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10 Flash Photography Tips

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Tip 1: Why Flash? - Hard Light vs. Soft Light 01

Benefit of Using FlashFlash, used correctly, helps smooth out the transition from highlights to shadows creating a more pleasing photo.



img credit: improvephotography.com

Tip 2: Flash Sync Speed 02

Beware of Shutter SpeedObserve the 1/250th of a second (for most cameras) limit for how fast your shutter speed can be when using flash with it otherwise you might get black bars as seen in the photo to the right.



img credit: photography.tutsplus.com

03

Constant LightsWorking with constant lights allows you to see what the lighting looks like as you move the light, so you know exactly what you are getting when you take a picture.

Studio StrobesStudio strobes plug into a wall so they recycle very quickly and are generally more powerful than camera flashes such as speedlights. They are also made to have softboxes attached.

SpeedlightsSpeedlights are very portable, run off of AA batteries, can be placed in the hotshot or used off camera, and are an effective light source.

Tip 3: Constant vs. Strobes vs. Speedlights



Tip 4: Batteries for Speedlight 04

Types of BatteriesWhen looking for AA batteries for your speedlight, keep the following in mind:

In order of recycling speed:• Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride)• Alkaline-manganese• Lithium

In order of number of flashes:• Lithium• Alkaline-manganese• Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride)



Tip 5: Avoiding Disaster 05

Battery Door WarningSomething not commonly mentioned with speedlights is the battery door. The battery covers are typically tensioned with a spring and if your battery door should break on a shoot, you cannot tape it to fix it. Be careful when replacing batteries.



06

Strobist KitSoftbox, non-destructive mounting tape, and gels make this a great kit.

80-2080% of the light bounces off the ceiling and 20% fills to prevent racoon eyes.Pocket BouncerGreat way to diffuse flash outdoors.

Tip 6: Diffuse Your Flash



Bouncing flash off of the ceiling is a great way to diffuse the light, but these LumiQuest diffusers make a world of difference quite inexpensively.

http://www.photographyunlocked.com/lumiquest

Creative Effects

Match the ambient light

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Add Color

Tip 7: Don’t Forget About Flash Gels



08

• Stay within 2-12 feet• Use Flash Compensation• Avoid windows and mirrors• Diffuse the light

Tip 8: Pop-Up Flash



09

Say No to Dull Indoor BackgroundsSometimes when you are really distance from a background, especially indoors, your background can end up looking really dull compared to the flashed foreground. Decrease the contrast by raising your ISO.



Tip 9: Indoor ISO Hacking

10

Twist Your Speedlight When shooting in vertical orientation, don’t forget to swivel the head and look for walls to bounce it off of. If you don’t have a wall, bring along a piece of foam core poster board to always have a portable wall.



Tip 10: Don’t Forget to Swivel