Sometimes it's easier to learn what to do when photographing flower arrangements by seeing examples of what not to do. Below are two sets of images of less-than-successful designs, not only from purely mechanical aspects, but from the vantage points of the camera.

   


In addition to using too little light, the design above has the following issues: (see the numbered areas on the second version)

1. Greens and dirty water in the vase. Make sure to remove all foliages below the water line, especially when working in clear glass and be sure to change the water before taking your final shots.
 
2. Wacky weeds. Be careful about the amount of bear grass and other loose foliages used. What may look good in person can look out-of-control in a photo.

3. Orient the flowers to the camera. Though it seems like an obvious 'don't', showing the backs or sides of blooms is a common error.

4. All the ducks in a row. The white of the roses makes this error even more pronounced since their rhythmic pace is all wrong for this radial style.
 
5. Turn off the camera's built-in flash. Note the heavy shadow created by the front-on shot. 

6. Weak Focal Area. The alstroemeria is just too small and the wrong shape to anchor this design.

7. Foliages concealing flowers. Why cover up a glorious hybrid delphinium with a piece of myrtle?

8. Immature flowers. Budded flowers will last longer for your customers, but take your feature website photos with flowers in their full glory.

   

While an improvement from the previous arrangement, this shot still has several challenges to overcome:

1. Out of Balance Color. Not only do the yellow gerberas overpower the far-more-costly hydrangeas, the middle one is oriented in the wrong direction. Pale yellow or white gerberas would have been a better choice.

2. Exposed stems. The light green salal stem crossing over the dark leaves is a definite distraction. It's also moving forward in a diagonal line, which is tough for the camera to read. 

3. Willy-nilly foliage. The silhouette of the salal leaves are rhythmically poor and need better spacing and control.
 
4. Immature flower. We florists know it's a iris but our customers may not. Additionally, in classic designs it's more visually pleasing to grade same-kind flowers in size (from larger to smaller) as they move away from the heart of the arrangement.

5. Flash shadow. Once again, turn off the camera's flash and move the design further from the background.

6. Blown-out whites. White flowers are tough to shoot and are especially effected when too much light is used. The details get blown out. In this design, the grouped whites are also not properly counter-balanced with white materials on the opposite side of the arrangement.

7. Fillers covering feature flowers. Make sure the accent fillers aren't covering up feature flowers, especially in the heart of the arrangement.
 
8. Missing Buds. They're particularly noticeable on single flowers. Photo editing software can help fill in the missing flowers, but it's better to just to start off with good materials.
 
9. Streamers Gigantus. Just like any other element, ribbon needs controlled. Streamers are generally easier to photograph if they're trimmed to fall near mid-vase.

What's good? The carry-through of color from the container to the flowers.
 
We hope these two examples help you avoid making some of the common floral design and photography mistakes and assist florists with shooting better images of their own flower arrangements.