Reasons to love FLASH photography; and how to use it.

PHOTO TIP: Flash considerations! (and how to be budget-friendly at the end)

The first benefit: you can photograph directly in front of a window!

Don't be afraid of a flash. On-camera or off-camera flashes can add so much to a photo. They highlight your subject and make them stand out from your background. It also gives a flattering finish to your subject.

One thing I see happen a lot is when people start using a flash they think that it needs to be full power. This is anything but the truth. In these two photos, I did not have a flash on the left - while it is exposed well, this beautiful woman did not pop from the background the same way as in the photo on the right where a flash at the lowest power was used.

Using an on-camera flash should not be intimidating, the higher the numbers the lower the power, I was ranging between 1/16- and 1/32.

The next consideration would be diffusion. In this location, we went with minimal equipment which is the beauty of a speedlite. Compact and powerful even in a space with competing light and high ceilings. Diffusion adds another level of softness to the image. While you can still highlight and pop your subject from the background their skin will look buttery soft even using something like a sheer curtain or a shower curtain. Diffusion does not have to be expensive! A light white fabric is all you need. (Note that if you use a sheet with colour ie: green the skin tone of your subject will then also be green) Depending on the objective using a different colour-toned fabric can be both good and bad.

If you are starting out at home and do not want to invest in a smaller speedlite (marketplace is a great space for second-hand gear and you should be able to get one for under $100) then using a daylight lightbulb without a lampshade on it will work really well. Be sure that it is not right up next to the fabric you are using as a diffuser. (The further the light is from the sheet the softer the effect on your subject. The closer it is to your diffuser the harsher the light).

Hope this helps and demystifies using a flash for you! It will make a world of difference!

xo Marley