The Power of Flowers Photography

Let’s talk about your wedding flowers today! Your bridal flowers may seem like an afterthought, but they are just another thing to add to a growing list of choices for your wedding day. As a photographer, I can tell you that they are the icing on the cake, and the colors that you choose are really going to set the mood for your wedding pictures.

Suppose I see a bride in a long white gown and a vast white bridal bouquet. In that case, it’s very classic and traditional, and I love seeing that look if I’m shooting a wedding in a church or outside with a ton of landscaping and greenery around us, such as a garden wedding or a golf club event. There is enough going on color-wise in the background that the flowers will stand out nicely because nothing else around you is pure white!

If we photograph your wedding at San Francisco City Hall, I suggest color and lots of it! This iconic building is 500,000 square feet of marble and sandstone, and it’s all pretty much a sandy beige color. It’s stunning, but I do not feel that white flowers make as much of an impact statement here. This is where I love to see hot pink and purple, reds and warm corals and oranges. In the last year or two, I’ve seen some florists mixing in succulent plants, and I think it’s a fantastic addition. One of my favorite editing tricks is to take an image, turn it to black and white, and then leave the bride a bright bouquet in color. It’s super cute if I do say so myself.

Another delightful trend is personalizing your bouquet. I’ve seen several eloping brides take tiny photographs of their parents and grandparents in one-inch frames and have their florists attach them by ribbons to the bundle of flowers. Some people use a lucky charm or a memento that belongs to a loved one who can’t be there that day.

I know flowers can be costly. I’ve had brides tell me that they aren’t going to get them at all, which I feel is a mistake. You can always go to your local craft store, grab a few silk flowers, and wrap them in ribbon. This works remarkably well and looks like real flowers in the pictures. The other plus is that you can keep your flowers since they won’t be wilting.

The last thing I want to discuss before I get to my referrals is flower crowns. They make me swoon, seriously. If you check my Instagram page, @rachellevinephoto, you’ll see me modeling a gorgeous crown at the Indie Beauty Expo in Los Angeles this week. I love this Boho/Hippie Chick/off-Beat Bride look! These are NOT just for the flower girls anymore. They are glorious and bold and romantically sweet all at the same time.

So, who do I have for you today? What insider tips? Well, if you are going to get married at San Francisco City Hall, I have a special flower deal for you. Paula at www.bellsnbloomfloristsf.com will do his and her flower special for $85 if you tell her you are my couple. How about that? And if you are looking for your flower crown, please message Thistleandseed on Instagram. I just met the fabulous woman who started this company, and I’d love to send more brides their way because their work was phenomenal. They will ship!

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding wedding flowers and want a professional photographer’s opinion, please write to me at rachellevinephoto@gmail.com. Happy flower designing!