5 Ways to Set White Balance

Getting white balance right in camera can be tricky, but it's so worth it to get rid of all of those wonky color casts that make your photos look awful. Whilst you can always change your white balance later in processing, it's much easier to get it right in camera, and will save you a ton of time in Lightroom / Photoshop! Here are five ways to set your white balance when taking your photos.

- Use your Camera's built-in presets. You will have a range of presets including sunny, cloudy, lightbulb etc. Pick the preset that most closely resembles the light you are shooting in.  This can be better than using AWB, as it saves your camera having to guess which lighting situation you are in.

- Use a grey card. These have been used for years as a quick, cheap and cheerful way to set your white balance accurately.  Simply place the grey card in the light where your subject is and take a photo, filling the frame with the grey card. You can then use this to set your white balance using the "custom" setting. (see this post on how to use your grey card for more information) You can get large cards like this 8 inch x 10 inch Gray Card which are easier for your subject to hold, or Pocket-Sized Grey Cards that will easily fit into your camera bag.    Grey cards can also help you set exposure.

- Use an ExpoDisc . This is so on my "want" list! It does the same job as a grey card, only better,  and it also makes the whole process of setting your white balance easier. Instead of having to have someone hold up a grey card, you can simply hold the Expodisc over your lens and take a picture, making sure the lens is completely covered and you are pointing the camera where you are taking the shot.  You then set your custom white balance in your camera settings (same as the grey card) and you should have perfect white balance. If you are buying one, make sure you buy a size that is big enough to cover your largest lens - I would recommend getting the 77mm as it will be "future proof" should you get a larger lens at a later date.

- Use a Neutral or White Element Don't have an Exposdisc or Grey Card to hand? you can use something in the scene that you are photographing that is neutral or white to set the white balance. It won't be as accurate as a grey card or an expodisc but will get you reasonably close. This could be a white piece of paper, white socks, a grey sidewalk, or even the white lid of a coffee cup. You set white balance in the same way as using a grey card, by photographing and custom setting the white balance.

(Image from Frost Electric) 

- Use Kelvin. Kelvin in a scale for measuring color temperature. Not all cameras have the ability to set White Balance by Kelvin,  check if yours does by going into the White Balance Menu, if you have it this will be denoted by a K.  To use this, you need to know your Kelvin White Balance Chart. You visually assess the light in the scene you are trying to capture - is it cool or warm - and dial in the correct color "number" for the scene you are trying to shoot.  It's more accurate than using AWB or Presets, but does require a degree of knowledge on your part.

Update:  A reader also advised of this method: (thanks Brianna!)

- Use a White Balance Lens Cap Essentially this does the same job as a grey card (and the expos disc) in that you use this to set a custom white balance. As this acts just like a lens cap, you should have this with you at all times, and can be easier to than having to take a grey card with you, and is a fraction of the price of the Expodisc!

If all else fails you can always change the white balance later in editing, but it can be a pain to get right later.  Use one of these to set your white balance in camera and you're done!