I need help with flash photography! I just have no clue on getting consistent results. =(

I've been shooting film since my college days, got into digital around 2002, but I've always gravitated towards natural light for my portraits. Later, I learned to love the controlled environment of the studio and this became the cornerstone of my baby/maternity portrait business. But now...I really really want to learn more about flash photography. Call me a flash photography dunce.

Anyway, perhaps those more seasoned wedding photographers can share their tips.

My solution for getting more ambiant light is to usually shoot on ISO 400 (the ceiling for acceptable prints), use the slowest shutter I can handhold and go f/5.6 and PRAY. Then I pump up the power by 1 or 2 stops, if needed. But I don't always get the results I want especially for those dark churches and want a perfectly exposed foreground subject and illuminated altar.

Or I measure my exposure on the background and use the flash as a fill for the subject. But again, this is hit or miss for me because exposing for the background usually entails slower shutter speeds, and therfor some blur on subjects if they move. *sigh* I don't get the sharpness I need for those blow-ups.

Am I missing something in my workflow?

I'm glad I'm not a full-time wedding photographer but I really want to get into it more seriously and go for consistency. Would appreciate your tips! Please be gentle this is my first post! THANKS!:)

hi Auey!

Try to look at this site (http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html) about flash photography, very helpful and informative.
Hope this helps :D

Dex

Hi Auey,

Just my 2 cents. You can use a wider aperture like f/2 or f/1.4 and/or you can use a remote flash to light the background.


Doy

Auey,

Welcome to the wonderful world of wedding photography!!! With regards to your questions...

First of all here is what I notice.... you say that your settings are usually 5.6 at asa 400.......and the slowest shutter speed and pray that the subjects dont move. I would absoulutely have a panic attack if those were my options. You would need to have
1.multiple strobes fired at the same time at different locations to make it work. Or
2. Add more ambient light- add continous lights (video lights) and bounce to the ceiling if possible to soften it up.
Or....
3.invest in faster lenses. Thats 2 stops extra you can add to your speed ( at 2.8). Thats the route i took. Fill it in with flash TTL (sometimes I like to add +1 stop in the flash exposure compensation) I like the versatility of fast lenses.

4. Get a better quality camera. My 5d can go up to asa 3200. At 1600 the noise level is highly acceptable. I absolutely love shooting available light as much as possible and this camera with fast lenses are the best combination for me.

Please let me know which route you take.
Good luck!
Pilar

Thanks for the link. Very informative. As I said...I've been shooting for years now but on-camera flash is still a mystery to me. =( Time to start hitting the books...and get out that speedlight out of its box!

hi Auey!

Try to look at this site (http://www.planetneil.com/faq/flash-techniques.html) about flash photography, very helpful and informative.
Hope this helps :D

Dex

Thanks Pilar! I've seen your work and it's awesome. I have the highest respect for wedding photographers. I've done back-up and second shooting but I've always stuck to my oh-so-familiar ambiant light. You could say I'm stubborn and just realizing my ways won't fly in all situations. :( And one thing I've also relied on is the light of the videographer that pumps up the scene quite nicely. However, my questions go on the assumption that you're working alone and have NO video or continous lights or strobes (equipment I don't have at the moment) to help aid the scene. That's why I'm kinda grasping at how to handle it with the gear I currently have. Mixing ambiant light will fill flash always gets me some funky results.


1.multiple strobes fired at the same time at different locations to make it work. Or
2. Add more ambient light- add continous lights (video lights) and bounce to the ceiling if possible to soften it up.
Or....
3.invest in faster lenses. Thats 2 stops extra you can add to your speed ( at 2.8). Thats the route i took. Fill it in with flash TTL (sometimes I like to add +1 stop in the flash exposure compensation) I like the versatility of fast lenses.
4. Get a better quality camera. My 5d can go up to asa 3200. At 1600 the noise level is highly acceptable. I absolutely love shooting available light as much as possible and this camera with fast lenses are the best combination for me.
Pilar

One thing I have learned from this is the value of getting top-notch equipment. As for the argument goes that it's the photographer, not the camera - Equipment does put limitations / expand on your ability to produce the results you want. But right now, I want to learn techniques first before spending the big bucks.

I agree with you on the upgrading of lens - that's on my priority list right now. At the moment, I have my favorite 60 mm 2/8 micro which I use for about 90% of my portraits. But for wedding photography, you really need fast glass. And 60 mm prime is not as versatile as a zoom, when working in a crowd. There's no way around it, it seems. I currently have a Nikon 80-200 f/2.8 AFD, not AFS that the focusing on a Fuji S2 is so sllooowww. Of course, I do get acceptable results using this lens, if I plan ahead and pre-focus. My medium zoom is the kit lens of the D70.

Thanks for answering my questions!! I really appreciate it. It's great to find a friendly photography forum. :)

Hi Auey,

For starters, you can try taking the flash off the hot shoe using an off-camera cord or a sync cord. Direct flash lang, hold the flash on one hand and the camera on the other. Medyo mahirap nga lang. HTH.

most wedding photogs ive been with seem to prefer shooting via TTL or iTTL with their on-cam flash set to either 60 degrees tilted up or 45degs with the bounce card out. then the flash is either pumped up 1/3 or 2/3 or 1 full stop or decreased by the same amount depending on the shot...

I do not shoot weddings but when I was talking to a friend recently about getting a better understanding of my flash, he recommended that I shoot with a wedding or events photographer. Hence, my interest in this thread. :) I've invested in faster lenses but it's still been a hit or miss for me as to the result of my shots. :Grin:

miss pilar.. how do you use your flash? metering... settings.. can you give specific situations and settings.. just to help us out

thanks so much

miss pilar.. how do you use your flash? metering... settings.. can you give specific situations and settings.. just to help us out

thanks so much

Hi Francis,

Most of the time I am on TTL Mode. Since I have an Omnibounce on my flash, I compensate up to +1 depending on the distance of the subject. I also have a STE2 remote trigger for my flash and at times I trigger 2 flashes TTL and treat it like a studio set up, 1 flash is further away. Sometimes, I place a flash behind the bride so that the veil gets more detail. When doing portraits, I use the flash -2 or-3 just to open up the shadows especially if they have deep set eyes(sometimes a reflector is not enough). When there is a low white ceiling, I also enjoy bouncing the flash to soften the light.

HTH.:)
Pilar

i remember seeing you shoot before with a quantum off camera flash... you ditched this na for the canon system?

you have assistants carrying the off camera flash and you just direct them to where to place themseleves in relation to the couple?

i remember seeing you shoot before with a quantum off camera flash... you ditched this na for the canon system?

you have assistants carrying the off camera flash and you just direct them to where to place themseleves in relation to the couple?


Oh My Gosh....that quantum flash...I loved that thing. The battery went kaput:Angry: I was wondering if I could recharge those batteries here hmmmmm.. Anyway, yes I loved the quality of light that that flash was giving. Since my batteries died I have stopped using it. A downside of that is I look like the grimreaper:D and my poor light man had to follow my every step. But if I can get that thing running again, I will use it again thats for sure. The Quantum was a TTL system as well. Beautiful flash:Love:

didnt know the quantum had their own rechargeable batteries.. i thought you could just use double a's with them...

no local reseller here or repair center ms pilar?

so now that you use your canon flashes.. you still have your lightmen carrying your flashes around? all with omnibounce?

havent seen you shoot in a long time...was with a crew you got from john ong... i was a va for his crew then that was a video crew for you once. hehehe.

The Quantum T2D uses quantum batteries only... the big kind. its a turbo battery it can handle 2 flash heads at the same time. Last time i checked there were no resellers here for quantum. The battery is pricey its around 20,000 and it is not rechargable. What I meant was repackaging the batteries. It can be done for laptops and am crossing my fingers that i find some genious who can figure it out.:Grin: Yes I still have a lightman with me running around but it does not call as much attention as the quantum did:D Hope we can work together again soon:)

The Quantum T2D uses quantum batteries only... the big kind. its a turbo battery it can handle 2 flash heads at the same time. Last time i checked there were no resellers here for quantum. The battery is pricey its around 20,000 and it is not rechargable. What I meant was repackaging the batteries. It can be done for laptops and am crossing my fingers that i find some genious who can figure it out.:Grin: Yes I still have a lightman with me running around but it does not call as much attention as the quantum did:D Hope we can work together again soon:)

There's a shop on the far end or Raon that sells and repacks batteries from laptops to airsoft guns. The shops name is ELFOH, you might want to check it out. :)

There's a shop on the far end or Raon that sells and repacks batteries from laptops to airsoft guns. The shops name is ELFOH, you might want to check it out. :)

Thank you for the lead.:) You just made my day:D

aaaargh! flash photography is easy when i shoot with my film camera. my shots are always consistent. can't say the same thing with digital. i don't know it my km 7d/5400hs flash combo isnt suited for flash photography but i have a hard time getting consistent exposures shooting digital.

i wonder if the sony a100 solved this problem.

:<)

Thank you for the lead.:) You just made my day:D

Hi! About your batteries. If they cant; do it in Raon you can try at greenhills sa Shopsvill meron dun. Or maybe some stores that sell's Recomete Controlled toys.

:)

Hi Francis,

...I also have a STE2 remote trigger for my flash and at times I trigger 2 flashes...

HTH.:)
Pilar
i've heard so many horror stories about STE-2's from other forums. how is it with you po? does it work perfect? any run arounds to solve these problems? i've heard the radio triggers (PWs or ebay types) are way better, true?

or are these horrors pure and plain "canon bashing" from the nikonians with their CLS?hehe

thanks.