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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 43 2 DESIGN WITH PHOTOGRAPHY IN MIND. Consider what you will be using each photo for and if and where it will be published. What orientation or ratio would you like to shoot in? For platforms such as Google, anything goes, but for others, such as Instagram, a 1:1 square ratio is favored. When attempting to capture a beautiful image, you will do yourself many favors if you fi rst take the time to consider the "canvas" you would like to fi ll; this begins at the design phase. A great tip is to design your arrangement to be viewed from a single side, balancing well in a square photo frame. After you have documented your work, make a few strategic changes to better suit your fl oral design to a portrait or landscape orientation. 3 BACKGROUND MATTERS. While there is no fi xed rule discouraging real-life, studio or retail-shop backgrounds behind your fl oral designs, it is much trickier to ensure your fl owers will win the full focus of potential customers if an image feels busy. To avoid visual confusion, take advantage of photo- editing software with a background- blurring feature, but be sure to practice moderation: Turn up background-blur features no higher than 5 points. When possible, opt for a monochromatic background; it will make you fl owers pop. Embrace textured city streets washed in gray tones, custom-painted canvas in a contrasting color or even the blue sky with a light background blur. Take it to the next level by investing in a dedicated photo backdrop you can use consistently. 4 LIGHTING. Do not rely on fl uorescent lights or fl ash photography when documenting your fl oral design work. Bad lighting is one of the most common reasons a beautiful design gets passed over by our editors. Investing in LED light stands, refl ectors or a light box is surprisingly aff ordable at a number of popular online marketplaces and will pay for itself many times over. NINE SIMPLE STEPS TO BETTER FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY 1 START WITH EXCEPTIONAL FLOWERS. If you want to grow your business by sharing more and better photos of your fl owers, you must start with "share-worthy" blooms. Avoid using aging, bruised or otherwise damaged fl owers in the foreground of your images. Source fl owers that are visually compelling, highly textural and colorful. Seeking out a premium-priced trendy fl ower to star in each photo is a great tactic to employ when hoping to attract more premium-tier fl ower sales.

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