Wedding Season coming up - might ditch the flash

[_Jo_]

I have always been a huge fan of natural light with photography. I have a great flash unit but my last few weddings I have been using it less and less as I learn more about light and how best to use it. I always learn something new - and that's part of why I love photography so much.

I try to capture my image as I intend it - and not use too much PP - natural is nice. I shoot RAW so this enables me to use the adjustment in LR2 (my preferred editor).

Do you prefer using natural light, flash or a combination?

[cdifoto]

Both. Clients deserve the best images you can give them.

[_Jo_]

Both. Clients deserve the best images you can give them.

Oh of course - I always strive to deliver the best I can.

[RichLPhotography]

I prefer natural light.... but I'd never be silly enough to think that I no longer needed a flash, ever. I find that the people who know how to use flash the best often go undercover because they make it look so natural that you can't tell...

[Peacefield]

because they make it look so natural that you can't tell...

That's the real trick. I like natural light, of course, but there are a lot of times/circumstances where it can be improved. On a very cloudy day, light has no direction and directional light makes an image interesting. Just a little flash, OC and through an umbrella can really improve it. Same thing indoors when light is coming from multiple sources.

[cdifoto]

Same thing indoors when light is coming from multiple sources.
Or when it's not coming from anywhere. :rolleyes: :lol:

[Valjoy]

I think we all like natural light ...but alas often that light isnt enough to give the best results .
I use a combination of flash and natural light shots at all my weddings. I am striving to achieve the ....' dont know whether flash has been used look'....
cheers Val

[viet]

I prefer natural light.... but I'd never be silly enough to think that I no longer needed a flash, ever. I find that the people who know how to use flash the best often go undercover because they make it look so natural that you can't tell...

I can never be this eloquent, but you hit a home run with that statement. Except for a few, a very few, talented shooters that I've seen that can pull this off, Jeff Ascough comes to mind, and they get to pick & choose clients, which plays a huge role in the way they shoot and makes it possible to do so. Other than that, you might get a few good natural light shots in a wedding, but the rest of the time, you'll need your flash.

[GenuineRolla]

I'm not a fan of natural lighting so I always use my lights whenever possible

[cdifoto]

I can never be this eloquent, but you hit a home run with that statement. Except for a few, a very few, talented shooters that I've seen that can pull this off, Jeff Ascough comes to mind, and they get to pick & choose clients, which plays a huge role in the way they shoot and makes it possible to do so. Other than that, you might get a few good natural light shots in a wedding, but the rest of the time, you'll need your flash.
Jeff Ascough uses flash too when needed. He just prefers not to.

[tim]

I think ditching the flash entirely would be irresponsible. You'd be better off investing your time and perhaps some money in how use it effectively.

If I had to choose between never using flash, and always using flash, i'd always use flash. In practice I use it when I want it. Little things like filling the shadows under the eyes on a sunny day make a huge difference, and off camera lighting gives photos more depth. Sometimes there's just not enough light - at the first dance recently ambient was ISO12,800, F1.6, 1/30th - that's really not enough light to make a good image.

[mattantonino]

12800, 1.6, 1/30? I think I've shot in that cave before. Flintstone weddings.

Ditching flash? Not likely (or responsible).

[_Jo_]

Thanks for all your replies. Noted.

[PMCphotography]

I think that natural light is always preferable to artificial light. I use a flash if I have to, but i'd prefer not to.

[tim]

I think that natural light is always preferable to artificial light. I use a flash if I have to, but i'd prefer not to.

Why do you think that? Flash too difficult? I can almost always improve a photo by adding flash, sometime it's just not practical at weddings though.

[PMCphotography]

Why do you think that? Flash too difficult? I can almost always improve a photo by adding flash, sometime it's just not practical at weddings though.

Flash isn't too difficult, I just prefer the quality of natural light.

I use flash when i need to, i just prefer to use natural light if i can,

[tim]

Fair enough. I often prefer the light I make, as that way I have more control.

[r-06264]

Fair enough. I often prefer the light I make, as that way I have more control.

I agree here. I learnt my lesson at my last wedding. There was tungsten, flourescent, fairy lights and candle lights in the same room. And still the ISO was at 3200-6400 accompanied with a bad white balance. Took me some time to correct the WB!

[MR do little]

Fair enough. I often prefer the light I make, as that way I have more control.

As if you cant have control with ambient..?

Just as you have to learn to use flash you have to learn how to control the ambient. Sure there are situations where one will be more practical then the other.(depending on how and what you shoot) Simply ruling out of for the other is limiting your self in a big way. (refering to the OP)

As for matter of taste, while there certainly may be people who prefer "natural" light due to the inexperience or lack of knowledge with flash, there also alot of people simply prefering "natural" light.


I use both extensively, and dont limit my self by picking one over the other.

[viet]

As if you cant have control with ambient..?

Just as you have to learn to use flash you have to learn how to control the ambient. Sure there are situations where one will be more practical then the other.(depending on how and what you shoot) Simply ruling out of for the other is limiting your self in a big way. (refering to the OP)

As for matter of taste, while there certainly may be people who prefer "natural" light due to the inexperience or lack of knowledge with flash, there also alot of people simply prefering "natural" light.


I use both extensively, and dont limit my self by picking one over the other.

I don't mean any disrespect, but I'm curious, how do you control your ambient in a fast paced wedding? I'm not talking about bridals or engagements, or anything slow.

[MR do little]

That would depend on where the fast paced wedding takes place... As i said i dont rule out one over the other, and it depends on how and what you shoot. Of course to be able to control ambient light, there needs to be some to begin with.. :-)

[tim]

Ambient can't easily be controlled. You can choose where to stand, and your angle, that's about it. I do it all the time, but if I had to choose always ambient or always controlled i'd choose the latter.

[MR do little]

Ambient can't easily be controlled. You can choose where to stand, and your angle, that's about it. I do it all the time, but if I had to choose always ambient or always controlled i'd choose the latter.

Tim that depends entirely on where and what you shoot. Of course shooting a cermony in a dark lit church aint gonna be easy, not like you can have a assistent running around with a reflector etc. However shooting B&G formals in high noon sun outdoors its quite easy to control the light.

There are diffrent styles, budgets and preferences for everything.

I was speaking more in general terms. The big downfall with the strobist movement is the compulsion to use of flash in all situations even when its not needed.


Again why should anyone limiting them self to one or the other ?

[viet]

Tim that depends entirely on where and what you shoot. Of course shooting a cermony in a dark lit church aint gonna be easy, not like you can have a assistent running around with a reflector etc. However shooting B&G formals in high noon sun outdoors its quite easy to control the light.

There are diffrent styles, budgets and preferences for everything.

I was speaking more in general terms. The big downfall with the strobist movement is the compulsion to use of flash in all situations even when its not needed.


Again why should anyone limiting them self to one or the other ?

I think you are generalizing. Nobody, not even Tim said that we should be limiting ourselves with just flash. The general consensus here has been to have a flash with you whether you use it or not at a wedding.

I think you can control ambient to an extend at wedding when things slow down, but other than choosing your angles, you can't control anything except your flash when it's in a dark church, or reception. I'm sure the natural light purists will scoff at it, but in reality nobody except a talented few I saw can pull of a natural light only wedding, but I've seen plenty of professionals using flash and make it look nothing like flash.

[MR do little]

I think you are generalizing. Nobody, not even Tim said that we should be limiting ourselves with just flash. The general consensus here has been to have a flash with you whether you use it or not at a wedding.

Did i claim he did ? Nope. I just find it a moot point to chose between the two even if its only hypothetical "scenario"


If I had to choose between never using flash, and always using flash, i'd always use flash. In practice I use it when I want it. .



I think you can control ambient to an extend at wedding when things slow down, but other than choosing your angles, you can't control anything except your flash when it's in a dark church, or reception.

Tim that depends entirely on where and what you shoot. Of course shooting a cermony in a dark lit church aint gonna be easy, not like you can have a assistent running around with a reflector etc. However shooting B&G formals in high noon sun outdoors its quite easy to control the light.

[PMCphotography]

I was speaking more in general terms. The big downfall with the strobist movement is the compulsion to use of flash in all situations even when its not needed.




I agree 1000%.

I saw a wedding setup today when I was at the park doing a small photoshoot- in open shade, at 4pm, sun behind the photographers back (and slightly overcast)- Two slaved flashes on stands, pointed straight at the couple, a reflector, and a speedlite in the hotshoe.

Overkill? For an overcast day, in the shade, with the sun behind the photographer? Seems to me it was.

[PMCphotography]

The general consensus here has been to have a flash with you whether you use it or not at a wedding.

...I'm sure the natural light purists will scoff at it, but in reality nobody except a talented few I saw can pull of a natural light only wedding, but I've seen plenty of professionals using flash and make it look nothing like flash.

And i'm sure more of us have seen plenty of wedding where the "pro" used flash and it looked like...flash.

I wouldn't consider myself a purist, but as i said i prefer to use natural light when I can. I wouldn't think of doing a whole wedding without a flash in the hotshoe. I just only turn it on when it's really needed.

[bnlearle]

Flash is easy as pie. I just don't care to use it. I bring flashes -- but I'd be fine if I forgot them at home.

The last wedding I shot I did some OFC stuff -- reminded me why I don't do it that often...

[Christina]

Fair enough. I often prefer the light I make, as that way I have more control.

I'm with you, Tim.

Ambient light is wonderful and I love to use it... when the ambient light is good. But there are so many situations where it isn't good. Or not even not good... but awful. I feel so much more confident in my photography with the ability to create good light, and I love being able to get some dramatic images of reception details and dancing with off camera lighting.

[PMCphotography]

I don't want to sound to artsy-fartsy, but a big thing for me is being "in the moment", and trying to understand what the bride and groom are thinking and feeling. To me, it's hard to do that well when I'm worrying about off camera flashes and all that comes with them: where to put them, what power, what metering, hoping one of the kids doesn't knock it down, hoping someone doesn't walk in front of it as it fires, if it'll recycle fast enough to get a few in a row...and so forth.

All that, to me, gets in the way of making a great photograph.

As I said I'm not flash phobic or anti flash (especially at outdoor wedding ceremonies) but I feel I'm more connected to the bride and groom when I can focus more on them.

[cdifoto]

My off-camera flash use has been limited to receptions so far. Everything else is either natural light or shoe mounted flash. Usually the latter more than the former.