Bethany Florist Shop | Creative Portraits | Bethany, Connecticut
Today on the blog I want to introduce you to Rachael owner of Bethany Florist Shop. We first met while working on a styled shoot and it was love at first long, hot, dirty day on set. Over the time I have known her we have worked on quite a few sets and each one has been a blast and the florals always look AMAZING. Aesthetically we vibe on almost everything…except carnations…but she is bringing me around. More on that later.
For this shoot I wanted to focus on the powerhouse bad ass business owning petal boss that she is. I also think that should be on her official title but whatever. In her twenties she went ahead and bought a flower shop business. Like just…dove right in. She also kept on the loyal employees that had worked there for decades ensuring them a smooth transition as she began evolving the business. BOSS. So why a flower shop?
To be honest, this wasn’t the path that I expected for myself. It kind of just fell into my lap and when I look at myself and the way I am, it just seems to make sense. I’ve always been a bit of a hippy dippy, all natural, holistic type of person and I love love learning a new skill. So when flowers were on the table, I figured this really was the best combination of all these things. I get to work with my hands, play with a beautiful product and learn a skill that just makes people happy.. which isn’t that really why anyone does anything? To make people happy? - Rachel
The very first shoot Rach and I worked on she told me she was going to bring carnations. I in all of my subtle politeness, said…uhhhh NO. Carnations don’t belong in deep and moody styled shoots. Totally un-phased she assured me that they would work. So when asked for her favorite flower?
Carnations! Ha! They are the underdog of flowers. Anyone can say they love peony or garden roses or all those other flowers you see all over Pinterest, and they should because those flowers are gorgeous. However, Carnations got a bad rep for being a cheap funeral flower, but I don’t view them that way. They are so dynamic, color choice is absolutely endless and they last FOREVER!!
For the record, the carnations totally worked and became the base of most of the decor perfection. Dammit. You can see the shoot in our recent feature on Offbeat Bride.
The thing about Rachel is she lives in the moments that make magic happen. Those seconds before the doors open to an event and the air is vibrating with silent excitement is where she is most alive. “It’s the colliding of these two worlds…that final breath before you take the stage, fixing a zipper before the model walks the runway or placing the final flower before the wedding guests arrive…I love it.”
Scroll for more from this Wildflower Goddess session.