Yes for the classic white-light reflection hologram setup—specifically the Denisyuk geometry, where the laser passes through the recording plate first, then hits the object, and the object’s reflected light interferes back inside the emulsion, so the plate is effectively between the reference beam and the object (MIT OpenCourseWare, Wikipedia summary). But that’s not a universal rule for every white-light-viewable hologram; it’s the standard geometry for reflection/volume holograms, which are designed so white light can replay the image by Bragg-selective reflection (ResearchGate figure summary, MIT OpenCourseWare). So your instinct is right: if we’re talking about Denisyuk-style white-light reflection holograms, the plate sits in between; if we’re talking more broadly about all white-light reconstructed holograms, then no, not always.