Are you considering working as a freelance floral designer? and like to know the nuts and bolts involved in this job?
You came to the right place!
Typically, a freelance floral designer does different jobs like floral décor, running workshops, gardening DIY, floral photoshoots, making floral arrangements for weddings, dinner, corporate events, and such occasions.
The first thing that comes to mind when you want to start a freelance floral designer is, How much does a professional floral designer can earn? So, a professional floral designer can earn anywhere between $45,000 to $60,000 per year. However, this completely depends upon order size, occasion, expertise, and quality.
If you work more for exclusive clients the chances of earning money will be better. But to do this, you must be a reputed freelance floral designer.
If you are just getting started or looking to work under an experienced designer you need to be aware of certain things to become an expert, freelance floral designer.
The 10 steps to be an expert floral designer
#1. Learn from your Designer’s
As a freelance floral designer, you have the opportunity to work with different designers and each one has a unique way of doing things.
Be curious and carefully watch how they were doing the work, what steps they were following.
Note down the things that you find common or missing in each designer.
This way, you will get to know every detail of your job more quickly
At the same time, If you have any questions don’t mind asking your designer and get them solved.
Most of them are ready to explain and even provide valuable tips that you can implement in your Job.
So, always make a note of every point that your designer tells. You will slowly start to enjoy your job.
PS: Be cautious don’t try to over exaggerate and ask questions when you see your boss busy at work. Just look for perfect timing and go ahead.
#2. Executive the Design as Your Designer had Proposed
You may have your own ideas or intentions to do things more creatively than your designer had prospered.
Of course, that’s not a big problem.
But, if you are working under a reputed designer keep in mind, they like to see their team follow their designs and work accordingly so that they can finish the job perfectly.
If you try to mess up their work with your ideas, you are literally disturbing their rhythm which is going to put you in an awkward situation.
#3. Pay Attention to Your Customers
One of the worst mistakes a freelance floral designer prone to do is, not listening well to their customer.
For example, your customer has asked you to make a beautiful looking basket with a vertical floral arrangement and you have somehow ended up delivering a horizontal flower arrangement which is quite opposite.
Keep in mind, doing such silly mistakes initially might not seem to be a big deal for you. if your customer walks away without arguing.
However, there are chances that your ratings and reviews get affected seriously. So take your time, and listen to your customer patiently for what they were asking.
#4. Plan your Day Ahead no Matter What
Floral designing involves a lot of traveling. Especially during the Holiday season where it gets really busy. So, always plan accordingly.
Newly starting floral designers tend to make a common mistake during these holiday seasons. They take up orders without having a proper estimation of their schedule If you were not able to finish a certain job at a certain location within time and you have a job waiting to be done on the next day, you have to run for the schedule, Which makes you completely tedious at the end of the day.
So, in all cases plan your schedule one day a head.
#5. Get Acquainted with Floral Design Terms
Working as a freelance floursit you will come across various ters used by designers and clients to explain things like color, design, arrangement, principles, and elements of the job.
So, get yourself acquainted with such terms at all costs.
The chances of learning such terminology will be much easier if you are working under a designer rather than by yourself.
However, you can still improve your knowledge by reading some of the books. So here are some popular books on floral art
- Flower school: A Practical Guide to the Art Flower Arranging by Calvert Crary
- Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein
- Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Graden by Erin Benzakein
- The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder
- Flower Arranging by Judith Black lock
#6. Learn Popular Floral Arrangements and Designs
As a freelance flourist you need to have a good grip on Bouquet and floral arrangements that are widely popular across the world.
Here are some of the popular floral arrangements
- Horizontal
- Crescent
- S-Shaped
- Corsage
- Oval
- Contemporary Floral Arrangement
- Vase arrangement
- And Art Nouveau Arrangement
Popular Bouquet Arrangements include
- Tussie Mussie or Nosegay
- Biedermeier bouquet
- Pomander bouquet
- Cascade Hand-tied
#7. Be Prepared For a Tedious Job
Flower designing is not all about creativity and fun! you also be prepared for cleaning, soaking, washing away debris, getting your hands dirty with glue and wax, and of course paint spray!
No one said florist or floral designer job is full of colors.
You have to clean your flowers, spray them several times a day, rub away dust, clean the rusted candlesticks and the list goes on. To be a successful floral designer you have to buckle down no matter what.
#8. Get Ready to Work with Different Budgets
Do not try to confine yourself to work only for a specific budget.
If you want to grow into a top-notch designer you have to work for various budgets.
Keep in mind, floral designer jobs are highly dependent on season and occasion. So it is important that you utilize the opportunity properly.
Initially, when you are getting started, it is better to start off with low to medium budget jobs than slowly take up the high budget ones.
The only problem with starting a high-budget floral jobs is If you do not have proper skills and experience you may end up just giving satisfactory results. So it is always suggested that you start slowly, build trust and develop perfectionism.
#9. Sign-up for Floral Courses
There are lots of floral designer courses and workshops available online. All you need to do is just sign-up and learn them.
Keep a schedule and dedicate yourself to learn these courses to brush-up your skills or find out recent trends in the floral industry.
Here are some of the best sources to learn
Floral design institute is a leading floral designing school providing courses, workshops, and certification on floral designing.
Wedding Flowers DIY Udemy course by Katherine Watren is one of the popular floral designing course on internet. This course explains on how to make your own wedding flowers
Bouquet Making course by Kaylee Young in Skillshare. This course is perfect for beginners who want to make a bouquet and learn different techniques and tips.
Australia’s International Floral Design school provides practical lessons on floral designs. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced professional you can take a look at their course details. They even have international Training. Once you complete their course you get a certification for the course completion.
#10. Keep Your Resume Updated
As a freelance floral designer, you need a proper resume to showcase your skills, certifications, and experiences.
Make sure you have a well-written job description that is easy to read and understand. Generally, a floral designer job description covers the following things.
- Type of designs and arrangements that you can work on
- Training or Certifications on floral courses
- Knowledge of handling various types of flowers
- Hands-on experience working for reputed designers
- Any experience working on special occasions like wedding, corporate events, parties, etc.,
One of the best ways to get noticed by recruiters or reputed customers is, to work under an experienced floral designer for a while. This will not only give you experience but also a recommendation. So, in the future, if your designer is busy taking up a contract they can easily recommend your profile.
So, these are some simple tips that you should look into working as a freelance floral designer. If you find them useful you can send it to your friends who were in need.