Photo Tips

Photo Tutorial: 5 Simple Steps to Using Flash with Photos

Me Ra Koh

Step 1: Camera Settings First…

Set your camera to the following settings: ISO 800, Shutter Speed to 1/60 or 60th of a sec, and Aperture around 4.5-5.6 (depending on how much buttery blur you want in the background of your shot).  Now turn your External Flash on, and set it to Auto or ETTL.  By choosing our camera settings and leaving the flash in Auto mode, our camera will talk to the flash in regards to how much light we need it to fire.

Step 2: Aim Your Flash

The secret to using flash with photos and specifically an external flash is where you aim it (yep, the head of your flash moves. :)).  The cheaper external flashes only point straight ahead or straight up.  The more expensive flashes point in all directions.  That’s what you want!  As Brian says, “Think of having a super ball and wanting to hit your subject in the head with it, but you have to throw it against a wall first. What wall would you throw your super ball against so it bounces back and hits your subject in the face?” (Isn’t that great of Brian?  Men.  That’s what he’s thinking when doing a photo shoot or filming! How can I hit this person in the face with a super ball!) 🙂

BEFORE: The flash is pointing right at Pascaline and Blaze. See those nasty shadows around them and the black cave effect behind them? Yuck! Blaze looks like someone took charcoal from the fireplace and blew it on him.

Simple but thorough tutorial on Using Flash with Photos from Disney's Photo Mom, Me Ra Koh.

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  1. michael says:

    Point it straight back when shooting a wedding. Where does the light bounce off? The back of the church?

    • Me Ra Koh says:

      Hi Michael!
      Yes, great question! You’d be surprised at how far light travels. As long as there isn’t a window behind you, the light will bounce off the nearest wall behind you and come back to “naturally” light your subjects. If you were at the front of the ceremony area for church photos, I would point the flash head behind you but angled up. This way your flash isn’t disruptive to the audience. Not that you were going to do that, but just a little tip if that helps.
      xo
      m

  2. Jessica says:

    Me Ra –
    I’m coming to be with you this weekend in Plano. So excited!
    I wasn’t going to bring my flash because I know we will focus on natural light photography. However, my business is 50/50 portraits/events (bar/bat mitzvahs).
    If I bring my flash, do you think we can sneak in a little chat about this?
    See you soon! Jess

  3. Me Ra says:

    Hey Jess!!
    Definitely bring your flash!!! I’ll demonstrate this for you! Sooooo excited for this weekend!! Going to be fun!!
    Xoxo
    M