Beginner·Lesson 1 of 6
Understanding light
How to find and use natural window light
Before you think about cameras or composition, learn to see light. The single biggest jump in your floral photography will come from choosing the right window.
What you’ll learn
- —The difference between hard and soft light
- —How to find and use window light in your studio or shop
- —Why side-light flatters petals more than back- or front-light
What you’ll need
- —Your smartphone camera
- —A sheer white curtain or thin bedsheet (your diffuser)
- —A finished arrangement to practise on
Practice exercises
- 01
Shoot your arrangement by a window with and without a sheer curtain drawn across it. Compare how the shadow edges on your petals change from sharp to soft.
- 02
Walk the arrangement around the room and find the window where the light feels most flattering.