Flash Photography
What Is Flash Photography?
Like the name implies, flash photography is photography using a flash. The primary purpose of flash photography is to illuminate a dark scene. It’s thus used when indoors or when ambient light outside is not enough. Although most people use flash photography for this reason, it has other uses as well.
A photographer can, for instance, use it when capturing moving subjects or changing the quality of the light. This can enhance photographs or give dramatic effect where it’s needed.
Flash photography is versatile and can be used in several forms of photography, from portraiture, fashion, real estat, and wildlife photography.
Types of Flashes
There are a large variety of flashes available on the market today. They are commonly built into the camera, but more advanced flashes are external units which fit to the hot shoe of the camera.
Most of these advanced flashes offer adjustable intensity and duration of the flash. This enables the photographer to adjust the flash according to their needs and the subject they’re working with. Many also have the choice of remote triggering where the flash can be triggered away from the camera.
Besides the flashes mentioned above, there are also many specialized flashes available. These include:
• Ring flashes which fit to the lens of the camera and reduces shadows in macro photography.
• High speed flashes that flashes many times in a short duration. These flashes are used in science or by engineers.
• Multi-flash systems that flash light from different directions and is used in technical or medical imagery.
• Standalone units such as strobe flashes that is used in studio photography.
There are also some techniques, with some accessories, that flash photographers use. Some ways are:
• Soft boxes, which diffuse the light, taking away the harshness and making it softer.
• Fill flash, which is used to supplement light in darker areas of the frame.
• Bounce flash where the photographer directs the flash at a reflective surface like an umbrella. In this way it can serve as a fill flash or to supply ambient lighting.
Besides these there are several other techniques and tools available like manually-triggered flash, colored gels, and strobing. With all the tools available, the possibilities with flash photography are endless.
In the articles below, read about Flash Photography tips, tutorials and news.

Your Guide to Flash Modifiers for Photography
Flash modifiers in photography are used to alter the quality, color, shape, or direction of light. The right modifier depends ...

10 Reasons Every Photographer Should Own A 5-in-1 Reflector & Our Recommendations
They’re cheap, portable, and possibly the most versatile piece of lighting equipment you’ll ever own; 5-in-1 reflectors will serve photographers ...

The Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Natural Light Portraits
You do not need a vast arsenal of expensive lighting equipment to create striking portraits. In fact, the most powerful ...

Essential Tips for Incredible Groom Preparation Photos
Preparation is key in order to produce creative, journalistic imagery.

How to Freeze Motion in Photography
In photography, some of the most compelling images are the ones that freeze motion, especially fast moving, dynamic motion. Whether ...

Learn “Spotlight” LIGHTING Photography Portraits
There are countless ways to get creative with studio portrait lighting. In this video, we’ll be putting the spotlight on ...

Flash Gel Photography for Creative and Corrective Effects
Gels can be very useful in correcting color in your image or adding a creative effect. We show you how in the following video.

How to use a light meter for film
Metering film is the most common cause of frustration amongst new film shooters.

Easiest One Light Portrait Setup for Professional Headshots
How many lights does it take to create a great, pro quality image? In my early career, my answer was ...

Bounce Flash Tutorials For Beautiful Light Anywhere
We're going to cover the difference between direct flash vs. bounce flash and give you an easy secret to creating soft, flattering light anywhere you go.

How to Create a Home Portrait Studio
Follow along as we set up a home portrait "studio" (with a budget cap of $20 for a reflector), capture our shot using whatever gear we already have (including a phone camera), and edit the image in Lightroom and Photoshop.