Photo Tips

Photo Tutorial: 5 Simple Steps to Using Flash with Photos

Me Ra Koh

Step 5: This is my favorite way of using flash with photos. I like to turn the flash head around and point it straight behind me. However, there is a downside to this if you shoot events.  When we were shooting weddings, people would tell me all night at the reception that my flash was pointing backwards. 🙂 But the upside was that I got this wonderful, flattering light on the subject’s face with ZERO shadows friends!! What a difference between our first shot and this final one!

You would never look at this image below and think I fired a flash.  It looks like natural lighting!

Now, if this method is good enough for the one who taught me (who shot the last 20 Kennedy weddings and starts at $60K for wedding photography), I think this method is definitely good enough for you and me.  🙂  Keep it simple!

Watch our video of us demonstrating all of this!  One viewer said “I’ve learned more in 20 minutes of watching this than I’ve learned in a long time!”  Join our private Confidence Facebook group to access the video and more video tutorials!

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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