I met the most amazing photographer a few weeks ago at a Collaboration Over Competition event. Her name is Nicole and she owns Lilac and Fern Photography. She is a Boudoir Photographer! But, I should say that she is truly an artist!
A few days after I met her she messaged me on Instagram and asked me if I design “floral tattoos”. I know what they are-and I have wanted to learn to design them-but at that point-NO. I had never made one. She told me that she used to work with a floral designer, Emily Rose Floral Design in Fort Collins, Colorado of @emilyroseflorals would design them for her boudoir sessions. The colors and textures of the florals add such a beautiful and interesting elements to the simplicity of her photographs. I told Nicole that I loved a good challenge and that I would figure out how to design them.
A week or so later I messaged Nicole and told her that I felt like I was ready to try! I had found a video tutorial and had practices. Nicole found a willing model; the gorgeous Skye Dzhidzhiteshvili, @skyegigi93. We met at Nicole’s studio and the results were amazing!
In the video it said that clear Elmer’s glue would work to adhere the tattoo to the skin without causing irritation. I had made a small one for myself and practiced it at home and it worked! But, it was not so easy with a full size tattoo. It did not adhere to Skye’s skin! Thankfully, Nicole and Skye were so patient and wonderful to work with. I was able to learn and grow without all the pressure of a paying customer!
I have been a floral designer for well over 25 years! But, the thing I love is that every day I am learning new things and trying to perfect my skills. No two designs are ever the same as no two flowers are the same. There are unique challenges with each bouquet I make. Learning to design something completely new was such an exciting challenge!
The first time I had seen a floral tattoo was on Instagram and was designed by Sue McLeary of @passionflowersue. I have designed thousands of traditional and not so traditional corsages and flower crowns. Typically this is done by wiring and taping each individual flower. I knew that the floral tattoos could not be done this way or they would not lay on the skin so naturally and beautifully and would be awkward to wear.
Nicole had told me that Emily Rose would use some type of medical grade tape and glue the flowers to the tape directly onto the model on site. She said that it would take sometimes several hours to create. I had to come up with another way. The thought of putting a model through that was just too much. The Elmer’s glue was certainly not the solution but I knew I was on the right track.
I reached out to Sue McLeary and she graciously messaged me back with the answer! I’m a HUGE fan of her work and in the floral design industry she is a ROCK STAR! I couldn’t believe she messaged me back and was so willing to help. Sue uses the same tape that Nicole’s other designer used. I knew I would find a way to combine my method and Sue’s to allow me to design the tattoos ahead of time but to have them securely adhere to the skin.
My daughter Sophie gladly let me use her as my guinea pig to try again to perfect my floral tattoos! I was really happy with how it turned out and we had so much fun doing this photo shoot! That is my old wedding dress! I don’t want to give all my secrets away…but I confidently say that attempt number 2 was a winner! The tattoo stayed in place but it was also able to design it at my studio ahead of time. As you can see I also attempted a “floral fascinator” for Sophie’s hair. But, that will the story for a future blog post!
As you can see, Nicole captured Skye and her floral tattoo beautifully! I am so intrigued by this new form of wearable floral art! Imagine this…going to a New Year’s Eve Ball or Masquerade Ball and there are fresh floral tattoos for all the guest to wear! I have tables of them available to choose from and I assist with putting one on each of the guests! WOW!!! I am all in for that floral design job!
Wow!!! Gorgeous!