{"id":1990,"date":"2009-12-28T14:00:34","date_gmt":"2009-12-28T18:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.planetneil.com\/tangents\/?page_id=1990"},"modified":"2024-09-01T00:23:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T04:23:52","slug":"flash-photography-tips","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/flash-photography-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Flash photography tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/\"><strong>Flash Photography Techniques<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/using-video-lights\/\">Using video lights<\/a>\u00a0 ~ \u00a0Flash photography tips ~ \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/category\/flash-photography\/\">More articles about\u00a0flash<\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/icons\/divider-31-center.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/models\/precious\/NV3_4539x.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"999\" \/><\/p>\n<h1>Flash photography tips<\/h1>\n<p>The preceding pages, and <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/\">the entire Tangents blog<\/a>, contain a lot of information,\u00a0whether techniques, ideas, equipment info, or random snippets.\u00a0 The posts cover a wide range of subject material, but mostly\u00a0deal with flash photography, lighting, and general photography technique.\u00a0 But I&#8217;d like to bring the essential topics on flash photography together to one solid starting point.<\/p>\n<p>This page then lists the most important advice that I can give you about flash photography.\u00a0 It should be a good jump page for anyone new to this website and new to flash photography.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"banner_ad\"><div class=\"adsbygoogle\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- Tangents-responsive --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"style=\"display:block\"data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5272216363056127\"data-ad-slot=\"2115071898\"data-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); <\/script> <\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>My top 20 list of flash photography tips<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. Don&#8217;t fear your flash<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>It is entirely possible to get amazing results from your flash.\u00a0 Look at the image above.\u00a0 It&#8217;s done with one on-camera speedlight\u00a0.. <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/bouncing-flash\/\">bounced properly<\/a>. It&#8217;s actually pretty easy once you get used to it.\u00a0 So hang in there.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. You need something better than your camera&#8217;s built-in flash<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You really do need a speedlight that attaches to your camera&#8217;s hot-shoe for best results.\u00a0 You simply can&#8217;t get there with just that pop-up flash on your camera.\u00a0 You need something bigger.\u00a0 Something that can rotate and swivel.\u00a0\u00a0 The manufacturers that try and sell you little add-ons and gizmos and promise you that you will get great results from your pop-up flash after spending a couple of dollars on their crap .. well, they are misleading you.\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/best-flashgun\/\">Get a proper speedlight<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>3.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/best-flashgun\/\">Bigger is better<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>My advice will always be to get the most powerful speedlight you can afford. The more powerful your speedlight, and the more features it has, the more options you have.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>4.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/bouncing-flash\/\">Bounce your flash for better results<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>The larger your light-source, the softer the light. \u00a0For that reason we bounce flash. \u00a0We&#8217;re creating a larger light source. \u00a0 This implies that when we&#8217;re working indoors, and we have walls and a ceiling around us, that shooting with direct flash straight-on is possibly the worst that we can do.\u00a0 We may as well have stayed with the pop-up flash, and saved ourselves some money. \u00a0So, bounce your flash!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/using-on-camera-bounce-flash-outside\/\">Use that wall as your softbox<\/a>!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don&#8217;t be stuck in thinking you can only bounce your flash off the ceiling.\u00a0 Bounce your flash off the wall(s) behind you, and beside you.\u00a0 Even try bouncing your flash into the open room behind you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash\/\">Directional light looks more interesting<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By bouncing flash off areas to your side, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/directional-light-from-your-on-camera-flash\/\">get directional light<\/a> on your subject, instead of flat lighting.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/bounce-flash-photography-short-lighting\/\">Here&#8217;s another example<\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/the-black-foamie-thing\/\">Flag your flash<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you bounce your flash to the side, make sure that there is no direct flash spilling on your subject.\u00a0 I use a piece of cheap black foam, held in place with hairbands, to make sure I only get soft indirect light on my subject.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">8.\u00a0 Allow TTL flash to make your life easier<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TTL flash technology can allow you to get great results easily, but you may have to adjust your Flash Exposure Compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">9. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/flash-exposure-compensation\/\">Nudge your TTL exposure with flash exposure compensation<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TTL flash exposure could vary, and it can also give you under or over-exposure.\u00a0 That&#8217;s the penalty for getting good results easily .. your exposure may\u00a0vary, unless\u00a0you adjust your flash exposure compensation.\u00a0 With practice (and a sneak peek at your camera&#8217;s preview), you can pre-judge this to a good degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">10. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/manual-flash-ttl-flash\/\">TTL flash and manual flash are two very different beasts<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You have to understand the difference between TTL flash and manual flash, and how their behaviour differ.\u00a0 They each have their own benefits.\u00a0 There are those photographers who disdain TTL flash, and only push one way of using flash &#8211; manual flash.\u00a0 You&#8217;ll be a stronger photographer in knowing the differences between manual flash and TTL flash .. and being able to use either with confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">11. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/maximum-flash-sync-speed\/\">Understand maximum flash sync speed<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is imperative that you understand what maximum flash sync speed is .. and why it is often a sweet spot when you use flash.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">12. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/high-speed-flash-sync\/\">High-speed flash sync<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">High Speed Flash Sync (HSS), also known as Auto FP on the Nikon cameras, allows us to go past the limit of maximum flash sync speed. A truly useful feature, but be aware that there is a penalty to be paid for going into the higher shutter speeds while using flash.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">13. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/when-aperture-does-not-control-flash-exposure\/\">Aperture controls flash exposure? &#8230; well, maybe<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You will often see this short-cut thrown around.\u00a0 It is true to an extent.\u00a0 But you need to be aware that aperture\u00a0affects manual flash exposure, but not TTL flash exposure.\u00a0 Similarly, you need to be aware that ISO also affects manual flash exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">14.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-exposure-is-controlled-by-aperture-for-manual-flash\/\">Shutter speed controls ambient exposure? .. well, maybe<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is another short-cut which can be misleading since other photographers may well omit in telling you the entire truth &#8230; that aperture and ISO also affects ambient light.\u00a0 Where that shortcut &#8211; shutter speed controls ambient light &#8211; actually kicks in, is for manual flash, where shutter speed becomes the only independent control for ambient exposure.\u00a0 A subtle but important distinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">15.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-and-tungsten-lighting\/\">Gel your flash for tungsten \/ incandescent light<\/a>!<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you&#8217;re using flash in an environment that is predominantly incandescent lighting \/ tungsten lighting .. and you want your flash to appear more neutral, and not so blue (or your background so grunge-orange), then gel your flash to join the incandescent spectrum .<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>16. <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/on-camera-flash-light-modifiers-remove-the-plastic-diffuser\/\">Throw away the tupperware on your flash<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>When working indoors, you can most often get the best results by bouncing your flash.\u00a0 You don&#8217;t need that expensive piece of plastic that is advertised as being the solution to all your flash photography problems.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>17.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/dragging-the-shutter\/\">Allow available light in<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/bounce-flash-photography-short-lighting\/\">Sometimes flash\u00a0is your dominant light source<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/bounce-flash-wedding-receptions\/\">Sometimes flash is your only realistic choice.<\/a> But it usually looks better if you <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/dragging-the-shutter\/\">allow available light in<\/a> to give you some\u00a0context and colour and mood.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">18. \u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-tips-start-with-the-ambient-exposure\/\">Always start with the available light, and then add flash<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At times it\u00a0might need a\u00a0slightly different approach between <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/metering-manual-flash-softbox\/\">manual flash<\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/ambient-exposure-with-ttl-flash\/\">TTL flash<\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> .. but invariably,\u00a0a good starting point when figuring out what you need to do with your flash, is to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-tips-start-with-the-ambient-exposure\/\">start with your ambient exposure<\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">19.\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/overpowering-hard-sun-with-flash\/\">Matching, and even over-powering the sun with flash<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We can easily use a <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/overpowering-hard-sun-with-flash\/\">speedlight to match or overpower hard sunlight<\/a>. But we need to consider our settings. And be aware that going to <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/high-speed-flash-sync\/\">h<\/a><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/high-speed-flash-sync\/\">igh-speed flash sync<\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> isn&#8217;t necessarily our best option here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">20. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-freeze-movement-at-slow-shutter-speeds\/\">Flash may, or may not, freeze the action at slow shutter speeds<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You will often hear that <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-freeze-movement-at-slow-shutter-speeds\/\">flash will freeze movement<\/a>, and freeze camera shake when shooting in low light. The answer is &#8230; maybe. Perhaps. It depends. There are a number of factors which makes it\u00a0difficult to give\u00a0\u00a0a definitive answer because it depends on the scenario.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/icons\/arrow.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><span style=\"color: #6090b0;\">next section:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/photography-books\/\">Recommended books on photography<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Help support this website<\/h2>\n<div class='one_half'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you find these articles of value, please support this website\nby using these <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;tag=planeneilphot-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bhpho.to\/3yhq3Ig\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">B&amp;H<\/a><\/strong> affiliate links to order your photo gear.<\/p>\n<p>I also offer <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photography-workshops\/\">photography workshops<\/a><\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photography-workshops\/tutoring-sessions\/\">tutoring sessions<\/a>. There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/online-photography-tutoring-sessions\/\">video tutorials<\/a>, which are online workshops on photography.<\/p>\n<p>Join us on the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/tangentsphoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tangents Facebook group<\/a><\/strong> for further discussions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Neil vN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class='one_half last'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608955702\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608955702&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=DVUUKIZHH2ZZ37FU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/3-qualityoflight-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608952789\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608952789&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=LE7N23FGFYQKFTUY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/2-offcameraflash-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Books by Neil van Niekerk<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608959538\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608959538&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=AVZEUKR4QV3W3EC3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/5-oncameraflash-ed2-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1608958159\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1608958159&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=footer-tangents-20&amp;linkId=UIBJYREFEL3NLJH5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/images\/books\/NvN\/4-lighting-design-250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class='clear'><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flash Photography Techniques Using video lights\u00a0 ~ \u00a0Flash photography tips ~ \u00a0More articles about\u00a0flash Flash photography tips The preceding pages, and the entire Tangents blog, contain a lot of information,\u00a0whether techniques, ideas, equipment info, or random snippets.\u00a0 The posts cover a wide range of subject material, but mostly\u00a0deal with flash photography, lighting, and general photography&nbsp;<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/flash-photography-techniques\/flash-photography-tips\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read more inside&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31043,"parent":56,"menu_order":15,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-1990","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1990"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52148,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1990\/revisions\/52148"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}