The flowers are beautiful Kudos to your wife. I like backlit shots but I think you might like the results if you vary the lighting and light them up a bit more. I noticed that you don't have studio lights. That's OK. Just try moving the flowers near a window and shoot from one side. Even on a relatively cloudy day, I think you'll like the results. If you really want to get into it, all you need is a white piece of paper or cardboard. Place it low and to the opposite side of the window to reflect the window light onto the "dark' side of the flowers.

Keep shooting, have fun and post your results.

:?

Here are a couple of bearded iris, alive and shot outdoors. Background was provided by use of depth of field.

Also, I am posting a couple of floral shots using a painted watercolor abstract as a background. These two were shot using available light out on my deck, with the light coming from a large skylight. Both of these are digitals of actual darkroom film prints, which I made using custom easels and printed through rice paper in the darkroom (original film images).

Edit: For some reason, the system was giving me fits on my trying to get the 4th image uploaded. Had to log off and back on, then it uploaded. All of these are older images of mine, and all are film. . .not digital images. I suggest that you work with available light, and work with depth of field.

If a background is needed, seek something that is unique. Go to a fabric store and look for something that your eye could see as a proper background for your subject, the choices are endless. Just try to remember, plain white and plain black are over used and tend to bore the viewer. As I said above: Experiment.

I love these photos, superlative job! Thanks for sharing....they are very beautiful!