How to Incorporate Flash into your Photography: How to, tips, and tricks

Using flash in photography can seem intimidating, especially for beginners. However, understanding how flash works and implementing it effectively can significantly enhance the quality of your images. In this quick guide, we will explore various types of flash, effective techniques, and common pitfalls to avoid, helping you gain the confidence you need to use flash creatively and competently.

Understanding the Types of Flash:

Before diving into the techniques of using flash, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the different types available.

1. Built-in Flash: This is commonly found on cameras, especially compact models. It is the lowest quality flash. However, it can produce light if in a necessary moment to capture the shot. It will produce harsh light on your subject, and very dark shadows, and only works if your subject is a few feet away.

2. External Speedlight Flash: These are often called speedlights and are mounted on the camera’s hot shoe. They are professional quality, and come in my brands. They provide more power light, with multiple capabilities depending on brand. The movement, and flexibility of these flashes, and control over light direction makes these a "GO TO" in any photogrpahers flash bag. These flashes often can be used as an off camera flash as well, if used correctly with a flash trigger mounted to your camera.(discussed later)

3. Studio Stobe Flash: Often used in controlled environments, but can be taken on the go with the correct equipment, and care. Strobe flashes are large off camera flashes, used with a trigger. They can provide massive amounts of light, and are usually essential for certain professional studio shoots to acheive the desired even light effect. The ammount of light produced, and overall control over the strobe light makes this the ideal choice for professional flash photographers everywhere. Often used in Newborn photography, or larger sets. Ideal for any style of photography, but large and less mobile.

   
   

4. Continuous Light: Though not technically a flash, continuous lights can mimic the effect of flash photography, and are easier for beginners to use since they provide a constant source of light, without all the technichals of a trigger coming into play. Many continous lights can be used in sync with other flashes to achieve the desired light style, or mounted and used alone as a fill light.

   
   

Beautiful bridal shot taken with an off camera flash, mounted to a soft box, and set at mid power to evenly light my subject posed on the couch, as well as the room and background.

Tips: Bouncing Flash, color gels, exposure compensation

• 1. Bouncing Flash

  What it is:Bouncing flash means angling your external flash so the light reflects off a surface (typically a ceiling or wall) rather than pointing it directly at your subject. This diffuses the light, making it softer and more natural-looking.

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  One of the simplest ways to reduce harsh lighting from your on camera flash is by bouncing the flash off ceilings, or walls. Typically your walls of choice should be WHITE. This technique disperses the light, creating a softer, more natural look. When possible, angle your flash head upward or to the side that you see can give the flash something to bounce off and reflect the light onto your subject.

  
  

  Tips:

  • Use neutral-colored surfaces to bounce (white or light gray walls/ceilings). Colored walls can cast color onto your subject.

  • Avoid high or dark ceilings as they absorb light and reduce the effectiveness of the bounce.

  • Bounce at an angle, typically 45° to 75° upwards or to the side, not straight back.

  • Use a bounce card or diffuser dome to redirect some light forward while softening the main bounce light.

  Why it works:It minimizes harsh shadows, reduces red-eye, and avoids the “deer in headlights” look from direct flash.

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  2. Color Gels

  What they are:Color gels are thin, colored filters placed over your flash to change the color temperature of the light it emits.

  Tips:

  • Match ambient lighting: Use a CTO (Color Temperature Orange) gel to match warm indoor lighting (like tungsten bulbs). Use CTB (Color Temperature Blue) to match daylight or fluorescent.

  • Balance flash and ambient for consistent skin tones. This is especially useful in mixed lighting environments like receptions.

  • Creative effects: Use colored gels (red, blue, green) for dramatic backgrounds or rim lighting in creative portraits.

  Why it works:Color gels help your flash blend naturally with ambient light or add artistic flair to your images.

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  3. Exposure Compensation

  What it is:Exposure compensation (EV) lets you manually adjust the brightness of your image, especially in automatic or semi-automatic shooting modes (like Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority).

  Tips:

  • Use negative EV (-1 to -2) when shooting bright scenes (like snow or weddings with white dresses) to avoid overexposure.

  • Use positive EV (+1 to +2) when shooting dark subjects or backlit scenes to brighten the exposure.

  • Pay attention to your histogram—it helps you judge exposure better than the preview screen alone.

  • Combine with flash: When using TTL flash, exposure compensation adjusts ambient light, while flash exposure compensation (FEC) controls flash power. Adjust both for balanced results.

  Why it works:It gives you creative control and helps compensate for your camera’s metering system when it misreads a scene’s brightness.

  In Practice:

  Imagine you're photographing a wedding reception indoors:

  • Bounce your flash off the ceiling to softly light the couple dancing.

  • Use a CTO gel on your flash to match the warm tungsten light of the venue.

  • Dial in -1 EV to preserve mood lighting and avoid blowing out highlights on a white dress.

  These techniques, used together, can transform flat, harsh photos into natural, vibrant, and emotionally rich images.

Off Camera Flash benefits & High speed sync, fill light

Using an external flash off-camera allows for more creativity and control in every photoshoot. By positioning the flash where ever the light will work best, not just being attached to the head of your camera. This makes it possible for you to create more dramatic lighting effects, and have way more control over your shadows.

A light stand or an assistant can hold your flash for you in many instances where you wish to be far from your subject. But in todays times they even have handheld stands for the photographer to become their "own assistant" by holding the off camera flash in hand, while using it at a more desirable angle.

Benefits of Off-Camera Flash:

• Create dimension in your subjects by moving the light around freely.

• Control the light amount, color tone, and quality of light overall on your subject.

• Ideal for portraits and product photography, but suitable for any project.

  
  

Bridal portrait taken with my on camera flash, using high speed sync, taken outdoors with bright light from the sun beaming into the rooftop bar.

High-Speed Sync: How to use

High-speed sync is a setting you will find on most quality flashes. This setting is extremely beneficial when you want to shoot in very bright light, often outdoors, while still using your flash. This allows your camera to use fast shutter speeds, making it great for stopping motion in outdoor settings.

How to Use High-Speed Sync:

• Enable the feature on your flash by the click of a button to achieve crisp images at high shutter speeds great for fast motion or bright outdoors.

• Adjust your camera’s shutter speed appropriately for your subject.

• Test your flash output when using high speed sync, with various shutter speeds, and apertures to achieve the desired effect without any light banding

  
  

Fill light

Fill light with a flash is the perfect solution for bright sunny days when your subject may appear too dark against a bright background, such as during high noon. It helps illuminate shadows, brighten the subjects eyes, and balances the exposure of your bright background more naturally.

Tips for Using Fill Flash:

• Set your flash to a lower output level; a full blast can create unnatural lighting.

• Adjust the distance between the flash and your subject for optimal results.

• Use in combination with gels or natural light for softer shadows.

  
  

Common Mistakes to Avoid when using flashes

Even seasoned photographers can make mistakes when using flash. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:

Overexposure

One of the most typical mistakes is overexposing the subject due to a powerful flash by accident. Be cautious with your flash settings at all times. Especially if you have a moving subject who could constantly be moving closer or further from your flash source. There are many ways to compensate exposure when doing photography, and always be sure to utilize multile exposure compensations to get your desired image. Either by lowering the flash output, lowering your iso, or upping your aperature if necessary.

Not Considering Backgrounds

When using a flash, the background can become dark and unappealing, Or extremely well lit in some cases.. Be sure to adjust your flashes settings and camera exposure settings so the background always receives your desired light effect. Even if that means moving your subject closer to your flash, or moving them further away from their background.

Ignoring Flash Positioning

Positioning your off camera flash incorrectly can lead to unflattering shadows, uneven light, and harsh light on the subject. Always be aware of where your light is coming from when using off camera flash. Often make a decision to shoot based on your subjects position to the flash, and experiment with different angles of your flash.

Forgetting to Adjust or look at Settings

Not adjusting your ISO, shutter speed, or aperture while using flash can result in unbalanced exposures throughout the photoshoot. Always make it a habit to check these settings throughout your shoot. Test shots can be a lifesaver when your working with clients, moving around, and bopping your camera on your hip... I have accidently bumped my settings and shot many "prompts" before making the realization that my shutter speed was lowered to the point of blurr when I finally did an image review ...mehh.

Relying Solely on Flash

Sometimes, it's easy to depend on flash for every shot in your shoot. Especially when you truly learn to master it. However, utilizing natural or ambient light can often yield stunning images as well! Sometimes even better results! The image you are trying to achieve always depends on the light you need. That is why it is important to learn to balance both sources at the same time each shoot, to go for optimal lighting each shot.

Building Confidence with Flash Photography

Learning to embrace flash photography does take time, but practice makes perfect. Here are a few additional ideas to further enhance your flash skills :

Join Photography Communities

Engaging with fellow photographers on Social media can provide you with invaluable insights, and tips. There are tons of online forums, Facebook groups, or local photography groups that can offer you support and motivation in all ART aspects.

Experimentation with Flash

Don't be afraid to experiment! Try taking the same photo with different flash settings, angles, and combinations with natural light. Slow your shutter on purpose. Try to use the Multi shot mode. Master all the flash settings. This trial and error will gradually build your confidence in Photography overall, and help you accomplish any photo goal you may have.

Flash will always be an important part of a Photographer's equipment, and seen here, a wedding photo was photo bombed by a on camera flash, as well as causing the groom to blink!! lol.

In conclusion, flash photography may initially seem daunting, but with some practice and knowledge, anyone can master it. Embrace the learning curve, and soon, you will find that you can harness the artifical light to transform your photographs into stunningly bright images that reflect your unique style.

Practicing Flash Techniques is the key to learning how to Use Flash in your Photography

Using flash effectively is all about practice and understanding the key techniques, power settings, way to use directional light. All key to enhance your photographs. So get out there and FLASH some people!!! LMAO> but really, the best way to learn is to practice and try try again until you are satisfied with your results. You will continue to learn as you use flash in different settings. You will learn what flash power works well with what aperature to achieve your desired light effect. Remember everyone's photography style is different.