How to Photograph Flowers Inside
In flower photography, it is particularly important that your subject be lit in such a way as to maximize the color and texture of the arrangement. Soft lighting and a sharp focus will make your photo appear more lively, and will maximize the beauty of your flowers. The great variety of flower types and arrangements allows for a great amount of artistic choices, but there are a few rules you should abide by to make your flower photography look professional.
Instructions
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Arrange your flowers in a light tent. If you do not have a light tent, you can construct one by draping a white sheet over any hollow structure, such as a chair or small table.
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2
Position your light tent near a window so that you can use the sun's illumination.
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Arrange lights, such as external flash units, work lights or household lamps around your light tent to increase the illumination. More light is better than less light, but try to restrict your choices to bulbs of similar temperature (i.e. "whiteness" or "yellowness").
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Attach a tripod to your camera, and position the tripod so that the flowers are at "eye level" to the camera.
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Use spot metering mode on your camera to meter off the flowers. An evaluative metering mode will take into account the color of the white sheet and will likely underexpose your photo.
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Select aperture priority or manual mode. Your aperture should be around f/4 or f/5.6 so that your flowers are in sharp focus while your light tent is blurred.
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Disable your on-camera flash, which will likely over-illuminate your subject and may cast shadows on the back of your light tent. If you need to use additional lighting from the front, diffuse your flash with a soft box or other diffuser.
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Tips & Warnings
Photograph the flower arrangement from multiple angles both above and below the arrangement. An interesting vase should be emphasized with a more straight-on shot, while photos in which you intend to emphasize only the flowers should be shot from a slightly higher angle.
A macro lens can be helpful to capture the intimate detail of a single flower. A wider lens with your camera positioned closer to the flower is best.
Be aware of reflections in glass vases. Glass will reflect not just light, but may also make your camera or you visible in the reflection.
