When you’re just starting out in photography, one of the most confusing elements can be white balance. Why do some of your photos look too blue, yellow, or green—even when everything else seems correct? The answer usually lies in how your camera is interpreting color temperature.
In this in-depth beginner’s guide, we’ll explore what white balance is, how it works, and how to control it to achieve natural, true-to-life colors in your images—whether you’re using a DSLR, mirrorless, or even a smartphone.
What Is White Balance?
White balance (WB) is the process of adjusting the colors in your image so that white objects appear truly white, under different types of light. Every light source has a different “color temperature,” which affects the overall look of your photo.
For example:
- A candle emits warm, orange light
- A cloudy sky casts a cool, blue tone
- Fluorescent lights often look greenish
If your camera doesn’t correctly adjust for these differences, your images can look unnatural or color-shifted.
Color Temperature Explained
Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower the number, the warmer (more orange/red) the light. The higher the number, the cooler (more blue) the light.
Here’s a quick reference:
| Light Source | Color Temperature |
|---|---|
| Candlelight | ~1,000–2,000 K |
| Tungsten Bulbs | ~2,700–3,500 K |
| Sunrise/Sunset | ~3,000–4,000 K |
| Flash/Daylight | ~5,000–5,500 K |
| Cloudy Sky | ~6,000–7,000 K |
| Shade | ~7,000–8,000 K |
Understanding this scale helps you manually correct white balance for more accurate and creative results.
How Your Camera Handles White Balance
Most modern cameras offer several white balance modes. These can be found in your camera’s menu or quick access settings.
Common White Balance Presets:
- Auto (AWB) – The camera guesses the best white balance
- Daylight – For outdoor sunlight
- Cloudy – Warms up cool light on overcast days
- Shade – Adds warmth to compensate for blue-toned shade
- Tungsten – Cools down yellow-orange light from indoor bulbs
- Fluorescent – Adds magenta to counteract greenish tones
- Flash – Neutralizes the blue tint from camera flashes
- Custom – Set manually based on a reference photo or color temperature
For beginners, Auto White Balance (AWB) is a great starting point. However, there are many situations where AWB falls short—especially when your scene contains strong colors or mixed lighting.
How to Adjust White Balance Manually
1. Use Kelvin (K) Settings
Some cameras allow you to set the exact color temperature manually using the Kelvin scale. This gives you precise control over the warmth or coolness of the image.
Example:
- Shooting indoors under tungsten light? Set WB to ~3,200 K
- Shooting in shade? Try ~7,000 K for a warmer look
2. Use a Gray Card or White Object
In custom WB mode, you can photograph a white or gray object in your current lighting, and set that as the reference point. The camera will then adjust all colors based on that image.
3. Shoot in RAW
If you’re not sure about your white balance while shooting, RAW format is your safety net. Unlike JPEG, RAW files retain all the color data and allow you to change white balance after the fact, without degrading image quality.
When to Change White Balance
Scenario 1: Indoor Portraits Under Tungsten Light
Problem: Faces look too orange or yellow
Solution: Switch to the Tungsten preset or set Kelvin to around 3,200 K
Scenario 2: Cloudy Day Landscapes
Problem: Everything looks a bit flat and blue
Solution: Use the Cloudy preset to warm up the scene and enhance mood
Scenario 3: Shooting in Mixed Lighting
Problem: Half the room is lit by window light, the other by fluorescent bulbs
Solution: Use Custom White Balance or convert to black and white for creative control
Using White Balance Creatively
White balance isn’t just for correcting color—it’s also a powerful creative tool. By intentionally shifting the color temperature, you can evoke different moods:
- Warm tones (lower K) create intimacy, nostalgia, and coziness
- Cool tones (higher K) convey calmness, sadness, or modernity
For example:
- Use a warmer WB for romantic golden hour portraits
- Use a cooler WB for dramatic, moody cityscapes at night
Smartphone White Balance Tips
Most smartphone cameras now allow some control over white balance, especially in Pro or Manual mode. Apps like Adobe Lightroom Mobile, ProCamera, or Halide offer sliders to manually adjust WB in Kelvin.
Quick tips:
- Avoid strong auto filters—they often distort natural color
- Use a white napkin, shirt, or paper to check for color casts
- If possible, shoot in DNG (RAW) for better color correction in editing
Editing White Balance in Post-Processing
If you shoot in RAW, adjusting white balance is as simple as moving sliders in Lightroom or any RAW editor. You can adjust:
- Temperature – Blue to yellow
- Tint – Green to magenta
Use the eyedropper tool to click on a neutral white or gray area in your image. This sets an accurate white point.
Pro Tip: Don’t rely entirely on the auto white balance tools in software. Your eye is the best judge for how the colors should feel.
Common White Balance Mistakes Beginners Make
- Trusting Auto White Balance too much
– It works most of the time, but fails in mixed or creative lighting situations - Not shooting in RAW
– JPEGs limit your ability to fix WB issues after the shoot - Forgetting to reset WB when lighting changes
– Always check your settings when you move between lighting environments - Overcorrecting in post
– Overly neutralizing warm/cool tones can kill the mood of the image - Ignoring the creative potential
– WB isn’t just technical—use it to tell a story
Final Thoughts: Mastering White Balance Unlocks Better Images
White balance is one of the most overlooked aspects of beginner photography—but it’s also one of the easiest ways to instantly improve your photos. By understanding how light temperature affects color, and how to adjust for it, you’ll be able to take control of your image’s tone, mood, and realism.
Start by observing light in everyday life—how sunlight feels different in the morning vs. evening, how indoor bulbs cast yellow light, how cloudy days cool everything down. With time, adjusting white balance will become second nature.
So next time your photo looks “off,” don’t blame your camera—check your white balance.