Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone had any good tips, websites books etc they could recommend for flash photography. Mainly for fill in flash and flash use for wedding photography as opposed to studio work.

My latest wedding portfolio (http://www.memoriesoftomorrow.net/weddingphotography/portfolio.asp) has a fair few examples were I have used fill in flash but to be perfectly honest I'm still struggling a bit with it.

Just for info I have shot 36 weddings in the last two and a half years since starting out which has effectively been my main time for practice to date.

Thanks

Pete

I'd definitely recommend the Strobist Blog (http://strobist.blogspot.com) if you haven't already checked it out for a fantastic resource on all things flash. I'm sure they'll be something there that helps you out.

I just hope no prospective customers see that you're asking elementary questions, to be honest!

There's a billion resources out there. Google it.

I just hope no prospective customers see that you're asking elementary questions, to be honest!

There's a billion resources out there. Google it.

Matt, elementary... maybe so. I have already read up a lot on the subject and have improved dramatically over the last few years but cannot quite find a resource that suits my style of learning just yet. Not that I haven't read an awful lot. I'd come across planetneil.com which wasn't bad and also a decent book my Michael Greco and watched heaps of YouTube videos but none have stood out to date.

As for prospective customers seeing this well to be honest that doesn't concern me. I do not hide the fact that I am entirely self taught... I work on the basis of being completely transparent about what I do. At the end of the day I believe my work speaks for itself as you don't get established and keep getting work without being able to do a half decent job.

Whilst my style may not be to everyone's tastes it is how I work non the less. I must be doing something right as it is looking like I'll be doing 40 weddings next season (mostly from referrals) and have already had enquiries about doing some in Bali, Norway and the UK. I'm also freelancing for most of the national press agencies regularly. I would say that is pretty good going for less than 3 years at it.

I appreciate that others who have studied photography at College, Uni etc may not like the fact that I am working professionally yet asking questions like in my original post but hey for me photography is about constantly learning and evolving. What is more I am yet to have a customer who is not very pleased with the work I produce for them.

Like lavery says strobist is your friend. You will already have the flashes so a light stand, a shoot through umbrella and some decent wireless triggers will sort you out no bother. I use them all the time, makes a hella of a difference.

I did these a week ago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chimpola/sets/72157623766385197/detail/

I think he's looking for advice on fill flash for on-camera flash. Carrying a light-stand and umbrella around with you at a wedding isn't generally practical. ;)

This is the rule I use when it comes to fill-flash... Don't bother unless you're above 13EV. If you're below 13EV, then bounce it and add +1FEC. If you can't bounce it, and you're below 13EV, then don't bother - use natural light only.

I avoid flash as much as possible though. I find that, unless you're using it off-camera, it just ruins the scene.

Point taken matt, I always take mine though. Is not half as heavy as a bag full of kit :-)

Seems like kick around a lot of the same bands Matt. Take a punt over at my promo stuff when you get 5. I know this is off topic a bit but we run a small online mag over here - www.counterfeitmag.co.uk - we are the same people who used to help to run Sandman Magazine

I always carry mine in the car (actually, always because it's easier to just leave all the stands and brollys in the car!) and use off-camera a lot at weddings - but not for normal shots, I use it more for lighting the reception or the speeches when you can set-and-forget.

Will take a look. Let me know if you need a 'tog. ;) :D

Cheers Matt. I do try and avoid using it but some of the venues more recently have been very poorly lit. Using a f1.2 50mm prime and and EOS 5D MKII gets round this to a degree but it is quite often nice to use the flash for differing effects (mainly during the first dance).

I'm also playing around with moonlight shots using a longer exposure and 2nd curtain sync with the flash filling in the subjects.

Also there are quite a few occasions where the ceremony is outside in very bright sunlight... think 40+ degree days. I use the fill in to help lessen the harsh shadows as everyone out here has the ceremony when the sun is at it's worst in photographic terms. This is probably the biggest area I am trying to improve on.

An umbrella and light-stand won't work for me as I already have a 20kg kit bag as I shoot with 3 cameras on the day. Taking other kit around on the day isn't practical due to some of the locations I shoot at. At the moment I'm using the Omnifen diffusers on 580EX II's (on camera) and bouncing it almost all the time where I can. I have just ordered a wireless remote for the flashes so off camera flash is next on the learning agenda.

Mainly though as I said in the original post I just can seem to find the "right" book or tutorial for me and just wanted to see what other people had used to learn from.

Livestrong - check out this guy - he does some awesome stuff off camera in the conditions you speak about.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubio/

matt feel free to pm me, we are non profit I am afraid but for networking alone it's a great opportunity.

Thanks marktighe... his work is very nice.

You could also try using a ringflash adaptor for your speedlite to give you 'shadowless' fill if you're having issues with hard shadows.

my friend is really good il get her email adress for u