Photosynthesis is a boutique floral design studio known for our refined, organic style. We love working with clients to create florals that tell their story and embody the beauty of their celebration.
We are comprised of a collaborative team of designers that adore working together to create floral magic. Our studio is often full of sounds of music and laughter. It is our belief, that love for what we do and the positive environment in which each arrangement is made, adds a little something special to our creations.
With a strong commitment to sustainability, we do our best to source flowers that are in season and locally and domestically grown, using sustainable and fair trade practices. In the studio, we lighten our environmental impact by avoiding floral foam, composting our cuttings and recycling all flower packaging. Based in Richmond Virginia, we primarily service central Virginia, but will happily travel and welcome destination events.
Kim Stockwell Photography
RHEA CALPENO | FOUNDER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rhea was born in Colorado and raised on the East and West coasts. Flowers have been calling to her for as long as she can remember. Some of her sweetest childhood memories are of exploring all the growing things in the fields and forests near her home. After receiving a BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, Rhea moved to Manhattan and worked as an interior designer. In 2011 she returned to Richmond and founded Photosynthesis Floral Design. Her interior design background is particularly helpful when working on weddings and events because she takes the whole environment into consideration, allowing for the overall designs to feel like they naturally belong in the space.
Her approach to florals can be considered both wild and cultivated. Fascinated with the ephemeral beauty of flowers, she sees floral design as an impermanent form of sculpture and is particularly inspired by the movement each bloom or green creates.
As the business has grown, so has Rhea’s recognition that floral design is the ideal medium to express her love for nature, art and design, and to bring joy and happiness to others. In her free time, you can find her cooking up some delicious meals with her partner Mark or cuddling with their cats Alice, Olive and Fizz.
Photography by Kate Ignatowski