What background works best for photographing plants for later identification?

Question

I photograph plants in the field so I can identify them later. Is there a background color that works best, or should I prioritize something else to make the photos more useful for identification?

user75526 · Answer

Since the purpose of the photos is identification, the background doesn't matter as long as details needed to identify the plant are included. Some techniques photographers are enamored with may be counterproductive.

Some plants may be easier to identify when their natural environment is recognizable. That means not blurring the background too much.
Plant structures, such as leaves, flower parts, bark, and fruits should all be clear. That means not zooming in on individual features to the exclusion of all the others, unless you plan to take multiple pictures. It helps to know exactly what features are needed to identify a plant so appropriate specimens can be selected and presented.

You might still like to have nice photos for other purposes. Consider taking a separate set of photos for presentation.

Look for "hero" shots that makes the plant look like it belongs where it is. If showing photos of a plant for sale, show plants in environments customers might be expected to place them in.
Natural, defocused backgrounds that complement the plant often work well. For fruits, flowers, and other colorful features, the brown and green of the plant itself often look nice.

^{Gratuitous flower photo...

Can you identify the plant?}

What background works best for photographing plants for later identification?

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