{"id":4772,"date":"2023-06-16T13:15:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T11:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/?post_type=news&#038;p=4772"},"modified":"2024-04-11T11:42:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T09:42:28","slug":"how-to-photograph-plants-like-a-professional-using-geraniums-to-create-original-images-that-will-boost-sales","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/news\/how-to-photograph-plants-like-a-professional-using-geraniums-to-create-original-images-that-will-boost-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"How to photograph plants like a professional Using geraniums to create original images that will boost sales"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Anna Marie Hillebro Neilsen is a plant photography expert based in Denmark. She\u2019s responsible for PfE\u2019s annual photoshoots, producing top quality images that grace the pages of thousands of magazines across Europe each year, working together with St\u00e9phanie Bauer, a German PR expert who also handles creative direction. Stephanie designs moodboards based on the latest trends to successfully attract different target audiences. Together they share their expert advice on how to plan and take plant images that will capture your customers\u2019 and the media\u2019s attention just in time for your peak sales period.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Top tips in brief<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Look around for inspiration and current trends to make sure your photography<br \/>\nreflects them.<\/li>\n<li>Make your photos tell a story about the plant itself, your business or a trend you want to reflect. What do you want your customers or the media to feel? How will you evoke that feeling by the way you show your plants?<\/li>\n<li>When coming up with new ideas, simple, inexpensive suggestions are the best; ones your customers can recreate themselves with everyday object and materials.<\/li>\n<li>The perfect location for a photoshoot doesn&#8217;t have to look perfect, but make it flexible for your particular space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Picking props that appeal to your customers\u2019 tastes will help sell your plants, but always remember to keep the plant itself the focus of your images.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;\u2018Never seen before\u2019&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text]\u201cIn a world shaped by the power of imagery and the dominance of social media, it is indeed a challenge to create an image that is interesting for the media,\u201d admits St\u00e9phanie. \u201cYou have to focus not only on the aesthetics and professionalism of the image, but also on originality, a kind of \u2018never seen before\u2019 effect.<\/p>\n<p>In practice this means, always being on the lookout for inspiration that will spark your creativity. \u201cGet inspired by ideas from all over the world, look for common trends,\u201d says St\u00e9phanie. \u201cSee what the buying trends are and anticipate how they will develop at the time you\u2019ll use the photos (at PfE we always shoot a year in advance).\u201d[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Tell customers a story&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;4739&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]\u201cStart with an exact colour palette that should fit a general theme,\u201d she says. \u201cThen develop your \u2018storyline\u2019. What do you want to say with these colours? What feelings should be evoked when you see the final picture? In which location will the storyline be best \u2018felt\u2019? How do you best place the plant to obtain those feelings in the reader or viewer?\u201d Whatever the theme, you want to inspire your customers to buy plants from you by the way you photograph and style them.<\/p>\n<p>Anna Marie agrees, \u201cThink about what you want to say to people about the plant,\u201d she advises.\u00a0\u201cCreate stories that \u2018tell\u2019 people something about what\u2019s in the photo. With a picture you can tell a story and build interest and a desire to buy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlants and flowers often offer endless possibilities to be creative,\u201d says St\u00e9phanie. \u201cThe point is to create a beautiful decorative story <em>around<\/em> the plant. Buying is often an emotional act. And nothing is better than flowers and plants at be able to create sentimental emotions around them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can find your story in the plant itself too.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201cShow the features of the plant in the photo,\u201d says Anna Marie. \u201cIf it\u2019s scented, take a picture of a nose or face smelling it. If it\u2019s edible, show it on a plate or as part of a meal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Edible flowers are on-trend right now. If you stock organically grown scented geraniums, available in flavours such as lemon, rose, and peppermint, why not create great lifestyle shots of their flowers sprinkled on enticing desserts, or in cool glasses of lemonade? Always check packaging to make sure plants are safe to eat before promoting this.<\/p>\n<p>Showing the range of plants you stock is important too and simple to do, says Anna Marie. \u201cIf you\u2019ve bought the same plant in different colours, put one of each shade close together and take a shot of just the flower heads. This tells you about the many colour variants.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pelargoniums are perfect for this type of photography; they range from deep reds, through purples, lilacs, oranges, salmon, coral and pinks, up to purest white. Their shapes are just as varied too, with the classic upright look of regal and zonal varieties, as well as trailing ivy geraniums and the delicate foliage of scented and hardy types.<\/p>\n<p>Your stories can \u2018sell\u2019 your business too. Plants fresh in-store make a great example. \u201cTake photos of a plant being carried into the shop by smiling staff,\u201d says Anna Marie. \u201cRemember, it\u2019s always best to do photography as soon new plants arrive in-store when they\u2019re fresh. The sooner you tell people about them, the sooner they\u2019re sold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Detail shots of interesting plants also make strong images. \u201cMake sure there\u2019s a close-up image of a special flower or leaf,\u201d says Anna Marie. \u201cHaving it held gently by a hand makes sure you can get the perfect angle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Geranium flowers are ideal for this as their blooms range from tiny, delicate varieties, to the bold heads of zonal geraniums. Their leaves are worthy of your lens too with dramatic rings of colour, pretty ruffles or dynamic palmate shapes.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Same plant, new look&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]St\u00e9phanie and Anna Marie come up with new campaign ideas year in, year out. They look far and wide, as well as close to home, to be inspired. \u201cDon&#8217;t only look for your inspiration in nature,\u201d says St\u00e9phanie, \u201cbut in magazines and on social media that focus on image aesthetics, like Pinterest or Instagram. Look through diverse magazines and last but not least, go out into the world, into shops, into beautifully and naturally decorated locations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNotice how an object from everyday life (clothes hangers, old pots or garden accessories) or a material (copper, wood, felt, straw) is very current and decide on a decoration idea that puts it in the limelight, \u201c she says. \u201cMany people are grateful when you show them how old things they thought were no longer any good can be upcycled. Objects tell a story.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor DIY ideas, why complicate it when you can do it easily? Ideally, readers and viewers want to be inspired without thinking, \u2018I&#8217;ll never be able to do that\u2019 or \u2018it&#8217;s way too expensive\u2019.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;4740&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Find your location&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;4736&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]Once you\u2019ve chosen your theme and colours, it&#8217;s time to pick your location. In a busy retail environment it can be hard to find the perfect spot, but \u2018perfect\u2019 isn&#8217;t necessarily what you should be looking for, according to St\u00e9phanie. \u201cThe location shouldn\u2019t be underestimated. It must have \u2018lived\u2019; you have to feel the \u2018real life\u2019 in it &#8211; without it being too chaotic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Anna Marie says planning a shoot is the perfect opportunity to build a display area, which also serves as a place for photography. If your shop has an unused but boring space, bring it to life as a room set, with stylish wallpaper, tables and chairs where you can take plants to be photographed. \u201cIt could be wallpaper on one wall and a complementary colour on the other,\u201d she suggests. \u201cHaving several of the same table and chairs but in different colours, gives you the opportunity to take different seasonal images all year round.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If space is tight, find a spot with natural daylight where you can easily place a few props, so you can drop a plant in place for a quick photoshoot. A folding table means you\u2019ll always be ready for a photo against the right background, even outside, weather permitting.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Right plant, right props, right customers&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]Now it\u2019s time to pick the star of your show. \u201cAlways choose a good quality plant to photograph,\u201d says Anna Marie. \u201cRemove withered or damaged leaves or flowers. Turn the plant around to find the best angle, as many have a natural front and back. Take shots of flowering plants from above to show the full bloom. When photographing a single plant get up close, making sure there\u2019s not too much \u2018air\u2019 around it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Create life in your image with props that match the style of the plant and reflect your target audience\u2019s likes. \u201cGenerally, we\u2019ll go for a more colourful world with younger readers and for a more discreet, romantic atmosphere with an older female target group,\u201d says St\u00e9phanie.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you choose to place the plant in a pot, make sure it\u2019s the right size so the plant doesn\u2019t look too large or too small,\u201d cautions Anna Marie. \u201cThe same applies to colour choices and pot design; choose something that works with the foliage or flowers.\u00a0You\u2019re telling your story with the on-trend colour choices you make or the way you style the plants \u2013 your botanical direction.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;4738&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\u201cIf it\u2019s nature lovers you&#8217;re appealing to,\u201d says Anna Marie, \u201cbackdrops printed with trees and natural-toned pots, like terracotta, look great in photos. If it\u2019s a trend-led style direction, pick props in on-trend colours or use as a backdrop a roll of wallpaper that reflects your chosen style.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>1980s pastel tones and bold, geometric shapes are in vogue right now and pelargoniums lend themselves well to these trends. The defined pompom heads of zonal geraniums create graphic shapes, while their fresh apricot, salmon, pink and lilac tones fit any pale colour scheme. And, as easy-care plants that happily flower for months on end indoors as well as out, they\u2019re perfect for the ever-popular urban jungle look too.<\/p>\n<p>Place your props close to the plant or in the background, ensuring they appear cropped in the final image. \u201cYou can also create mood with branches in the foreground or background but it\u2019s important the plant is still in focus,\u201d says Anna Marie.[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;4737&#8243; img_size=&#8221;full&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/2&#8243;][vc_column_text]St\u00e9phanie echoes this, saying some of PfE\u2019s most successful images are ones where the geraniums are always centre stage but the lifestyle element is there too. \u201cThis picture (left) sums up everything you would want: time for yourself, cosyness, being offline, nature, timelessness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis other image (below) of an extra-large floral room divider of colourful geraniums was super successful. I think because it&#8217;s simple: a room divider you can easily find in somewhere like IKEA, add flowerpots and done! And a wow effect achieved. Above all, a feeling of security and privacy, combined with closeness to nature springs from this image.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve taken your shot always review it. What else appears in it? If there are people, data protection laws may mean you need their permission to publish the photo. What about the background? \u201cRemember, only \u2018arranged mess\u2019 looks good in pictures,\u201d warns Anna Marie. \u201cBe careful with a background where too much is happening, as the focus might be shifted away from the plant.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]\u201cThe challenge with photographing living plants is that, you have to create something with the look and lines the plant naturally has, as well as the flowers and colour. But I see it as a gift. Plants are photogenic and there are so many different kinds, each with its own story, function or look.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>St\u00e9phanie adds that, whatever look, colours and themes you go for, \u201cthe overall theme for all types of images should ultimately be: joie de vivre!\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p><\/div><div class=\"acf-fields-container\" data-post-id=\"4772\" data-canto-acf=\"true\"><\/div><style>\r\n        .acf-fields-container {\r\n            margin: 2em 0;\r\n            width: 100%;\r\n            clear: both;\r\n        }\r\n        .acf-field-image {\r\n            margin: 1.5em 0;\r\n            position: relative;\r\n        }\r\n        .acf-field-label {\r\n            margin-bottom: 1em;\r\n        }\r\n        .acf-image {\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            display: block;\r\n            margin: 1em 0;\r\n        }\r\n    <\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having standout plant shots is important in today\u2019s image-saturated world. The marketing experts at PfE share top tips on photography to help florists and garden retailers flourish by using the power of visual marketing to sell more plants this spring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4741,"template":"","news_cat":[],"class_list":["post-4772","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4823,"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/4772\/revisions\/4823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pfe-trade.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_cat?post=4772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}