How did you build your portfolio?

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lorinajac

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Jul 17, 2007
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Going down the memory lane....how did you start your business and your portfolio.

For those of you who started on your own, did you have to buy materials and flowers out of your pocket at first to build your portfolio to show your clients what you can do?
 
Geez.. Waaay back when, I did a few weddings for friends, and used the photos from that to get started up. Those few photos and the word of mouth went a long way.

If you don't know a handful of engaged people you can offer to wprk for at cost / for a good discount, maybe try craigslist?

Whoops.. I'm assuming you're talking weddings. Other than that, I'd say ya - invest your own money into making some samples, get great photos of them. Let your friends know what you're doing, maybe they'll cover some supply costs if they need something?
 
They are right if you can make samples and take pics of everything you do.I have pics of wedding that are so old along with the new but it shows how many years I have been at. also I take photos every time I deliver and set up! it shows it got there (for back up) and shows different venues too. One good place to get a free listing and add photos is my space!! it's free and can help you build a great site.I am always disappointed when I got to another florist web site and find they are using photo from John Henry books or ftd or what ever and none of it is their own work, any of us can do that, Good luck
 
WinkDesign said:
Geez.. Waaay back when, I did a few weddings for friends, and used the photos from that to get started up. Those few photos and the word of mouth went a long way.

If you don't know a handful of engaged people you can offer to wprk for at cost / for a good discount, maybe try craigslist?

Whoops.. I'm assuming you're talking weddings. Other than that, I'd say ya - invest your own money into making some samples, get great photos of them. Let your friends know what you're doing, maybe they'll cover some supply costs if they need something?
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Yes, I was talking about weddings.

That's what I am doing. i know a couple of people who are getting married so I am offering my services to them at cost.
 
lorinajac said:
I saw that....I think that is so wrong. Not only are you stealing someone else's work but you're misleading people too....I have seen so many website with pictures from ftd and John Henry Books....it's ridiculous how they stay in business...:soapbox:
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WHAT!?!? Urm, you BUY the images from John Henry...it's not stealing. Every image on my website is from Florist's Review and I didn't steal them. How do I stay in business? What kind of question is that!?

The images on my site are placeholders until I can build my portfolio until it is something worth showing on my site. There are a ton of florists here who have FTD and TF images on their site.

Wow....
 
We stay in business because we buy those images. Not all flower arrangements that you make will look good in pictures. The images from JH, TF, FR etc. are designed to photo well. We use them as a guide and can reproduce the image as needed. We stay in business because we are good if not great designers with great people skills.....Many florists here have their own work and other images on their websites...
 
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lorinajac said:
I saw that....I think that is so wrong. Not only are you stealing someone else's work but you're misleading people too....I have seen so many website with pictures from ftd and John Henry Books....it's ridiculous how they stay in business...:soapbox:
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Do you use the John Henry or another wedding selection guide to sell to your brides if you do not yet have a full enough portfolio??

If you do, don't you think you may be in a glass house throwing stones....
 
greatflowerlady said:
wow sorry to have hit a sensitive spot, please accept my apology. :beer
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Everyone SHOULD build a portfolio of great images of their own work. I have worked for about a year now to create a portfolio and truth is, I just don't have enough QUALITY images to use. About half of my images are sympathy work and honestly, I don't need that many sympathy items on my site.

We all have to do what works for us in our situation and to bash someone for using stock images is not very productive and to call them a thief is even worse.

As event florists you are both in a completely different boat than the rest of us full service retail florists. But, please remember that the majority of the florists on this board are from the full service sector.
 
lori042499 said:
Do you use the John Henry or another wedding selection guide to sell to your brides if you do not yet have a full enough portfolio??

If you do, don't you think you may be in a glass house throwing stones....
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Since I am a :newbie, I haven't sold yet to any brides, particularly for that reason....I just started my business and my portfolio isn't as extensive as I want it to be. At the moment I am building up my portfolio by doing flowers for my friends, at little cost or no cost at all. i want to have something to show clients....I could use pictures from the internet but I refuse.

That's all I was saying...sorry, didn't mean to upset anyone...
 
greatflowerlady said:
there now we both said we are sorry will you forgive and forget!!!:hammer:some of us might not be as wise as others!
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Neither one of you has made anyone mad here so I am not sure what the need for snarky replies is. I can't speak for Lori but the issue that I held was that florists that use purchased stock images were called thieves and that accounts for a big number of florists on this board.

Actually, as a side note, I kind of agreed with your post (as I already said once). Florists do need to create their own portfolios...it's not a bad thing! My post was more of an explanation as to why some of us use those images...it wasn't being mean and I am sorry if you took it that way.

It IS theft if you copy images from other websites and then use them as your own work but...that's not what we are talking about here.

Okay ladies, I have spoken my piece. Hopefully we can continue this into a productive thread now :)
 
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I, too, am confused by the snippy remarks. I was not pleased by being called a thief and gave my suggestion as to why stock images are a necessary part of life. Then we get the pint of blood post. You cannot expect to name call and not get called on it. Accept that what you did hit a nerve, learn and grow from it and move on. Do Not retaliate with snide remarks it is not becoming....
 
Enough!

K, all this seems way over the top!! Both sides seem to have taken all this way too seriously and someone must have got mad considering lorinajac and flowerlady have lost all their rep power...why?

and to lori042499, you should have left it alone.
 
Gigi said:
K, all this seems way over the top!! Both sides seem to have taken all this way too seriously and someone must have got mad considering lorinajac and flowerlady have lost all their rep power...why?

and to lori042499, you should have left it alone.
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I am sorry...you are right..I should have left it alone. I should practice what I preach and I am all done and do sincerely apologize.
 
sorry ladies I am way to new at this stuff I will be watching myself I really didn't mean to have it go that far. I was stating my mind.you all have been on here so long you all know what you can and can not say.. anyways have a wonderful profitable day!:sofa:
 
As we all know sometimes tone cannot be "heard" over a keyboard. I am sorry that two new members were treated to a bad experience here within a very short time and that I had something to do with it.

To both of you I hope you understand the reasoning behind the comments that were made and let's positively move on from here. I am sure you are both wonderful people who just made comments that were mistaken.

Stay, enjoy and learn. Flower Chat is really a wonderful place.
 
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