“A picture is worth a thousand online sales” is the new twist on an old saying. And if you are showcasing your flower designs online, having high-quality pictures is an important sales tool for your website. Striking flower design photos can make or break a sale. Here are some tips on getting professional photography for your flower shop.
images via Taylor Mathis
Why great photos are so important to your florist website
If you’ve been taking photographs of your flower designs yourself and thinking they’re “good enough,” then you are definitely leaving money on the table. Nothing says amateur like a blurry, poorly-lit photograph. You want your customers to be excited to order your original flower designs and trust that you run a professional shop. If your images are inferior, maybe your flowers and shop is too.
That’s why hiring a professional photographer to provide crisp, clean, enticing design images gives you the aura of professionalism you need to stand out from the crowd. Put yourself in your potential customers’ shoes. One site has great, appealing flower designs and another looks like they were taken with a cell phone. Which flower shop are you going to trust with your order?
Three points to remember when hiring a photographer for your flower designs
1. Go local – starting with wedding photographers! You may be able to trade free/low-cost photography with nearby wedding photographers in exchange for bridal referrals. Also, your photographer needs to be in your area for shooting the designs fresh, particularly since you may want more sessions in future.
Also check out different websites for photographer’s information including Craigslist, Professional Photographers Association, Photographers.com, Elance or Outsource. Ideally you want a photographer that is experienced in taking product design shots. Just because the photographer you know takes beautiful wedding photographs, it doesn’t mean they are good at capturing the best shots of your still flower designs for your website.
images via google.com
2. Always ask to see a portfolio. A professional photographer will always have a portfolio of their recent photos. Be sure to take a moment to look through each one carefully. Look at the portfolios as a way to get a feel of how they shot the products and if that is the look you are striving for with your designs. Make sure the photographer understands your needs and wants. They should ask lots and lots of questions and understand exactly what you are looking for, how many shots you need and where you are going to use these shots, is it only on the website or in print as well.
3. Discuss Budget Upfront. Explain exactly what you are looking for, how many shots you want, what your brand and audience is as well as what you would like to convey in each shot. If you are both on the same page before the shoot, there will be no surprises to the photographer on what is expected and no surprises to you on the increase in cost because of changes. Tell the photographer your budget before shooting so everyone is in agreement! You should be able to get what you need with a rough budget of $200 – $500.
Great photography is not a cost item; it’s a profit center for your flower shop!
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