Pretty Peonies, Styled for Every Season
a Behind the Scenes Peek of a Floral photo Styling shoot at a Peony Farm. Peonies styled for every season of beauty.
The last couple of years I’ve had the privilege of getting to photo style freshly cut peonies at Swenson Gardens, an organic peony grower and hybridizer. I love these gorgeous flowers and the amazing variety of colors and styles they have. Today I’ll share a behind the scenes peek at my photo styling day. Get ready for a lot of pictures in this Pretty Peonies, Styled for Every Season post.
Pretty Peonies, Styled for Every Season
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Loading Up Plenty of Photo Props
Photo styling is a skill that grows with experience. This was the third year I’ve done this and each year I try something new and learn more. I’ve learned that having lots of pieces to create different levels is a must. I also want to include many different textures for a variety of looks.
Last year Becky (the owner of Swenson Gardens) wanted to make sure we styled pictures for each season and holiday. This year she was hoping for more general photos she could use for her social media and garden talks she does throughout the year.
I asked her if I could include fruit and a variety of floral fillers to the peonies this year. Peonies are definitely the queen of the garden. But even the queen can use a little bit of makeup to bring out her beauty. I wanted some supporting textures so I could create some ooh, aah photo moments!
Here’s what my car looked like on photo shoot day:
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I’ve got the stuff! It took me a couple hours to gather items from all levels of my house, garage and screen porch. A trip to Trader Joe’s provided some floral fillers, along with hosta and flower cuttings from my own yard. I was loaded and ready to make some pretty! Luckily this year the weather was perfect-not too hot and not rainy like last year.
See “25 Great Photo Styling Tips Using Vintage and Flowers” for more tips.
Peonies Styled Simple to Grand
My goal is always to get a wide variety of pictures styled for Becky. I wanted to give her groupings of colorways, different bloom styles and foliage styles. Then when she’s explaining the varieties of peony plants to garden clubs, she’ll have many pictures to choose from. I style the scene and she takes pics and phone video from all angles. She had a friend who loves photography there, too, taking pics. I had a little case of lens envy going on;) Think I need to up my camera game.
Becky also wanted a few wide displays she could use for the banner of her power point displays. Depending on the medium where these pictures are used, she has to shoot a variety of different perspectives and angles.
Peonies for Every Season
Even though peonies obviously only bloom in the Spring and early summer, Becky likes her social media to feature them for every holiday and season. I bring everything from winter scarves to Easter bunnies so I can style photos for her to use throughout the year. Here are a few of my holiday favorites.
Farmland Beauty as a Backdrop
The barn has the perfect lighting for taking photos, but this year I was hoping to capture some of Becky’s beautiful farm as a setting for the peonies. It probably should have been earlier or later in the day for optimal sunlight, but we still got some great shots. This is when I wish I lived on a hobby farm; oh, that scenery!
(yes, I did get him to look up from his grass eating and look right at me;)
Fun with Flatlays
At the end I style a variety of flatlays because I need to trim the flower from the stem so it faces up. I try to keep the flowers in water in between their photo shoots, but inevitable by the end of the day they’re getting tired and droopy. Here are a couple of fun flatlays:
A Couple Peony Photo Favorites
There have been a couple of favorites from these last years of photo styling. Becky said this wall of blooms that I meticulously nailed on individually and then placed washi tape on each has been a favorite. My readers loved the anthropology-inspired cow head where I duck taped blooms to the horns. It’s always fun to see which captures people love the best!
Can you pick a favorite? I am partial to the yellow and white blooms with the green plaid umbrella in the background, or the lemon slices;) But it’s really hard to choose with such gorgeous subject matter!
See the full Peony Field Tour of Swenson Gardens HERE.
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So many pretty peonies! I can’t choose a favorite. You created beautiful arrangements so I’m saving this post.
Thanks, Barbara. I love looking back over it, too:)
Lora…honestly all the Peony photos are amazing!!!! It is hard to chose but if I had too.. it would be the ruby peony on birch bark background. I also love the ones in the pastures in a metal pail…oooh!!!! All the different colors and varities of the peonies ..so lovely….. Eye Candy to me… waiting patiently for my Cream peonies to bloom😍
So glad you enjoyed all the beauty, Lorri!
Love your tips, and all the lovely peonies! So gorgeous! I DO love that arrangement with the lemon slices… and the ones in the bucket on the fence! So pretty! Pinned, and I’m delighted to be featuring your post at Tuesday Turn About this week!
Wonderful; thanks, Julie!
Peonies are the best! I wish we could have them around all year long. Thanks for sharing all the behind the scene and your styling is beautiful. This will be featured tomorrow at the Home Imagined link party. Hope to see you there. XO- MaryJo
Wonderful; thanks, MaryJo!
Oh wow, peonies everywhere and so pretty and I love your creations.
Thanks, Esme! And thanks for the invite.
Just popping back in to say thank you for linking up to Farmhouse Friday and that I’m featuring this post tomorrow. Obviously it won’t be as fabulous as your photo shoot but almost – hahahaha! pinned
Thanks so much for the feature, Cindy!
Beautiful styling, the Peonies are lovely. Beautiful photos.
Glad you enjoyed it; thanks!
You are so creative! Each one is so pretty and unique. We’re sharing this with our readers in our weekly roundup!
Thanks, ladies! I appreciate it:)
Absolutely beautiful post for a late afternoon read. Each one is beautiful but I am a lemonade and cow(s) kind of a girl. As always, your creativity is amazing. Thank you so much for all you share with us.
Glad you enjoyed it, Susie! Yes, lemonade and cows are pure country love, indeed:)
How fun is this? I love it. I love peonies!
Me, too, Renae; wish they lasted all summer long!
That was fun and enjoyable. It’s hard just to pick one favorite they are all so pretty.
Yes, Marlene, and it’s hard to pick a favorite peony variety too…I want them all;)
Well wow! All so beautiful and such good ideas. LOl, I have a lot of silk peonies so can do these year round ideas. My favorite is the garland with the cows in the background. Anytime animals are added I will be a fan. Floral crowns on dogs? Or goats? Also love the little Christmas tree. Thinking of white peonies and red tulips with baby’s breath for one of the trees this year. Also like the nice photo of you. Lovely kind eyes. Thanks for letting us come along.
So glad you enjoyed it, Jillian! Yes…flowers and animals are a wonderful combo;)
What eye candy. You did such a lovely job Lora. <3
Thanks, Cindy!
My favorite is the yellow and white with the meadow in the background. Beautiful!
Everything looks good with a meadow background, right?
#1 fave – the peonies with the cornucopia, #2 – Easter, #3 – the close-up on the old chair, #4 – the one with the hymnal, #5 – the one with the cows! You might guess I like them all. Beautiful flowers and super cool photos. You put a lot into that photo-op!!!
Thanks for your favorites list, Barbara! Yes, it’s a good kind of work;)
Each arrangement is absolutely amazing. You are so gifted. Thank you for sharing today. Needed a little beauty in my life today.
Glad you enjoyed it, Cherry! Yes, we all need a little beauty to brighten our days.
Amazing, Lora!! That looks like such a fun day being out in the country. I LOVE that cornucopia and the one with the hymnal. SO PRETTY!!
Thanks, Rachel! I always enjoy a day in the country;)
Love all of the beautiful bouquets. GORGEOUS! Awesome job.
Thank you; appreciate that!
Wow wow wow
The cotton bolls and rustic bark are striking, original.
Yes, loved the texture variety on that one;)