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| White poinsetta Window light in a flower shop |
The most convenient place to photograph flowers is in your own home by a window. But don't forget to check with local flower shops and greenhouses for different kinds of flowers.
Greenhouses are ideal because their frosted glass panes create soft diffused light that preserves the blossoms' natural colors. Flower shops may have some flowers near a window, but further back in the shop, you will need to be aware of the color of artificial lights. These can distort the flowers' hues from their actual colors.
Automatic color correction (called white balance) may change the flower's colors. If you shoot raw photos, you can easily correct the color later when editing your images. If you capture JPEG pictures, you may need to set a custom white balance in the camera to get the best colors.
Remember to ask permission from the flower shop or greenhouse staff before photographing in their store, especially if you want to use a tripod for sharp images at long exposures. It helps to plan your visit for times when the location has fewer customers.
Learn how to record accurate colors under a variety of lighting conditions in my class Indoor Close-up Flower Photography. Class begins November 9, 2026, at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. Click here for more details and registration.