My recent commissioned styling and photography of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries ,and raspberries for the Berry People, LLC.
Objective: Seasonal idea generation, styling, and photography for the company’s line of berries for publicity, and internal and external collateral use.
This post contains a couple affiliate links which means if you buy one of these linens from Etsy, I receive a tiny commission.
I admit I’m a little obsessed with linens.
For my shopping personality, they check all the boxes. They’re less of a commitment than, say, a big piece of handmade pottery. They are easy to store in my prop collection so I have the freedom to go overboard. They make great travel souvenirs because they pack light.
For my work, they add that special touch to a photo that speaks to our individual styles. They serve as a baby step for venturing out of our comfort zones when we want to add something a little different - in color, in pattern. There are so many textures and colors that can support the moods we aim to create with your photos.
I have many people ask me where I get my linens, so I’m sharing three spots I love below.
Lakeshore Linens makes up the majority of my linen collection. I absolutely love the colors, textures, styles, and sizes.
112 James Street is a spot I discovered a couple years ago. I have a few of their linens and I need to order some more! I love the deep, natural colors that are available.
Craft and fabric stores are where I turn when I want to have fun with prints. Look in the handkerchief section. There are usually brightly colored options and they are super affordable so you won’t be afraid to take a chance on a few.
Want to read more about linens. I wrote a post a while back about 6 Types of Linens to Diversify Your Prop Collection.
One subject that I’ve enjoyed working with more in recent years is flowers. There are so many ways to capture them, so many tones and moods you can set with them.
Of course, I’ve incorporated them into my food photography.
Through edible flowers.
And with dried lavender when it’s been in a recipe.
But photographing flowers in the wild, on farms, and in arrangements has been a new challenge that I absolutely love.
I’ve had the opportunity to teach about flower photography and I’m thrilled that I’ll be co-teaching an in-person workshop this September with Alicia Schwede at her Fleurs Creative studio in the Historic Downtown Snohomish, Washington outside of Seattle.
You know her on Instagram as Flirty Fleurs and her skill in floral design is unmatched. What she creates is absolutely stunning.
It’s hard to tell if I’m more excited to help people photograph the beautiful creations she helps them make or about the opportunity to be able to photograph them in her beautiful studio. It’s in a 100+-year-old building with all the historical touches, like exposed brick, that you’d expect!
In preparation for our teaching together, I asked Alicia if she had three tips for floral design and prep so that I could pair those with my three trips for photographing those creations.
Here are her tips:
Remove foliage that will be below the water line. By doing this you'll keep the water cleaner as foliage under water creates an environment where bacteria grows.
Trim stems at an angle. By trimming at an angle there is more surface area to take up water and rehydrate the blooms.
Use a clean vase. Between uses be sure to clean the vase out with soap and hot water to remove any traces of bacteria. This easy step will ensure longer-lasting flowers.
And once you have your beautiful, long-lasting arrangement together, here are a few of my tips for capturing its best qualities.
Know your photography style. Flowers look great in bright, vibrant settings, with muted, comforting tones, and with dark, drastic contrasts. What are you going for? Knowing this helps you control your light, set your camera, and prop your set.
Turn your hero spot towards your light. Even with a large arrangement, pick a hero spot as your point of focus. Then turn that towards your light source, not away from it.
Move yourself to capture all angles. Flower photography is not the time to strap yourself to a tripod. The best shots often come from unexpected angles. And that comes from moving yourself and the camera.
