The Wedding Florist
PODCAST

Episode 5 | How to Plan a Styled Shoot as a Wedding Florist   

Let me ask you this: Ever wondered how some wedding florists seem to have this magnetic charm, drawing in dream clients left, right and centre

I just want to say that styled shoots are their "not-so-secret" weapon. But it needs to be done correctly to get the most value out of it. Because as a florist you will end up spending the most on the settled shoot because we all know flowers are not cheap.  So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out In today's podcast, I'm going to break down exactly how to put together a successful styled shoot, as well as how to go about marketing it afterwards. .
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Understanding Styled Shoots: 
So let's start with understanding styled shoots and what they really are.  Styled shoots are such a huge part of running a wedding business, and funny enough they're something I didn't even know existed when I first started my business. So they aren’t like your typical weddings but instead they are creative sessions where you get your creative juices going to showcase your unique style as well as stay ahead of trends everyone is talking about.  They also allow you to create pinterest worthy images which tell a story. Some of the best clients I have gained in my business have been following a styled shoot where I have been able to produce beautiful images whilst experimenting a new style and design.  

Setting Goals and Themes and concepts: 
So when I did my first styled shoot, I went in gung-ho. I didn’t understand what I was doing fully and didn’t have clear goals set for the shoot. So before you go in I want you to really think about how you can maximise the value of doing the shoot for you and your business.  What do you want to achieve? Is it showing off a new floral style or attracting a specific type of client - think about your ideal client and what types of brides and grooms you want to attract. If you’ve been invited to participate in a shoot, as flattering and exciting as it can be, really think about if it will help you attract your ideal client. If the concept and styling is too far off what your dream is then think twice about saying yes.  Oh, and themes and concepts - are you going to shoot something rustic or modern, bohemian or classic. Make sure your themes and concepts are in tune with your brand and what your dream clients would swoon over.

Put together a moodboard 
This is where you can have fun on Pinterest! Open up a Canva, and drag across images into a design board which will act as inspiration for the shoot. This should include the style of dress, an idea of the colour scheme, an idea of the mood, lighting, location, and theme.  

Collaboration with Other Vendors: 
Now, here's where the magic happens and it is so fun – collaboration. Think of it like building a dream team. Join forces with photographers, event planners, and stylists. The more, the merrier! The key here is to take the time to look through everybody's websites and portfolio's before asking them to be involved. Do you have similar target markets? If not, you probably don't want to work with them. When you find someone who works with similar people, or has a similar aesthetic to you, get in touch with them.  So with collaboration you need to ensure there is good communication with the whole team. It's not just about creating stunning visuals; it's also about expanding your network within the wedding wonderland. This can certainly help you with referrals in the future. It can obviously feel quite daunting to ask people to get involved with a project; they'll need to spend time, and sometimes money on this project. I recommend writing out a plan of the day, getting as detailed as possible on what you're planning on shooting, include a moodboard, and mention where you'll try to submit

Choosing the Right Location or venue: 
Now then, Let's talk locations, because where you set the stage matters. A venue can be considered a team member, but it's important to take the time to think about where you'd like the images to be taken. If you have a venue in mind, think about visiting it to make sure it will fit your theme and your brand. If you're shooting on location, check that the land is public and not privately owned; you don't want to get in trouble! Once you’ve got the venue it’s always good to check with your photographer on the lighting situation at different times of the day to get the best photos. If you want to shoot outdoors make sure you Have a backup plan because we all know how the weather can change.  

Creating Floral Designs: 
Now, let's get to the heart of it – your floral creations. Dive into that creative process! Pick flowers, colours, and arrangements that go well with your theme . Really prep your flowers like they're getting ready for a red carpet event. Make sure they are well conditioned and in bloom. Get them 2-3 days before the shoot allowing them to be open and at the right stage. Make sure the petals are not bruised. Consider the conditions of your shoot location so your blooms stay as radiant as ever. Think about your installations and if you will create them on the day at the venue so the photographer can also take shots of you in the creative process or if you will pre-prep them beforehand.  

Capturing and Marketing the Shoot: 
Seems really obvious but you’ve worked damn hard on the planning and now all you  need to do is put the hard work in to make sure everyone delivers what they promise on the day to get the best photographs. You may wish to plan some of the shots you want beforehand too.  And make sure you don’t post anything online because most publications want exclusivity. This is hard because you are eager to show off what you have done but it's best to wait - trust me! And once you’ve been published it really is the best feeling and then you can share, share, share until your heart's content. Make sure to post on your instagram feed, in your stories, write a blog about it and add it to your website, drive traffic to it via your link in bio, post to your FB Page, share it via email put it on tiktok and anywhere else you have a following.  

I hope this has given you the insight to create the perfect shoot for your business. So we've spoken about how to set your goals for your shoot, creating a theme and concept, putting together a moodboard, collaborating with other vendors, choosing a venue,  creating your flowers, actually doing the shoot and then marketing it to get the visibility you need.  

That's a wrap and I hope this helps you so you can go away and implement it in your business.  

If you've enjoyed listening to my podcast please show my podcast some love and give me a review on i-tunes or take a picture and post it on your stories. Tag me in and I’ll share the love back and if you think it'll help your biz bestie then share it with them.    

There are various ways you can work with me.  So I have some free resources to help you in your business - I have a guide to creating proposals and The Ultimate social media kit with a calendar, strategy and hashtags specially put together for wedding florists.

I also have various templates and downloads for your business and courses and if there's a topic you want covering in the future let me know and I'll get it sorted for you.  

So until next week, stay blooming and take care.  

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Hey there Wedding Florist

I'm Sarita B 

I'm the founder of Wedding Florist Academy. After qualifying in City and Guilds level 2 in 2014, I started my wedding flower business and learned how to sale my designs from hand ties to installations and grew a 6 figure business. I now enjoy helping other florists do exactly the same thing.  

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