off camera flash workshop review

for mentoring sessions only  

off camera flash workshop review

THE SETUP: 1. EXPOSED FOR THE ROOM

- Think of shutter speed as the main control for your ambient light! (Flash is NOT controlled by shutter speed). Don’t be scared to turn the shutter speed down low. The flash will freeze the motion, not your shutter.

- Note: Keep your shutter below 1/250. Your flash sync speed cannot go above this and you will see your shutter curtain darkening half of your image.

- The brighter you make your room, the more orange tint you will get from the tungsten lights. If you do not like too much orange, darken your room exposure to hide it. Or you can use an orange gel on your flash and set white balance to tungsten.

2. PLACING SUBJECTS - You  can  add  a  lot  of  depth  to  your  image  by  placing  your  subjects  in  a  

“light  sandwich”.  Having  room  lights  behind  them  and  in  front  of  them.  At  very  least,  try  to  have  lights  behind  them.      See  examples  on  next  page.      

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LEFT:  Creating  a  light  sandwich  for  your  subjects  adds  depth  to  an  image.      BELOW:  If  you  cannot  create  a  “sandwhich”  try  to  at  least  have  lights  in  the  background.    See  the  difference  it  makes  with  a  cake  shot.    

examples:

3. ADDING IN THE FLASH  - Keep  your  flash  as  close  to  the  subjects  as  your  frame  or  wedding  will  

allow.      

- Keep  your  flash  power  in  manual,  and  adjust  the  power  of  the  flash  until  your  subject  as  appropriately  lit.    

 - You  can  also  have  your  light  assistant  step  forward  to  “increase  power”  of  

your  flash,  or  step  away  to  “decrease  power”      

- I  most  often  have  my  light  assistant  stand  about  45  degrees  away  from  myself.  The  smaller  you  make  that  angle,  the  more  “fill  light”  effect  you  will  get.  The  larger  the  angle,  the  more  dramatic  the  light  will  look.    

                                                                 

(Note:  As  a  general  rule  when  shooting  couples,  I  usually  pick  the  side  the  flash  goes  on  by  height  of  the  couple.  The  flash  

stays  on  the  side  of  the  shorter  individual.  )  

 -­‐  Fill  light  look  for  group  shots.  Flash  is  LESS  than  45  degrees  away.    

 -­‐  Dramatic  light  for  couples  and  composition.  Flash  is  MORE  than  45  degrees  away.  (In  this  case  it  is  actually  behind  them  a  little.  Maybe  around  120  degrees)    

                           

examples:

4. TIPS FOR OCF SPECIFIC FOR WEDDINGS  - DETAIL  SHOTS:  I  use  more  dramatic  lighting  for  “detail  shots”  to  pick  up  

textures.    Flash  is  almost  always  more  than  90  DEGREES  away.      

 - COUPLE  DANCING:    I  keep  my  assistant  in  the  same  place,  and  I  move  

around  depending  on  the  look  I  want.    The  flash  is  also  positioned  a  little  higher  than  normal.    

 

- LARGE  GROUP  DANCING:  I  extend  the  stand  of  the  flash  so  the  light  is  coming  from  high  and  points  down.    

                                             

- CAKE  CUTTING:  I  get  the  chance  to  tell  the  couple  exactly  where  I  want  them  to  stand  and  position  the  light  about  45  degrees  away.    

   - BOUQUET/GARTER  TOSS:  I  take  a  picture  of  the  bride/groom  right  

before  the  toss  with  them  lit  appropriately  (“a  fake  throw”).  Then  I  move  my  assistant  to  light  the  group  catching.  This  does  require  me  talking  to  the  bride  and  groom  before  the  toss  and  tell  them  to  wait  for  my  light  assistant  to  move  before  they  actually  throw.    

             

   

 

- SPARKLER  EXITS:  I  have  my  light  assistant  to  stand  behind  the  exit  line,  about  halfway  down.      The  flash  is  high  above  the  guest’s  heads,  and  pointed  down  at  an  angle.  I  always  do  a  test  shot  on  someone  when  we  are  forming  the  line.  I  tell  the  couple  to  walk  (NOT  RUN!!  So  I  can  focus  in  the  dark)  and  kiss  when  they  are  halfway  down  the  line.      I  tell  my  light  assistant  to  keep  the  light  pointed  at  the  couple  as  they  walk.    The  best  pictures  will  be  when  the  couple  is  about  halfway  through  the  line  when  they  are  closer  to  the  light.