Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Zarbock.
Tara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been pressing flowers my entire life, but have been doing it professionally for about the last six years, and my love for mother nature has always been instilled into my heart. So let me tell you about my story a little bit. I grew up at the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range, and I spent my summers at a family cabin where I would go around picking wildflowers and turning them into crafts and using them however I could.
It was my mom who first taught me how to press flowers in between pages of old books. As I grew up, I was always drawn to the creative things, whether it be painting, drawing, coloring, three d sculpture, photography, graphic design, film, the list goes on and on. Creating has always been a big part of my life. After graduating high school, I went to Utah State University where they had a one of a kind program called Outdoor Product Design and Development. And as soon as I heard of it, I knew it was for me. It combined my passions of being outdoors and design.
And honestly, it just clicked, I was so passionate about it, and I loved what I was studying. In the middle of schooling, I took a break for a year to do a service mission down in Lima, Peru and Peru is beautiful but Lima is a dusty city. I found myself missing those things, nature, that I felt so called and drawn to earlier in my life. And so whenever I would see a small bloom on the side of the road or a fallen leaf, would always pick it up, press it in between books, and take it home with me so I could hold on to something that reminded me of home that held on to memories.
Looking back now, I can really see that those small moments were really calling me back to my roots and something that would soon become my future. When I returned to school, I realized that although I loved being in the outdoor industry, I needed to do something that was more than just designing behind a computer. I wanted to work with my hands. I wanted to work with mother nature.
And so I wanted to do something of my own. See, my father is a entrepreneur as well.
He owns his own landscaping company, and I just saw that he was able to create a life that he loved, a life that he loved while being outdoors. And that really inspired me. So what I saw is a hobby of floral preservation. I wanted to keep doing it and see where it would go.
I pressed my very first wedding bouquet in 2020, which was my sister’s wedding. I wanted to create a present for her that had meaning behind it, that had sentimental value, and I wanted to do it with my mom. So after my sister got married, me and my mom pressed my sister’s wedding flowers and turned it into a frame. And it looked not a lot like what our designs look like now, but what was most important is that it held on to those memories from her big day.
From there, I started pressing more and learning everything that I could about floral preservation because I was just so enthralled with it and so in love with being able to keep these flowers around forever. So I started an Instagram and a TikTok and about a year into doing it for family and friends, One of my TikTok videos went pretty viral, and within a week of that going viral, I quit my real job and decided, hey, this is what I’m doing! And so what started out of my attic and then in a small studio is now in this large studio in Salt Lake City. And we have such an amazing group of gals, an amazing team (including my husband) that help clients all over the United States and the world turn their flowers that hold memories into art.
And it is so fulfilling, and I just get to do what I love every single day. And I get to do it because people like you believe in me and people like you also understand the magic and the memories that flowers hold.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building this business has been full of unexpected twists and turns, growing pains, and what I can only describe as divinely guided opportunities that came at just the right time. The hardest part wasn’t finding people who wanted their flowers preserved… it was keeping up with the growth as the business expanded faster than I ever imagined. Every new season brought new challenges, but each one pushed me to learn, adapt, and build something stronger. Looking back, I’ve realized that one of the most important parts of building a business is finding people who believe in you and the vision you’re creating. Whether it’s employees, friends, family, or customers, having people who see what you’re building and choose to be part of it makes all the difference.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Flowers of the Press, we specialize in transforming meaningful flowers (whether from weddings, memorials, anniversaries, or other milestones) into timeless pieces of artwork using traditional flower pressing techniques. Every piece is handcrafted by our team, with a focus on preserving not just the flowers themselves, but the memories they represent. We serve clients across the United States and beyond, creating heirloom quality artwork that can be passed down for generations.
What I’m most proud of is that we’ve built more than a business… we’ve built a team of incredibly talented women who genuinely care about every client and every flower that comes through our studio. Together, we’ve had the privilege of preserving thousands of life’s most meaningful moments, and it’s something we never take for granted.
I believe what sets us apart is our commitment to artistry, craftsmanship, and storytelling. We don’t see flowers as just botanicals, we see them as tangible reminders of the people, places, and moments that matter most. Every design is created with intention, allowing the natural beauty of each bloom to shine while honoring the story behind it. That combination of fine art, preservation, and deep sentimental value is what makes our work so meaningful.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing that’s always been at the heart of Flowers of the Press is our commitment to sustainability. Flowers are one of nature’s greatest gifts, and I believe we have a responsibility to care for the world that provides them. Whether it’s composting leftover botanicals, thoughtfully sourcing our materials, or finding ways to reduce waste throughout our process, we’re always looking for ways to lessen our environmental impact. It may seem like a small thing, but those small choices add up. Mother Nature has given us something incredibly beautiful, and my hope is that by caring for it, she’ll continue creating the flowers that bring so much joy and meaning to people’s lives for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flowersofthepress.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowersofthepress/
