Flowers add instant life and color to potentially flat interior design shots. But there's more to styling flowers than simply picking up a bunch from the florist — the difference between a store-bought bouquet plunked into a vase and a styled flower arrangement is obvious in photos.

In a recent photography workshop, professional photographer David Livingston described how floral arrangements bring a project to life and add a feeling of occupation to the space. If you're using photography to showcase your home or design project, It's worth it to invest the time and money into carefully considered flowers.

Read on for Livingston's professional photo styling tips. Janet Paik Shopping

1. Go beyond your usual spots to hunt down beautiful florals. For this workshop, Livingston explored the San Francisco Flower Mart, mixing tulips with subtle greenery for a bouquet in his living room

2. Color is key, and repetition of form throughout a project and in a single room is important. Flowers not only create a sense of livability, but they add a sense of contrast to monochromatic and colorful spaces. David Duncan Livingston 3. Choose unusual materials when hunting for plant life. Roses and peonies are beautiful, but they're used fairly often. Budding branches, cabbage leaves and grasses all punctuate rooms with color but are a little less common. Fiddlehead ferns (pictured) are the furled fronds of a young fern that are often harvested for vegetable dishes; they can also make for an artful arrangement. David Duncan Livingston 4. Keep floral arrangements simple. Use two different plant materials at most — one as a colorful burst and one as filler material. Pull off most of the leaves before setting up your bouquet. High-end florists do this, and it makes a huge difference. David Duncan Livingston 5. Consider the whole room. When picking flowers for specific rooms, keep furniture, colors and outdoor views in mind. Mix up types of flowers in a single room too, but try to keep the look cohesive throughout the home.

6. Consider what kind of feel you're going for. Each project should have bouquets that feel fitting for its environment.

7. Buy early. Most wholesale companies sell their flowers while the flowers are still tight. It's a good idea to buy a few days before your photo shoot, since most flowers take two to three days to open up. David Duncan Livingston Styling

One of the more popular and easier flower arrangement styles is the round pavé style. This full floral arrangement is relatively easy to do and feels timeless but fresh. It also lends itself well to the two-plant material guideline. David Duncan Livingston 1. Make your arrangement. Gather your flowers (with clean stems) together and cut them all at the same length to start.

You can arrange them loosely or stick to a more formal pavé style. Start arranging them from the outside of the vase, moving in, cutting the stems so the blooms fall close to the neck of the vase. David Duncan Livingston 2. Keep water fresh. Clean water is a must for clear vases, so don't forget to change the water before your shoot. If your photo shoot ends up going over a single day, don't worry too much — most fresh flowers will last from 3 to 10 days and can be restyled after. David Duncan Livingston 3. Place for impact. A splash of orange provides contrast and depth to this cool gray and blue bedroom. The simple pavé style keeps it from feeling too obtrusive. An arrangement like this also works well on dining room tables to break up the line of sight.

4. Take advantage of natural light. Whether you're working with a photographer or taking your own shots, do your best to make sure each room is photographed when the sun is in it. Natural light is usually the most flattering for any color or style.

More information on Livingston's photography workshops

More:
Ingredients of a Beautifully Wild Bouquet
It's Cold. We're Cranky. Buy Some Flowers
Spring Style: Fresh Cut Flowers for Every Room