Getting Started with Off-Camera Flash: A Beginner’s Guide
Now that you have your off-camera flash equipment ready to go, you might be wondering, “Where do I start?” You’ve got the gear, but learning how to use it can feel a bit overwhelming. The good news? With a bit of practice, you’ll be well on your way to creating beautifully lit images that stand out from the rest.
This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get started with off-camera flash and help you build confidence by experimenting with your setup. So grab your camera, flash, and any modifiers you have, and let’s dive in!
Step 1: Set Up Your Flash
Start with the basics. Your first goal is to understand how your off-camera flash interacts with your subject and the ambient light. Here’s how you should begin:
1. Attach your trigger and if needed, your receiver – Your off-camera flash won’t fire unless it’s synced to your controller and your camera. If your flash has built-in wireless, you’re ready to connect it to your controller. If not, you’ll need to add the receiver to your flash prior to connecting to your controller. Now is the time to go ahead and pop that controller onto the top of your camera as well.
2. Position your flash – For your first experiment, place the flash at a 45-degree angle to your subject, about eye level. This placement is a good starting point for creating soft, natural shadows on your subject’s face.
3. Modify the light – If you have a softbox or umbrella, attach it to your flash. Modifiers help soften the light, reducing harsh shadows and making the light more flattering. If you don’t have one yet, don’t worry—just practice with bare flash for now. Then visit FlashGear to get one!
Step 2: Set Your Camera and Flash Settings
Next, we’ll balance the flash with ambient light and ensure your exposure is just right.
1. Camera settings – Set your camera to manual mode so you have full control over the exposure. Start with these settings as a baseline:
ISO: 100
Shutter speed: 1/160 or your camera’s maximum sync speed.
Aperture: f/5.6 for portraits (adjust based on depth of field preferences).
2. Flash power – Set your flash to about 1/8th power to start. This is going to be in the middle and most of the time it gives you enough light without overpowering your scene. We teach the gray card method for dialing in exposure. But for now keep reading.
Now, take a test shot. Is your subject too dark? Increase the flash power. Is the background too bright? Adjust your aperture or ISO to darken it. The goal is to achieve a balance between your flash and ambient light. The biggest key is to use your camera settings to get your background the way you want it to look before adding flash to your subject.
Step 3: Experiment with Light Placement
With your basic settings in place, it’s time to play with light placement. Move your flash to different angles around your subject and take note of how the shadows change.
1. 45-degree angle – As mentioned earlier, this is a great place to start. It produces soft shadows that add depth and dimension.
2. Side lighting – Move the flash to a 90-degree angle from your subject to create more dramatic shadows. This technique is great for moody portraits.
3. Directly in front – Position the flash right in front of your subject for a flat, even look. This eliminates shadows and is often used in beauty or fashion photography.
Try adjusting the height of the light as well. Lighting from above will create more natural shadows, while lighting from below gives a more dramatic, eerie effect.
Step 4: Use Flash for Fill Light
One of the most useful ways to use off-camera flash is as fill light to brighten shadows in outdoor settings. Here’s how to practice this technique:
1. Set your exposure for the ambient light – First, take a test shot of the scene without the flash. Adjust your camera settings to properly expose the background.
2. Add the flash – Once the background looks good, turn on your flash and use it to fill in any harsh shadows on your subject. Keep the flash power low, start around 1/32nd or 1/16th power, so it subtly brightens the shadows without overpowering the ambient light.
This is especially useful in bright sunlight when shadows can be harsh, or in backlit scenes where your subject may be underexposed.
Step 5: Practice and Refine
The key to mastering off-camera flash is practice. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes—that’s how you learn! Here are some tips to help you improve:
Shoot in different environments – Try using your flash indoors and outdoors, in bright and low light. This will help you understand how flash interacts with various lighting conditions.
Try different modifiers – If you have access to different light modifiers like softboxes, umbrellas, or even reflector pans, experiment with them to see how they affect the light quality and direction.
Adjust flash power – Don’t just stick to one flash power setting. Practice adjusting the power to create different looks, from subtle fill light to more dramatic, high-contrast lighting.
Conclusion
Starting with off-camera flash might seem daunting at first, but by following these steps and experimenting with your setup, you’ll quickly see improvements in your photography. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with adjusting light placement, flash power, and camera settings to achieve the perfect look.
So get out there, experiment, and most importantly—have fun with your new lighting skills!