Acclaimed photographer and author Georgianna Lane is well known for her dreamy images of florals and iconic cities. My favourite books of hers are the Cities in Bloom trilogy; Paris in Bloom, London in Bloom and New York in Bloom which are a beautiful depiction of these cities bursting into life. American born Georgianna splits her time between Paris and Seattle, her days are spent in parks and flower farms, on the streets of beautiful cities or in her studio. She kindly caught up with me to discuss her inspiration and journey as a professional author and photographer.
“American born Georgianna splits her time between Paris and Seattle, her days are spent in parks and flower farms, on the streets of beautiful cities or in her studio.”
Please can you tell us a little about your artistic style?
I strive to create timeless, light-filled, dreamy images with a bit of a magical atmosphere. I approach my photographs as if they were paintings, leaving out elements that are modern or distracting to create a scene that allows the viewer to visualize themselves in that location. My favourite subjects include roses, architectural details and of course, beautiful cities like London and Paris!
What were your early influences?
Art and creativity were always present in our household when I was growing up. My mother was a musician, singer and painter and both my parents were talented amateur photographers. Photography became something we all did and loved, along with traveling.
We were also encouraged to read, create and dream. In that environment, I began writing and taking photographs of our adventures around the world at a very young age.
“I strive to create timeless, light-filled, dreamy images with a bit of a magical atmosphere.”
We lived in a somewhat rural area and I always had a strong connection with nature, especially flowers, although I didn’t know much about identifying individual varieties until I became a specialist. I feel very thankful that I make a living in a creative field and am grateful that my upbringing celebrated beauty and art.
How did your career as a photographer begin? Was it something you always knew you wanted to do on a professional basis?
When I left corporate marketing as an Art Director at a literary agency over 15 years ago, I decided to focus on my photography business which now includes my many books, a specialist stock image library, online shops, licensing and assignment work for major gardening and lifestyle magazines.
From the beginning of my career, I have always strived to produce the most technically and artistically excellent images possible. Precision focusing, perfectly-rendered detail and accurate colour rendition are vital in my work. I feel very thankful that I make a living in a creative field and am grateful that my upbringing celebrated beauty and art, as well as the practical aspects of life.
Why did you decide that flowers would be your primary photographic subject?
Floral photography is endlessly fascinating and always popular. However, it’s a crowded field so I dedicated myself to excelling technically and artistically.
“I feel very thankful that I make a living in a creative field and am grateful that my upbringing celebrated beauty and art.”
I knew that to be successful, I should specialize and become an expert in my field. I’d taken photographs my entire life on a variety of subjects but it was a conscious decision to focus on florals, a field that I knew I loved and would be happy to work in for years to come. Floral photography is endlessly fascinating and always popular. However, it’s a crowded field so I dedicated myself to excelling technically and artistically.
What inspired you to photograph and write Paris in Bloom?
I loved that the city itself seemed very feminine and that flowers are such a strong influence on the design and architecture. I started working on the concepts for Paris in Bloom about seven or eight years ago and developed it from there.
I have to say that when I’m in Paris, I never think about being anywhere else as I feel utterly happy there. I adore so many things, including the incredible architecture, sense of history, world-class museums, and the meticulous Parisian attention to design and detail.
“It’s my love letter to Paris and my way of expressing my appreciation for the endless inspiration the city provides.”
When I’m there, I feel a part of something bigger than myself, something grand and beautiful and important and exceptional. I dress better. I eat better. I feel better, about my creative work and life. But experiencing this myself is not enough. I’m passionate about sharing the magnificent qualities of this city.
I daydream about taking friends and family members on joyful adventures, exploring my favorite streets and gardens and markets and museums. I envision us strolling along, gazing up at intricate iron balconies, marveling at stunning carvings and reveling in the floral beauty that is abundant in the markets.
Paris in Bloom is thus my romantic tour of the floral charms of Paris – from parks and gardens to floral boutiques, from flower markets to fabulous floral installations in luxury hotels. Woven throughout are images of gorgeous floral architectural details that echo and were inspired by real flowers. It’s my love letter to Paris and my way of expressing my appreciation for the endless inspiration the city provides.
You have mentioned how much you admire the Impressionist painters, and your photos are reminiscent of their dreamy, floral aesthetic. Is there a particular artist that inspires your work?
Artistically, my main influences from an early age were painters – the Impressionists, Monet and Van Gogh, the Dutch Masters, Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites, as well as the great artists and designers of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris and Sir Edward Burne Jones. The romance and beauty of the work of these artists evoke a sense of otherworldly beauty, places that exist on the edge of the imagination that just might be real.
I love romantic and beautiful works in any field and inspiration can be found in poetry, music and nature, too. The peacefulness and serenity of the natural world influences the creation of many of my images.
“I approach my photographs as if they were paintings, leaving out elements that are modern or distracting to create a scene that allows the viewer to visualize themselves in that location.”
I approach my photographs as if they were paintings, leaving out elements that are modern or distracting to create a scene that allows the viewer to visualize themselves in that location. I strive to create timeless, light-filled, dreamy images with a bit of a magical atmosphere and hope to transport the viewer to a tranquil and beautiful realm.
I also draw much inspiration and serenity from my own garden – some of my bestselling images are photographs of flowers I’ve grown myself. In my early days as a floral and garden photographer, I was definitely influenced by the tremendous heritage of British garden photographers, many of whom have inspired me.
As well as a renowned floral photographer, you’re a very successful business woman, publishing multiple books and running online shops. Which quality of your personality would you say has helped you most to succeed in business? Do you ever find it difficult to juggle the creative side of what you do alongside the business?
I’m very determined and once I set a goal for myself, I don’t quit easily. I think my persistence is a key trait. I truly believe that giving up on a dream is the only reason for failure. But you have to do the work. Dreaming doesn’t get it done. One of my favourite quotes is by Thomas Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” I’ve never been good at downtime and usually have many projects going at once.
“I truly believe that giving up on a dream is the only reason for failure. But you have to do the work.”
It is challenging juggling both the creative and business side of my company. At some point, you have to start delegating. You cannot effectively do it alone and expect to expand.
What do you love the most about working the creative, freelance life of an entrepreneur?
I love most the freedom to set my own schedule, to choose where I live and work and travel, and to not be dictated by rules and regulations that are prevalent in corporate jobs. I don’t have to ask permission of anyone as my schedule is under my control.
“To be successful, you need to stand out and become known for exceptional products and service”
Another thing I love is having artistic freedom. When I was an agency Art Director in Hollywood, every creative idea and product was subject to numerous opinions and changes. This is soul-destroying for an artist. I’m very grateful for the experience and skills I learned during that time but I remember clearly the day I walked away from it and the relief I felt.
If you were to give women who want to create a creative freelance working life one piece of advice based on your experience, what would it be?
Be fully committed to becoming the very best in your field. To be successful, you need to stand out and become known for exceptional products and service, so I recommend investing in the training and practice required to produce superlative work, whether it’s photography, painting, design or providing a service. Never stop learning and improving your craft.
You can find out more about Georgianna Lane’s books by visiting a retailer or at http://georgiannalane.com/
Photographs courtesy of Georgianna Lane