Behind the Scene - # 1 - Styling Flower Photography

I'm starting a new series of blog posts where I'll be showing a little bit of what is going on behind the scene when I'm creating my flower images. A few tips, tricks and pictures of behind the scene - maybe not always what you expected.....! 

Pink and white stock flowers from the flower stall all wrapped up in one layer of clear cellophane and a layer of thin wrapping paper.

I plonk the flowers straight into water as soon as I get them home. I use quite big containers that are always washed with hot soapy water after each use. Some are plastic buckets, others are stainless steel buckets or florists zinc buckets. Nothing glamorous just very simple and down to earth - and easy to keep clean. 

The next thing is to condition the flowers as soon as possible. Unwrap the flowers - remove any damaged leaves as well as any leaves that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Also trim the ends of the stems at an angle to expose as much surface as possible to absorb the maximum amount of water.

This is the messy bit - torn leaves, cut bits of flower stems, accidently broken off flowers, crumpled wrapping paper and cellophane.  

At this stage, if not before I start thinking about where I'm are going to take the pictures. What table or other surface I'm are going to use. 

Also what am I going to use as a background - already existing walls or other background surfaces - or do you have specially created wooden or vinyl backgrounds ready for use.

I also start thinking about what props to use - vases and containers, tabletops, chairs, larger pieces of fabrics or smaller pieces like napkins, 

In the last three images - I have tidied up the messy bits and I'm about to start arranging the flowers into containers. I'm also trying out a few props - looking for colours that I'm happy with and that will go with the flowers. 

This is the first in a series of blog posts showing what goes on behind the scene when I'm styling my flower shoots.

More to follow soon......... 

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous and floral Wednesday!

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I look forward to seeing later in the week - when I'll be back with more floral delights.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: Pink and White stock flowers - bought from my favourite street flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: Plastic bucket, two stainless steel buckets and zinc florist buckets - bought and collected over the years.]

[Other props: Natural linen fabric, flower basket, natural twine, mini flower cutting tool, twine and creamware jars - from stylists own prop collection.]

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

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P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

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P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Arrange Your Flowers! - Basic Tools for Flower Arranging

Before we know it spring will be here and with spring comes lots of spring flowers.

I have decided to relaunch my series of posts called 'Arrange your Flowers!' - so that we can be ready and know what to do with all those beautiful and stunning flowers. 

Some of what you read you will have come across before. There is very little new in the flower arranging world - apart from all the creativity we can all add to our flower arranging.

But I do have some exciting news to tell you about - since I last wrote on 'Arrange Your Flowers!' - I have trained in floristry and that will be very useful while writing these blog posts.

It makes me very happy to be able to pass on all the inside tips and tricks from the florist world. 

So this is all about arranging your own flowers - it will have do-it-yourself flower arranging ideas, tips and advice. All the advice will be very easy to follow - even if you've never done any flower arranging before. 

It will be very basic and very down to earth.

So let's start from the beginning!

These are the most basic but essential tools that you need to start doing your own flower arranging:

1. A couple of different size containers - they can be plastic or metal. Nothing fancy, it's just a container to put the flowers in after you've conditioned them. Traditionally florists flower buckets were metal - mostly zinc but now they tend to be plastic.

Also remember to keep your containers scrupulously clean! 

2. A pair of floral snippers or floral scissors - like the black handled scissors and snippers in the second image and the bottom image. Buy a pair that is comfortable to use and that will not hurt your hand - if you are using them for a long time. 

It's quite useful to have both a pair of snippers and a pair of scissors. The scissors will be useful to cut elastic bands around the flower stems and for cutting the cellophane that the flowers come wrapped in - it's easier to do that with a pair of scissors. Floral scissors or florist's scissors are a bit more sturdy and have stronger blades than a normal pair of scissors - so are also excellent, if sharp, to cut flower stems. 

In the end it's a personal choice and what you are the most comfortable using.

3. You will also need a pair of secateurs or pruners for cutting thicker stems or branches - like the red handled secateurs in the second image. If you don't already own a pair - get a good quality one - as they usually last a lifetime. 

I hope all my tips will be useful and easy to follow and that they will help to keep your flowers looking good and last longer.

Have a Creative Floral Day!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back later in the week with more floral delights.

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

*****

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I have just over 200 boards all relating to flowers, floral styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Arrange Your Flowers! - # 2 - How To Keep Your Cut Flower Tools Clean and Sharp

This is the second instalment of 'Arrange Your Flowers!' - and it's all about keeping your flower buckets and vases free from bacteria and how to keep your tools clean and sharp.

1. It's very important to keep your vases and containers scrupulously clean. Always clean the containers you use when conditioning your flowers after each use. 

After every time you discard a bunch of flowers give the used vase a good clean. Cut flowers start to decay as soon as they are cut and any decaying stems in the vase produces bacteria. Any build-up of bacteria in the vase will further shorten the life and increase the deterioration of the flowers.

If you live in an area with hard water - calcium deposits will also build up on the inside of the vases and leave white or light-brown powdery or scaly deposits. With very stubborn stains you might have to use some kind of scouring pad or very fine steel wool. Just go gently and make sure you don't scratch that old crystal vase! 

2. Hot soapy water and a bit of scrubbing is usually all you need to do. Use a dish brush for any larger vases or the flower buckets. For smaller vases with narrow necks use a bottle brush.

You can also buy tubs of little copper beads that you swirl around with water. They will remove any build-up of stains in hard to reach places. The beads are reusable so clean, dry and store them for next time.

You are often given the advice to use bleach for cleaning vases. I don't use bleach - its not environmentally friendly and there are too many questions surrounding it's usage and what it does to the environment and our health. 

3. Another important thing is to keep your cutting tools clean and sharp.

Just like with containers and vases - grime, dirt and bacteria will build up on your scissors, snippers and secateurs. They get sticky from the sap in the flower stems and leaves; and will eventually develop a brown residue on the blades. You will have to clean this of with hot soapy water - you can use the same dish brush that you use for cleaning your vases and containers. You might sometimes have to go over the blades with some steel wool. After washing and drying - wipe the blade with some oil to prevent any rust and to keep it working smoothly.

4. Sharpen your tools on a regular bases. The sharper they are the cleaner the cut. It's very important that you don't crush the stems. A crushed stem means that less water will be absorbed by the stems and transported to the flowers and leaves - and will result in your flowers not lasting as long.

There are all kinds of sharpening tools out there to buy or you might already have a steel for sharpening your kitchen knives. It's not too difficult to learn how to sharpen a pair of scissors or snippers - it just takes a little practice. After sharpening you should wipe the blades with some oil to prevent rusting.

Here is a link to the first 'Arrange Your Flowers!' - # 1 - Essential Tools for Cut Flowers.

I'll be back next month with more advice on how to 'Arrange Your Flowers!'. 

Have a Creative Floral Day!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]