This series of posts are my notes for a flash workshop I am teaching to the members of The Oakville Camera Club.
Everything and then some about flash is available on YouTube or on Google posts. Here’s a list of videos and posts I can recommend for those who want more information about flash:
All the On-Caamera Flash Techniques You NEED to Know
Emma has a no-nonsense, plain language 14-minute video that covers the basics of flash photography. A real-life wedding photographer Emma’s how-to video is worth watching when you’re just starting out.
How to Use a Flash – Tips for Total Beginners
Darlene Hildebrandt has a post (so no video) about how to use flash for total beginners. This is a great read for someone starting off using flash for the first time at Christmas with the family or at holiday gatherings. Simple direct and easy to understand this is a good way to start your journey with flash.
How to Use Bounce Flash for Better Photos
Another Darlene Hildebrandt how-to post but this time on how to bounce your flash. One of the nice things about Darlene’s posts are the real-life images of her husband which she uses to demonstrate how to bounce your flash.
Fill Flash On Location | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey
Gavin is a lot of fun and this video on how to shoot portraits outdoors using fill flash is one of the great Adorama TV videos. Gavin will show you why ambient light may not be good enough when shooting portraits. This video alone can radically improve your portrait photography.
Storytelling with Light: Joel Grimes’ Outdoor Portrait Secrets
One of the Westcott Lighting how-to videos Joel is a great teacher and his video on storytelling with flash portraits is a master class. Joel will show you how to overpower the sun while shooting outdoors.
How to use an Umbrella for Portrait Lighting
Photographic umbrellas can be purchased from Amazon for $50 and that includes the stand! You can shoot great portraits with this very inexpensive setup. This video will take you through an entire shoot using simple equipment.
Flash Power & Distance Explained: How to Balance Outdoor Strobes for Natural Portrait Lighting
Eli Infante is a portrait photographer and his video is one of many from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). In this video he shows you how flash power and distance will affect your exposure and how to balance out your strobe for natual looking images. One caution: this is a somewhat more technical video. In it Eli talks about how flash power is measured in fractions (which is what you’ll find on most flashes) or integers (from 1 to 9) which is used by some flash manufactuers in an effort to make things simple for their customers. Stick with fractions.
Wedding Photography Flash 101 | How to use a flash for wedding photography
One of the most frightening things you can do as a new photographer is volunteer to shoot a friend’s wedding. While I don’t recommend it new photographers do it everyday and often the results are disasterous. So if you’re going to shoot weddings this nine-minute video is a pretty good start. And BTW the presenter uses the same Godox flash that I bought last year.
Mastering Family Portraits: Pro Tips for Posing, Lighting, and Location Scouting
Another excellent video from Westcott Lighting this time on family portraits. Michele Celentano one of Westcott’s Top Pro photographers will take you on a search for great locations for shooting family portraits along with some good posing tips.
Mastering Portrait Lighting and Posing | FREE CLASS
This is another Westcott Lighting videos but much more advanced than the other videos listed here. Jerry Ghionis will walk you thought a step-by-step complete portrait lighting for the photographic studio. If you’re interested in shooting portraits as a professional shooter this video is for you.
From the B&H Photography video series this hour-long videeo features the very popular Godox flash gear. Sarah Edmunds is a Godox ambassador and a WPPI master and judge. She has won many awards for her photography and is an excellent presenter. While this video will be useful regardless of the flash you own it will be particularly important to anyone using the Godox equipment.
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