Last week I went on a product photography workshop at Definitely Dreaming so I can start to take photos of the jewellery and new products we are creating at work. The workshop taught us which settings were best to use on our cameras, how to find the best light and how to manipulate natural light and what to do if there isn’t enough of it. We also discussed props and styling and how to position the product to have maximum impact. The workshop was set in a smallholding and I knew when booking that it only took a maximum of 6 students so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed. My workshop had myself and 3 other students.
If you are a newbie photographer, pop over to Definitely Dreaming as Janet is currently offering a free five week online course to improve your photography skills which is suitable for phone and camera users. To sign up you only need to give your first name and email address.
One lady who attended the workshop creates luxury candles and reed diffusers. Flo Candles are created using soy wax from a renewable source and are free from any artificial or toxic elements, meaning they burn cleanly and last much longer than traditional paraffin. They enrich the candles with 100% essential oils. Their reed diffusers are created using certified organic and 100% natural ingredients.
They have various scents and if you aren’t sure which you would like, you can order 2 free scent samples to help you decide, they will also send you a discount code with the samples to get 15% off your first order. That is fab customer service even before you get started. I have ordered the Relax candle which is a blend of lavender, marjoram, bergamot and petitgrain. I can not wait for it to arrive!
Another lady creates bespoke pottery as well as holding craft workshops for both adults and children at her workshop in Preston, Fired 4 U. She took a pair of hand painted ceramic wine goblets to the workshop and they were stunning, the attention to detail was superb.
The 3rd lady at the workshop with us was Swifty Bell Designs, creating fabric pictures and greeting cards. Each item is unique so you can be sure that no one else will have the same picture as you. Using various materials, some of them are so precious that she only uses them sparingly on the wing of a bird or a cherry on a cupcake. I adore her cards, I think they make a beautiful gift as it could be framed after being given as a card x
LaaLaa Monroe
July 18, 2016 at 7:37 am (2 years ago)Love this spotlight on small businesses. Very thoughtful, I’m liking the sound of Flo Candles x
Mellissa Williams
July 18, 2016 at 7:39 am (2 years ago)I’ve just signed up for this course, thanks for the recommendation!
Claire
July 18, 2016 at 9:05 am (2 years ago)How sweet – I love supporting indies and smaller businesses.
joanna
July 18, 2016 at 9:10 am (2 years ago)I love using small business as its important to help them out especially local ones. We have some fab local small business near us which I love shopping in.
Swifty Bell
July 18, 2016 at 1:43 pm (2 years ago)Thank you for the review of a fabulously useful day, great to meet you and I’ll now nosey at your blog!
Rachel
July 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm (2 years ago)This is such a great post and it is so good to champion small businesses x
Milly Youngman
July 18, 2016 at 6:45 pm (2 years ago)Sounds like a great workshop! And the Flo candles look so nice!
Ana De- Jesus
July 18, 2016 at 7:54 pm (2 years ago)I actually prefer smaller businesses 9 times out of 10 because there seems to be more of a community spirit and a willingness to please their customers.
Sam
July 18, 2016 at 8:07 pm (2 years ago)It’s always to important to raise awareness of local business, so thank you for sharing some of your favourites!
Anosa
July 18, 2016 at 8:29 pm (2 years ago)Loving Fired 4 U, looks great and what a lovely post supporting small businesses
Sarah
July 18, 2016 at 9:00 pm (2 years ago)I have done a similar post recently.
It’s great to support small businesses! And they often sell the most beautiful & unique items!
Fashion and Style Police
July 18, 2016 at 9:34 pm (2 years ago)This online course sounds useful. I will check it out.
Emma
July 18, 2016 at 10:00 pm (2 years ago)Thanks for including us in the blog and encouraging people to support small businesses. Hope you enjoy your relax candle. Emma x Flocandles.com
Rhian Westbury
July 18, 2016 at 10:16 pm (2 years ago)Photography workshops are a great starting point to learn more abour your camera. I remember doing one with Canon when I first got my SLR x
Liz Mays
July 18, 2016 at 11:52 pm (2 years ago)These business owners are so talented. It’s awesome that you were able to find out about them through this class.
Jessica
July 18, 2016 at 11:58 pm (2 years ago)Love these crafts! I like the Swifty Bell Designs most! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
July 19, 2016 at 7:42 am (2 years ago)I am all for supporting small business. When we got married, we tried to only use small businesses and it felt much more special.
Charli Bruce
July 19, 2016 at 9:06 am (2 years ago)Flo candles sounds really great, I adore candles and always find ones that aren’t mass produced last so much longer and have an amazing scent. I also love the fact you can order two free samples to see what the scents are like too! xx
Hannah
July 19, 2016 at 10:01 am (2 years ago)That photography course sounds fab! I definitely need some help.
Jess
July 19, 2016 at 10:08 am (2 years ago)I love the look of Swifty Bell Designs, I always try to support small businesses when I can 🙂
Tara
July 19, 2016 at 12:53 pm (2 years ago)Love for small businesses is so important! Great post
Helen Clark
July 19, 2016 at 3:42 pm (2 years ago)I love buying things from small businesses so will definitely check all of these out. Flo candles sounds something I would love!
Jane Fox
July 19, 2016 at 5:04 pm (2 years ago)Thank you for the mention it is a lovely blog post! It was a great photography course with Janet and you are right in saying our small group was nice and not intimidating at all and full of useful information. With the added bonus of meeting three new small local businesses it made a great useful day out of work.
Bethany Naismith
July 19, 2016 at 5:09 pm (2 years ago)This is so important! Small businesses are so great and I am looking into starting one up so this is fab 🙂
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
July 19, 2016 at 5:30 pm (2 years ago)I love that these are all small businesses that bring a smile to recipients eyes! I particularly love the cards – I agree about framing them!
Harriet from Toby & Roo
July 19, 2016 at 7:32 pm (2 years ago)I would love to do an online photography course!!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
July 20, 2016 at 1:54 am (2 years ago)I love small businesses and try to support them the best I can.
Tanya Brannan
July 20, 2016 at 9:53 am (2 years ago)I always prefer supporting small businesses, and these ones look like great little companies
Hannah
July 20, 2016 at 2:24 pm (2 years ago)I love this idea – I love supporting small business so thank you for sharing these x
Zoe IKIWN
July 20, 2016 at 7:16 pm (2 years ago)This is so lovely! I much prefer to support indie business, and when I can afford to I do. Sounds like a great day! x
Laura H
July 20, 2016 at 7:28 pm (2 years ago)Those fabric pictures look really cool. I’ve never seen something like that, what a unique business idea 🙂
Working mum Blog
July 21, 2016 at 11:23 am (2 years ago)I love discovering new businesses – it is so inspiring to see people set off on their own and succeed. Thank you for highlight the three you discovered at your workshop