A Hyde Park Personal Branding Photoshoot a London Wedding Florist - Clare

Clare is the owner, founder and chief Florist at Clare Oliver Floristry based in Blackheath, London. Clare creates tailor-made romantic and natural wedding flowers for couples across London and when we met at a networking event earlier this year, I knew she would be a treat to photograph.

So on a windy, cold day last week - we wandered the greenery of Hyde Park to create some personal branding content for Clare to use across her website and social media. We were hoping for a few more trees to be in blossom than we found - what a strange spring it is! But we did find some! I adored hanging out with Clare in Hyde park and then nipping into the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen for a coffee and slice of carrot cake. This is definitely one of my favourite things about being a personal branding photographer, the chance to chat to another small business owner about business, life balance and in this case, learn the names of iconic English flowers in a Royal Park! (Mimosa and Queen’s Lace!)

As we sipped our coffee and warmed our hands on our cups, and our hearts with cake, I asked Clare a few questions about what it’s like being a full time Florist in a very busy part of South London, a female entrepreneur whilst also being a Mum.

We thought we would share our interview and Clare’s thoughts on life as a business owner here:

1.What made you start your Floristry Business?

I had always been interested in Floristry, as my father was a landscape gardener and horticulturist and i grew up in Devon, surrounded by the countryside. I've always had an affinity for flowers, but my school career took me off to University to study Behavioural Sciences, which led to a 20 year career in Communications and Public Affairs. However in 2017, my sister is law was getting married and for some reason I offered to do their wedding flowers. I loved every minute of it. I took myself off to a local floristry course to learn the basics of bouquets and buttonholes and i just had the best time and so many compliments. I spent the following summer thinking about whether I should pursue this new found passion as a career and in the Autumn of 2017 I enrolled on a Business of Floristry course at the Judith Blacklock Flower school in Knightsbridge and then Clare Oliver Floristry was born!

2. Biggest challenge as an entrepreneur. 

I think it's the need to be a jack of all trades. That not only are you 'doing the flowers' as we say in the industry, but you are also having to master all the other elements of running a business, on little budget at the outset. However, I have my communications background and I've recently been working with other entrepreneurs to swap skills - I'll help out with their comms and they are helping me to organise the operations side of my business.

3. What would you say to someone thinking of a career change? 

I would say go for it, but maybe start doing it part-time so that you can build it up enough before you let go of all other income streams. There are alot of outgoings when setting up a new business, so having some money coming in from elsewhere can be really handy. But at the end of the day, most people that are looking at a career change are usually unhappy in their current work and life is too short - so i say go for it!

4. What tips do you have for balancing work and home-life?. 

You need supportive people around you to help out, I have 3 children and I couldn't run my business without the help of my husband, picking up the kids etc on days when I'm super busy with weddings. Also i think you have to be super organised, schedule everything in and block out time for work - so that you can still have that quality time for your kids. One of the reasons I decided to set up my own business was because I wanted my work to fit around my children. So today I was able to get my youngest son all dressed up for World Book Day and take him to school and i will be going to collect him at 3.30pm to hear all about the fun he's had today!

5. What flower represents your brand and why?

I just love peonies, they are so naturally beautiful and wondrous. 

6. What inspires you? 

Um well I think mother nature herself, I love working with British Flowers, they have such a special quality - that home grown country garden look, which is so naturally wild and romantic. 

You can find Clare and her gorgeous floral creations here:
https://www.clareoliverfloristry.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/clareoliverfloristry/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/clareoliver_1/