the people behind it all. This could be in the form of showcasing your product or service, behind the scenes, the day to day running of your business, seasonal offers, and why your business exists.

Socially, we as humans, connect emotionally with one another when we share stories about ourselves; experiences, values, hopes and dreams. We deliver those stories by expressing ourselves and by doing so we are understood more by others. That in turn allows people the opportunity to connect with us. See our personality. If they resonate with what they have learnt about us, they stick around! They may even become a loyal friend. The same goes for your business. Sharing what you offer; your achievements, goals and visual presentation. It builds a clear picture of who you are as a company. Essentially your business’ personality or what is referred to as, your Brand.

When you begin to see your business as a brand, it becomes easier for you to understand what you should be sharing in order to find your specific audience. You will have clarity on how to create brand content that resonates and develops a strong emotional connection with your audience . Once people are connected on an emotional level, you will create meaningful engagement and attract loyal customers.

My workshop Brand Styling Blueprint, helps you to discover your brand and how to visually bring it to life. You’ll create a blueprint in which give you the tools to create consistent, on-brand content.