Kent Florist Brand Photography Case Study - Flowers by Marion
In the competitive world of floristry, standing out requires more than beautiful arrangements—it demands a brand that truly connects with its audience. Marion, founder of Flowers by Marion, has built her business on creativity, personal service, and nearly two decades of experience.
Yet, like many women entrepreneurs, Marion faced a common challenge: authentically representing herself and her brand while overcoming the discomfort of being in front of the camera. This case study explores why Marion stepped out of her comfort zone to develop her brand presence.
Meet Marion
My business is Flowers by Marion, a Kent-based florist, and we’ve been in business for about 18 years now. I’ve created a business around what I love: giving a bit more of a personal touch than working in the retail florist sector.
I prefer to get to know my clients and provide and help them, especially with weddings and funerals.
I used to rent a studio, which was “accessible” to the public and located next to a farm shop. However, I never went down the traditional florist shop experience. You know, customers who just walk in and want a potted plant or whatever. That wasn’t for me.
While nothing is wrong with that, my time at the studio reinforced my florist business model of sticking to weddings and events rather than being a conventional walk-in high street florist.
My purpose and satisfaction come from providing a more personalised service for my core clients, who appreciate the creativity and more significant events I love creating.
Why did you need photography for your brand?
As a florist, I work in a creative environment, so everything I do provokes opportunities for photos, But because it’s so last minute, it’s always on the phone. It’s always a rush. We take pictures of wedding flowers just as they’re taken off our hands. I needed images to reflect my brand behind the scenes and my personality.
I’ve known for a long time that I needed something more personal about myself. I’ve followed you on social media for a long time and always knew that when I was ready for a professional brand photographer, you were the person I would ask.
So, I wanted to show more of my personal side. However, I do not like having my photo taken, and if you look at my website right now, it is all about the flowers and venues where I work. There are very few photos of me.
Even with family photos, there are hardly any photos of me because I hide and turn away from them—I don’t like being photographed!
But I knew that at some point, I would have to get pictures of myself on my website so people could see who they were working with. It’s all about the personal touch and building relationships.
I just knew that was one obstacle I had to overcome. I also had to get those pictures online so people could see what type of florist I am.
Why did you choose Graham Baker Photography?
Oh, we’ve tried the friends and family taking the photos, but they’d never come out how I want them to. They didn’t have the professional finish that I needed.
I chose you because you talk about the fear of being photographed and people feeling awkward. Exactly. My issue about being nervous in front of the camera and all of those things that worried me, you had covered at some point in your social media.
I know we live in an age where people take selfies and share what they have for breakfast online because they’re comfortable doing that. But I’m really not that person.
I don’t think I’m the only person who dislikes having their photo taken. I always encounter photographers at weddings, but I just didn’t get the vibe that they focus on this.
So, I put you on the back burner, thinking that when I’m ready, I’ll know who to ask. You probably felt I was a stalker for quite a while! I followed your case studies of other people you’ve worked with and felt that what you did for them was similar to what I wanted to achieve.
Why do you hate being in front of the camera, and why do you think it's important to overcome that?
I don’t know. I always feel awkward, like the rabbit in the headlights. I feel like I look weird, and I don’t want to come across that way. I want my clients to get to know me and feel comfortable talking to me.
I don’t want to scare people! I just absolutely freeze in front of the camera, and I’d be a rubbish bride. Luckily, I haven’t. I haven’t done that yet. Haha!
That said, I definitely need to move my business forward. To do that, I know I must put my face in front of people as my business is about personal nature.
I know that when I look at websites and when I’m looking to buy something, I often focus on the product, the service, or whatever. Then, I want to know about that person. And I need that added to my website.
I changed my web developer because they weren’t working for me. One of the things they said to me was, don’t worry about “about me” Pages. I wanted to believe them because they were meant to be the experts, but I didn’t think that was right because of how I feel when I search for services.
There are so many scams and fake businesses out there. I think it’s good to be genuine. I’ve put it off for years, but it was the right time for me.
What was the Process like?
So, I got in touch without knowing how the process works or where to start. We had a couple of emails, and you asked me what I wanted to achieve. I also told you how awkward and uncomfortable I am in front of the camera.
Because of this, you suggested we start with something relatively simple like me making buttonholes, which we did. We talked about that process and created a florist mood board on Pinterest to help me visualise the photos I wanted and think about what I needed to prepare for the shoot.
We had to plan around when I had flowers in stock, so we arranged the shoot around a wedding fair I was working at.
You gave me lots of information about how the day would work. And then I panicked! Haha. In the end, though, I enjoyed the shoot! But I wasn’t quite prepared for the amount of work you did.
That was amazing!
What’s been the most significant benefit of having your new images?
It’s great just to have that library. I have used a couple of pictures already.
I have all this content instantly available, which I know is mine and can be used easily. Plus, they’re professional photos, whereas some of the pictures on my phone are not the same standard. So, I’m already dipping into it. It’s going to be valuable going forward.
I need to build a strategy, and I will use some obvious things for the About Me page, which is high on my list.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m a relatively private person and wouldn’t put pictures about any old thing online. It’s only ever going to be about my brand. If I were one of these people who could just quite happily take selfies all day long, I would probably get over it. But that just doesn’t suit me.
So, thank you for helping me overcome my fear of the photoshoot. I expect I will always be hiding from future cameras, but you helped me a lot.
Thank you for giving me great photos of my brand.
What would you say to anyone in business who is afraid to get in front of the camera?
Book You!
What my clients say.
Final Thoughts
For our brand, how we feel about ourselves is almost irrelevant. What matters is how our audience feels about us. Brand photography is about aligning what they see with who you are, your purpose, and your brand ethos.
We may all have our photography hang-ups and blocks, but if we genuinely believe what we do can help others, it’s worth getting past our comfort zone so that the people you can help will find you, know who you are, and how you can solve their problem.
Marion’s journey with brand photography highlights a story many business owners can relate to. Despite her initial discomfort in front of the camera, she recognized the need to connect personally with her audience and elevate her business through professional, authentic imagery.
Together, we worked through her concerns, collaborated on ideas using Pinterest, and created a bespoke photography experience that truly reflects her business.
Now, Marion has a library of professional images showcasing her florist business and breaking through her fear of being photographed.
If you’ve been putting off professional photos because you feel awkward in front of the camera or worry they won’t reflect your personality, I’m here to help.
With a tailored approach designed to put you at ease, we’ll create imagery that captures the essence of you and your brand.
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