Let's rewind to the beginning of the day of this photoshoot, don't we?

I start off by chopping down some bougainvillea around 5am along the side of my apartment. Long live the bougainvillea!

Then, the market. Armloads of flowers, yes, but still searching for something more. Ah, so I'll stop at the garden and see if anything inspires me. Sure! These thorny blackberries sound like a great idea. This one pink lupine, yes please. A few pink dahlias, totally. These tiny little zinnias that just popped up, absolutely. And of course, this oregano I've let flower, better cut that.

I leave with bloody hands (or, was that just blackberry juice?), but inspired by the garden trip nonetheless. I come to my studio to start building these flowers.

The centerpiece came together easily and quickly. I was inspired by lightness changing to darkness, so I started to the left with a white anemone, which blended into a peach lisianthus, which blended into the center with a coral Romantic Antique garden rose, which blended into a bright red zinnia, and finished off with vibrant blackberries, deep plum branch, and chocolate dahlias.

Next, I start on the bridal bouquet. I take a few deep breaths, as bouquets take time. So much time. So much adjusting. So much thinking. I also know I want to make this bouquet massive, so I'm prepping to make sure my hand is ready for the pain that is about to ensue. An hour later, I'm done!

I make a couple of bridesmaids bouquets, pack up any loose ends and a giant bucket of extra flowers into my car, and I'm off! Smooth day, right?

Not yet! My car decides that the Bay Bridge onramp is an awesome place to have its transmission fail, no big deal. What a drama queen!

Thankfully, I'm able to get off on the last SF exit, ride into second gear all the way to the car rental shop that I normally go to (sorry for everyone who had the pleasure of being behind me) grab a quick rental car, transfer all of my flowers, and now, now we are off!

Anyway, I show up at the Ruth Bancroft Garden Center in Walnut Creek, a bit frazzled, but stoked to be around all of these lovely people. I find out that Danielle Poff is taking film, I swoon, and my day is better. Big hugs to photographers who shoot film of flowers. You make my heart sing!

A crazy day in the life, but yeesh. I am blessed to be surrounded by so many people who inspire me to dream big.