Chapter 13: On-Camera and Off-Camera Flash Techniques
As a professional wedding photographer, you must master on-camera and off-camera flash techniques to be able to quickly adapt to various lighting scenarios.
On-camera flash provides quick solutions for fill light and bounce techniques, while off-camera flash offers greater creative control for dramatic effects, such as rim lighting and backlighting.
On-Camera Flash is convenient for quickly adding light in fast-paced situations, such as capturing candid moments during the reception or providing fill light during outdoor ceremonies. It is especially useful when you need to move frequently or when there is not enough time to set up additional equipment. Techniques such as flash bounce help soften the light, making it appear more natural.
Off-Camera Flash offers greater control and creativity, allowing you to create dynamic, directional lighting that adds depth and drama to portraits and key moments, such as couple shots or dance floor photos. By positioning the flash at different angles, you can sculpt light for a more three-dimensional look, and highlight the subject effectively. This is especially effective in low-light settings or when achieving a particular aesthetic is important to your desired result.
Combining these techniques will ensure you can achieve the desired mood, balance, and exposure, regardless of the lighting conditions throughout the wedding day.
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On-Camera Flash Techniques
On-camera flash is convenient, quick, and versatile. These qualities make it useful for many situations where you need additional light without setting up external equipment. However, it does require specific techniques to avoid flat, harsh lighting.
Bounce Flash (Indoor Settings)
Scenario: Ideal for indoor wedding ceremonies, receptions, and getting-ready shots.
- Point the flash head toward a neutral-coloured ceiling or wall to bounce the light back onto the subject. This creates a softer, more natural look which mimics ambient lighting.
- Use a flash diffuser (a small softbox or a bounce card) to further soften the light and reduce harsh shadows.
- Use TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering for automatic adjustments or switch to manual mode if you prefer full control.
- Set flash compensation to around -1 or -2 stops to avoid overexposure and keep the lighting subtle.
Fill Flash (Outdoor Portraits)
Scenario: Useful for outdoor ceremonies and portraits during the day when the sun creates strong shadows on the couple’s faces.
- Use the flash to fill in shadows and even out lighting, especially when shooting against the sun or in partially shaded areas.
- Keep the flash power low (-1 to -2 stops) to subtly lift shadows without overpowering the ambient light.
- Set your camera to Aperture Priority (Av/A) or Manual Mode and balance the exposure to preserve the ambient light while the flash fills in shadows.
- Use High-Speed Sync (HSS) if you need to use a fast shutter speed to capture ambient light correctly, especially when shooting in bright conditions.
Direct Flash with Diffuser (Nighttime and Low Light)
Scenario: Best for receptions and dance floors where movement is fast and there is limited time to set up off-camera flash.
- Attach a small diffuser (dome diffuser) to soften the light and avoid harsh shadows.
- Point the flash directly at the subject but keep the power low to maintain a natural look and prevent overexposure.
- Use TTL metering or manual flash settings with lower power (1/16 power) to balance the light.
- Pair with a slower shutter speed (1/60s) to capture some ambient light and create a sense of atmosphere in the photo.
Off-Camera Flash Techniques
Off-camera flash provides greater creative control, allowing for more dynamic lighting effects, better depth, and dramatic compositions. It is especially useful for posed portraits and adding dimension to scenes.
Backlighting (Golden Hour and Sunset Portraits)
Scenario: Ideal for creating halo effects or adding separation between the couple and the background during sunset or golden hour portraits.
- Position the flash behind the couple, slightly angled upwards, and use a softbox or umbrella to diffuse the light for a soft, glowing effect.
- Set the flash power to match or slightly exceed the ambient light to create a backlit halo around the couple.
- Use Manual Mode on the camera to control exposure, balancing the ambient light with the flash.
- Start with flash power at 1/8 or 1/4 and adjust based on the intensity of the ambient light.
Side Lighting (Dramatic Indoor or Outdoor Portraits)
Scenario: Works well for creating depth and drama in indoor portraits, couple shots, or bridal portraits, especially in dimly lit spaces or at night.
- Position the off-camera flash to the side of the couple at a 45-degree angle for a classic, Rembrandt-style lighting effect that will add shadow and depth.
- Use a grid or snoot to direct the light and control its spread, ensuring the light focuses only on the couple and does not spill onto the background.
- Set your flash to manual mode and start with 1/16 power, increasing as needed to highlight the couple’s features while keeping the light subtle.
- Use a shallow depth of field (f/2.8) to create background blur and focus attention on the couple.
Cross Lighting (Dance Floor or Reception Lighting)
Scenario: Perfect for capturing the energy of the dance floor or creating dimensional lighting during the reception.
- Set up two off-camera flashes positioned diagonally from each other on opposite corners of the dance floor. This will create a crisscross effect, illuminating subjects from both sides and enhancing the sense of motion.
- Use gel filters on the flashes for creative effects, adding colour to the scene that matches the mood of the event.
- Set the flashes to manual mode at a low power setting (1/32 to 1/64) to avoid overpowering the ambient light and to keep the atmosphere of the venue visible.
- Utilize slow sync flash with a slower shutter speed (1/30s) to capture ambient light trails while freezing the motion of the dancing subjects.
Rim Lighting (Outdoor Night Portraits)
Scenario: Excellent for outdoor night portraits where you want to create separation and a glowing outline around the subject.
- Place the off-camera flash directly behind the couple and slightly to one side, aimed at their back. Use a gridded softbox to control the light and avoid flare.
- Adjust the angle and power of the flash to create a soft rim of light that highlights the edges of the couple’s figures, enhancing their shape and creating a dramatic look.
- Set the flash to manual mode, starting at 1/16 power, and adjust as needed based on the ambient light and desired effect.
- Use a wide aperture (f/2) and a slower shutter speed (1/60s) to balance the ambient light and maintain some detail in the background.
Combining On-Camera and Off-Camera Flash (Hybrid Techniques)
For certain scenarios, combining on-camera and off-camera flash creates a balanced and dynamic lighting setup that enhances the overall composition.
Key and Fill Light Setup (Reception Portraits)
Scenario: Useful for capturing formal reception portraits where you want balanced, flattering lighting.
- Position an off-camera flash as the key light to one side of the couple with a softbox, providing the main source of light.
- Use the on-camera flash as a fill light, bouncing it off the ceiling to soften shadows and balance the overall exposure.
- Set the off-camera flash at 1/4 power for the key light and adjust the on-camera fill flash to a lower power (1/16) to subtly fill in shadows.
- Use TTL mode on the fill flash for automatic adjustments, while keeping the off-camera flash in manual mode for consistency.
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