AzarÉl Greetings: A Feathered Photo Shoot

When it comes to my photography, I get asked all the time: “Where on earth do you get your ideas?” The truth is, my process rarely starts with a grand plan. More often than not, it begins with something simple—a cool vintage object I’ve picked up, a beautiful flower in full bloom, or something I’ve stumbled upon in my own backyard. The real magic happens when these seemingly random bits and pieces start to come together to tell a story. It’s my mission at AzarÉl Greetings to create unique and heartwarming images, perfect for both our greeting cards and wall décor. It all begins with one tiny inspiration.

It Starts with a Spark

This particular photo session began with a single, massive peony from my garden. It was a fragrant beauty in its prime, a full seven inches wide. As a lover of the simple elegance of flowers floating in water, I happened to have a crystal serving dish that was just the right size. It felt like the perfect stage for something special. The peony floating in the bowl reminded me of a tiny, perfect tropical island, a miniature paradise just waiting for the birds that frequent our backyard. As I started to build the scene, the idea took on a life of its own.

Building the Scene

With the peony island as my centerpiece, I started gathering other objects to create a full narrative. I had some old, shabby chic boards with chipped white paint that seemed like a great surface to work with. Then I spotted a silky pink ribbon, its soft curves looking so graceful. The scene was already feeling very feminine, with its emphasis on pinks and beautiful cut glass. To add even more character, I included a pair of sweet little leather gloves with delicate flowers on them and a beautiful strand of classic pearls from my dearly loved mother-in-law. To top it all off, I found a colorful fan from House on Willow, a charming little shop here in Adamstown. The entire scene was looking like something straight from a lady’s antique dresser top!

A Game of Hide-and-Go-Seek

This is where the fun really begins! Each of my scenes is built right where I feed the birds. Instead of piling all the food on a platform like an easy smorgasbord, I prefer to make them work for it. I like to think of it as a little game of “secret snacks.” The camera can’t see them, but the birds can still find them! For this scene, I clipped back some of the peony petals and tucked a tiny, empty milk cap inside. It was completely hidden from view and filled with live mealworms. I knew some of them would manage to escape into the depths of the flower, never to be seen again! I also tucked some mealworms behind the fan, hoping a bird would perch on its delicate edge. And just for good measure, I hid a single peanut and some individual sunflower seeds completely out of sight behind the pearls. It’s always a little game of hide-and-go-seek for my feathery friends.

Take a walk around the scene and see the snacks!

From Sunrise to Selection

Photography days usually begin around 6 am when I create the scene. That takes an hour or so. This particular photo shoot lasted about two and a half hours, from 7:05 to 9:35. I prefer morning light in the shade; once the sun gets too high, the light “goes bad” and bounces everywhere. It’s always exciting to see which birds (or squirrels or chipmunks) are going to show up and what they’re going to do.

The Journey after the Click

In this session, I took 167 photos. After the camera work is done, I do a quick run-through of them and delete those that are not usable. I kept 72 of the images and ranked them with stars to narrow the batch down. However, my brain is usually too full to choose the best ones right away. When it comes to making the final selection, I’ve found two methods work best. Sometimes, I just step away from the photos for a few weeks to let my eyes “reset.” Other times, I’ll poll my friends on Facebook. Getting feedback from others is an amazing way to get a fresh perspective quickly—it’s incredible what a second, third, or even fourth pair of eyes can spot that mine completely miss.

Processing a photo is like having a whole new set of camera controls. I use Lightroom, Topaz, and Photoshop to edit and refine my images. (And just to be perfectly clear: these programs are never used to put a bird into a scene! The birds you see are exactly where they chose to be.)

The Final Three Photos

The natural beauty of the birds and the scene create such magic that these photos can stand completely on their own. A close crop on this image brings out the best details: the intricate wingspan of the bluebird, the soft elegance of the peony, and the colorful patterns in the fan.

Many photos from AzarÉl Greetings have space for an inspirational quote. I search online to try to find the perfect quotes. Quotes by Helen Keller have always inspired me. This one, in particular, resonates deeply: “The best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”

For the wall decor, I used a shortened version of the quote. This allows the text to be larger and more visible from a distance. While it feels a bit strange to remove the line about “seeing” from a quote by a woman who was blind, the heart of her message remains—and that is what truly matters. “Felt with the Heart” is available on-line here.

Here are some other beautiful quotes that were considered for this image:

1. Be your own kind of beautiful.
2. Beauty is the illumination of your soul. – John O’Donohue
3. Outer beauty attracts, but inner beauty captivates. — Kate Angell
4. Beauty is not about how you look, but how you live. It is about the light you hold inside. — Unknown

If you’re ever interested in alternate quotes on AzarÉl Greeings’ canvas giclées, check out the blog, “Make it Yours: Adding Quotes to AzarÉl Greetings Photography.”

These are other quotes that were considered for Greeting Cards:

1. A garden of love grows in a mother’s heart.
2. Happy birthday to a beautiful woman who taught us all about grace and love.
3. A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.

The Final Word

My photographic adventures are a true labor of love, and the journey from a single idea to a final piece of wall decor is incredibly rewarding. I truly appreciate your support and encouragement. As you look at the three photos I’ve chosen to share from this session, please consider them without the quotes and tell me which one is your favorite. Additionally, let me know which of the quotes you liked best for either the greeting cards or wall decor. Your insights are invaluable and truly help me make the best selections. Thank you for coming along on this creative journey with me!