Speedlite as Fill flash on Vertical Portrait.

[jamiepeter]

Now, I just have a question that has been baffling me. The answer is probably simple and I'm missing it, but that's why you are all here. :)

I use my speedlite for fill flash on outdoor portraits (adjusting the FEC of course) and it works great when shooting horizontally (speedlite right above the camera), but when I shoot a vertical portrait, of course the fill flash is now to the "lefT" of the camera and missing the subject.

Am I being clear and how do you all work around this?

Thanks.

[Tim Sheridan]

You need to use a flash bracket to eliminate the side shadows by keeping the flash on top. I have a Strobframe Quick Flip.

[Curtis N]

As long as the flash head is pointed forward, it won't miss your subject. If you're skeptical, turn your camera sideways and shoot a blank wall. See if you can see any "missed" area on the right side of the image.

A reality of the 420EX is that it will autozoom to cover the field of view of a full-frame camera, while your RebelXT captures a smaller field of view. There will always be plenty of light spilled beyond the image area.

Flash brackets are handy for eliminating the side shadows produced by vertical shots indoors, but in the sun, without a close background within flash range, they are of little value.

[jamiepeter]

Ok. Thank you very much for all the info :)