Every once in a while, I get a request from a photographer or other vendor to do a styled shoot. And as long as I’m not busy, I’m almost always going to say yes! These styled shoots are one of the best opportunities for me to flex my creative muscles and create florals I might not normally make in the wedding and event space.
This portrait session was led by Ava Grace Photography. She approached me about her vision to create this outdoor shoot in a space that felt as open and wild as the creative process itself. It would feature an artist and her canvas, and the flowers would help to honour the expressive nature of creating art.
Our model was the extraordinarily lovely Mal Koslowsky. She’s always travelling, so it was fun to connect with her while she was in our neck of the woods. She captured the free-spirited energy perfectly, and her image just makes you want to frolic and paint outside in your own dreamy landscape.
The flowers were to cover various parts of the easel. I used anthurium thanks to its sculptural shape and Sprengeri fern for its wild look. Together with the easel, it provides a very expressive energy to the shoot. Exactly how I imagine a wild and free artist.
For the photos, we headed out to Mud Bay, which is just north of the Vancouver/Blaine border. It had the perfect grassy, beachy, and wide-open space we were looking for. We managed to capture it at golden hour, which brings a dream-like quality to the photos.
And true to its name, we were trekking through mud to get the perfect shot, the mud lining our sundresses. But gosh, if it isn’t moments like this that make you laugh and remember a day best.
Working on styled shoots is such a collaborative process. Usually, it begins with one vision, in this case, Ava’s. Then it’s about finding your collaborators and sharing with them your idea, while also allowing them to turn it into their own. The end result is something you can never truly envision until it’s taking shape in real time. And oftentimes, it’s better than you could have ever imagined.
I even stepped in front of the camera for a few photos. It’s always nice to have a few more pictures alongside my work.
This was such a wonderful shoot to reflect back on, and I’m so thankful to my collaborators, Ava and Mal. These photos represent such a beautiful, feminine expression of the artist. It makes me want to sit oceanside and take up the art of watercolours, while listening to the Pride and Prejudice audiobook.
Model: Mal Koslowsky @malkoslowsky
Photographer: Ava Grace Photography @avgracephotography
Flowers: Heirloom Florals
If you’d like to work together on a styled shoot, let me know! I’m always open to collaborations and can provide florals for all kinds of styled photoshoots. Whether you’re a photographer or event planner, I’d love to hear from you.
