Jason Clarke
Jason has won awards for twenty-five consecutive years from Marshalls for hard landscaping projects. Here he shares his tips on his approach to entering awards and achieving success.
Embarking on award-winning landscape projects requires strategic planning, innovative design, and meticulous execution. Here’s my refined guide to help you navigate the process and hopefully succeed in your award entries.
1. Select Photogenic Projects: Identify several projects that not only boast superior paving skills, but also captivating backdrops, ensuring they are visually appealing and camera-ready.
2. Determine Award Focus: Decide whether to pursue a manufacturer’s award or a landscape industry accolade. The right project might qualify for both, offering broader recognition.
3. Align Design with Client Vision: Ensure your plans and designs resonate with both your creative vision and your clients’ brief, this is where a close working relationship with the client is essential.
4. Stay Abreast of Industry Trends: Keep informed about the latest trends, colours, materials, and designs. Current interests include driveways, outdoor living spaces, sunken seating areas, pergolas, garden rooms, outdoor dining setups, sunken spas, and decking.
5. Select Appropriate Products for Manufacturer Awards: If aiming for a manufacturer’s award, choose three to five products from their range, incorporating at least two new items that need promotion. Ensure these products blend seamlessly to showcase your expertise in both design and execution of the paving project.
6. Explore Diverse Materials for Industry Awards: For industry awards (such as APL, BALI, Pro Landscaper, or On The Tools), you have the flexibility to mix and match brands, utilizing natural, reclaimed, and eco-friendly materials that are both popular and visually appealing.
7. Incorporate Comprehensive Landscaping Elements: Remember, a garden or driveway encompasses more than just hard landscaping. Integrate planting schemes and consider lighting to enhance the overall ambiance, this is where night-time photos can further enhance your presentation portfolio. Design planting schemes that compliment, not only the property, but the aspect and soil type.
8. Perfect the Final Details: Upon project completion, ensure every element is flawless. Pay close attention to details such as steps, curbs, cutting, planting, and maintain a freshly cut lawn if present especially for the photo shoot.
9. Capture Professional Photographs: Utilize a high-quality camera to photograph your project, staging the area with furniture and props (such as attractive vehicles for driveways). Aim to shoot during mid-summer when gardens are in full bloom, capturing images at various times of day—early morning, midday, and late afternoon—to leverage optimal lighting conditions. Select a minimum 6-8 standout shots, including detailed product images, overarching hero shots, and possibly drone perspectives for added impact.
- Enjoy the Process: Embrace the journey with enthusiasm. Winning isn’t everything; learning and growth are invaluable. Believe in your abilities, and if you don’t secure an award this time, use the experience to refine your approach, learn from your mistakes for future entries. The landscape industry is incredibly rewarding for those who commit wholeheartedly and aren’t afraid to push themselves.