Product photography of flowers and plants, in-house
Product photography of flowers and plants works best with even light of daylight quality, a calm grey or white background and a fixed set-up. Install the MagicBOX in your own premises, so you can quickly take photos for image auctions, your website, social media and your brochures.
Demo with your own plants or flowers Read the guide
By Birgitta, MagicBOX · Updated 29 October 2026 · 6 min read
In short
- At image auctions the grower offers photos instead of the flowers or plants themselves, so your photo is your shop window.
- You use the same photos for your own website, brochures and social media.
- Colour is the hardest part with flowers and plants; the light of the MagicBOX has daylight quality and shows the colour as it really is.
- Outsourcing a photo costs €15 to €20 on average. At four photos per product, a MagicBOX Square (€1,145) pays for itself after about 15 products.
Why are flowers and plants difficult to photograph?
At image auctions, growers have to offer up-to-date photos instead of showing the flowers or plants physically at the auction. Colour and freshness have to be right, because the customer buys the product on that basis.
So the buyer only sees your product in the photo. It has been grown with great care, so the photo has to be as true to life as possible.
Yet the photos are often still taken on the floor of the greenhouse, quickly and without much thought, in a quality that does not do the product justice. Who takes the photos differs per company: in larger companies it is often marketing, in smaller ones the grower. In both cases it has to be quick, because time is money.
- ColourColour rendering matters most with flowers and plants; the buyer judges the product on it.
- SpeedTime is money: photography has to fit in alongside growing, without long preparation.
- Up-to-date imageImage auctions require recent photos of what you are actually offering.
How do you take product photos of flowers and plants for image auctions and your webshop?
Set up one fixed arrangement, set your camera or smartphone once and photograph every product the same way.
- Set up your camera or smartphonePut your camera on a tripod and set it up once for the MagicBOX.
- Place the productPut the plant or flower on the base and choose the angle your buyer wants to see.
- Photograph the whole productTake the overview photo first: the whole product, with no other plants or objects in the picture.
- Add a detail shotTake a detail shot of flower, leaf or packaging if that helps the buyer judge the product.
- Check the colourIs the colour right? Then the photo can go straight to the image auction or your website.
Which background and lighting work best for flowers and plants?
A calm background in grey or white and even light from every side, without hard shadows.
Some platforms require a plain background without a watermark, with only the product in the picture. A grey or white background fits that well. The MagicBOX lights your product from every side, so no distracting shadows appear. The light has daylight quality and shows the colour as it really is. As a result, the photos are ready to use straight away, with little or no editing. MagicBOX does not remove backgrounds or edit photos itself; the advantage lies in the even light you start with. That gives you a product photo of flowers and plants on a white background. With our many years of experience, we are happy to advise you on this.
Can you photograph flowers and plants with your smartphone?
Yes, you can. Smartphones already have very good cameras.
At nurseries you see both: one grower uses a smartphone, another a camera. Because the light and background in the MagicBOX are fixed, you only need to set up your device properly once. After your purchase you receive tips and tricks for the settings in the MagicBOX; you will also find them on the page Tips & tricks for using the MagicBOX. Royal FloraHolland also offers the RFH photo app, which automatically checks photos against the requirements of the clock auction.
Tricky cases
Colour that is not right
Colour is the hardest part with flowers and plants, because the buyer buys on colour. The light of the MagicBOX has daylight quality and shows the colour as it really is. Always check the result next to the real product.
Fine detail and texture
Hard shadows hide detail in leaf and flower. Because the MagicBOX lights evenly from every side, the texture stays visible. Add a detail shot if the buyer wants to judge the quality.
Large or unusual products
If your product does not fit a standard model, a custom build is possible, for example in a different size. For specific requirements we are happy to think along with you; in that case please contact Ronald.
Can you make a 360° video of a plant or flower?
Yes, with a turntable. That way buyers see the product from every side.
The MagicBOX Square 360° and the MagicBOX Large 360° have a built-in turntable. A separate turntable is available as an accessory. A 360° recording takes 1 minute.
You can see more examples on the page 360° product videos.
Examples from the MagicBOX
Bring your own plants or flowers
We photograph them together in the showroom in Almere (the Netherlands), with your own phone or camera, in English if you like. Prefer an online demo? That is possible too.
What requirements do Floriday and other platforms set for product photos?
Floriday, for example, requires a plain background without a watermark, only the product in the picture and a photo that matches what the buyer receives.
The photo must show the whole product, with the right colour and the right stage of ripeness. At least one photo per product is required; a detail shot helps buyers. Products sold via Royal FloraHolland or Veiling Rhein-Maas have their own photo requirements. So always check the current requirements in the Floriday Helpcenter.
Photograph it yourself or outsource it?
If you photograph products regularly, in-house photography with a fixed set-up is usually faster, cheaper and better in quality than hiring a photographer every time.
Outsourcing costs €15 to €20 per photo on average, so you quickly earn back the purchase price of a MagicBOX.
| Your own MagicBOX | External photographer | |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | Immediate, at your own location | Planning and transport |
| Cost | One-off, from €915 | Per session or per photo |
| Product | Photographed on site | Risk from transport |
| Consistency | Always the same set-up and quality | Depends on the session |
How other growers do it
From photos on the greenhouse floor to a fixed studio
At many growers, photos are still taken on the greenhouse floor, quickly and in poor quality. Growers with a MagicBOX put the studio in a fixed place in the company and photograph every product the same way. In smaller companies the grower does it, in larger ones often the marketing department. The photos are for image auctions, the company website, brochures and social media. After the purchase, MagicBOX helps with tips and tricks for the camera settings.
Our customers are very satisfied. Read what they say themselves:
The reviews were written in Dutch; this is our translation.
Thanks to the even lighting, the quality of the photos we take of our products and flowers has improved considerably. The box is also very easy to use, and it saves us time and space. We are very happy with our MagicBox!
After seeing this light box at the Trade Fair in Aalsmeer, we bought one and we are very satisfied. The colours of the different flowers come across well. Besides the box itself, friendly and customer-focused service too. Thank you!
We recently bought a MagicBox and are truly delighted with our purchase. From the very first moment you notice that this is a high-quality, well-thought-out product. The MagicBox immediately gives our product photos a professional look. The lighting is nice and even, without shadows, so our hydrangeas are shown at their best. The finish and materials feel sturdy and durable, and delivery was quick and tidy. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to improve their product photography!
The various photo-booth-type products we looked at and compared ultimately paled in comparison with the MagicBOX. We were particularly drawn to the solid cabinet and the lighting from every side. Because the size of MagicBOX we needed was not standard, they custom-made it for us. From the first demonstration and advice to the communication and after-sales, everything went smoothly and professionally. Birgitta and Ronald, thank you so much. We are very happy with our MagicBOX!
Which MagicBOX is the best photo studio for flowers and plants?
Which model fits depends on the size of your products and the space you have for it in your company. Sometimes a custom build is needed. All inside and outside dimensions are listed with each model. Not sure which size suits your products best? Then book a free demo with your own products, in Almere or online.
For flowers and plants, the MagicBOX Large, the Large 360°, the XL and the Frame Pro Extra are a good fit.
- For medium-sized plants and bouquets
MagicBOX Large · €2,065, also as a 360° version for video (€2,380) - For larger plants and arrangementsMagicBOX XL · €2,875
- For large and tall plantsMagicBOX Frame Pro Extra · €3,500
MagicBOX Large · €2,065, also as a 360° version for video (€2,380)
MagicBOX XL · €2,875
MagicBOX Frame Pro Extra · €3,500Frequently asked questions
What photo requirements apply for Floriday?
Floriday requires a plain background without a watermark, only the product in the picture and a photo of the whole product. The photo must match what the buyer receives: the right colour, ripeness and packaging. In a MagicBOX that set-up is fixed, with a calm grey or white background.
What does a photographer for flowers and plants cost, and when does a MagicBOX pay for itself?
Outsourcing a photo costs €15 to €20 on average. At four photos per product, that is €60 to €80. A MagicBOX Square costs €1,145 and then pays for itself after about 15 products. The actual payback time depends on how much you photograph.
How do you get the colour of flowers and plants right in the photo?
Showing the original colour is easy thanks to the special daylight LED light of the MagicBOX, which comes from every side. Depending on the camera brand, you can set it with the automatic white balance. Always check the photo next to the real product.
How long does it take to produce a MagicBOX, and can you try it first?
Production takes about two weeks at most, followed by shipping. The MagicBOX arrives on a pallet; shipping costs differ per country and are calculated afterwards. You get an explanation or training, a one-year warranty, and if there is a problem MagicBOX always helps right away. Renting, leasing or a trial period is not possible. You can test the MagicBOX during a demo in Almere or at a trade fair.