How do you meter with off camera flash?

[sweetypie925]

So I plan to setup my flash tomorrow on a stand with 45in umbrella that I just got. I have the cactus triggers. How to I meter the person and know what power to put my flash on. I am planning to put both the camera and flash in manual.

[Curtis N]

Most professionals would use a flash meter in that situation.

Absent one of those devices, you'll need to use the test-chimp-adjust method.

This is what I did before I got a meter: Drape a new white t-shirt over your subject. Take a test shot and look at the histogram and LCD. Adjust the aperture and/or flash power until you just start to see the blinking highlights on the LCD image.

Don't expect great results on your first try, but with practice you can get the exposure pretty close.

[kuanyu]

This is what I did before I got a meter: Drape a new white t-shirt over your subject. Take a test shot and look at the histogram and LCD. Adjust the aperture and/or flash power until you just start to see the blinking highlights on the LCD image.


GREAT tip, thank you. I own a meter but recently forgot to bring it with once, this would have helped a ton.