Flash / lighting (computer) course suggestions?

I'm looking to start using flashes / lighting. Any suggestions on courses to start? By courses I mean a particular person or company on YouTube you found to be particularly good / interesting or e-learning such as Lynda.com, etc. I live in Northern NJ / NYC area, so any particular Meetup or classes at an Adorama or B&H, etc. would also be helpful, I believe.

I'm not looking (or can afford) to create a studio (although I'm sure lighting lesson would be helpful in either). I'm thinking outside portraits, off camera lighting. I have 2 speedlights and a Godox 200 that I purchased through the years thinking that if I buy them and keep them under my pillow while sleeping, I will automatically know how to use them......or at least try to use them....

Anyway, good starting points would be helpful. Thank you!

Adorama has a long running lighting series on YouTube that covers all the basics and some more advanced stuff.

Profoto has quite a few videos too. Look them up on Youtube. Even if you're not using Profoto gear, the principles are the same.

I know, you didn't ask for books. I am still giving them to you:
"On-Camera Flash by Neil van Niekerk" was my 101 for getting into using a simple flash setup. Not studio - but just the very basics.
"the Hot Shoe Diaries by Jo McNally" was really influential for me as this books very clearly and dramatically showed me how flash lights can be used to create drama and mood of a picture (and not just illuminate the frame). I think that Jo McNally also has plenty of you youtube videos. It's just not my thing for learning.

Thank you all! Will check them out.

Understanding Flash Photography by Bryan Peterson is a great book to start with.

Also check the strobist 101 blog

https://strobist.blogs​pot.com/2006/03/lighti​ng-101.html?m=1

To the OP.

One thing for sure, you have a lot more feature rich (i.e. better) lighting and triggering options these days.

There are tons of you tubers out there, but the ones listed have been solid in terms of actually teaching and explaining lighting in laymen terms. My go to were Adorama, the Strobists and Syl Arena, with a few of others sprinkled in.

I didn't know Bryan Peterson had a lighting book. I read his entire book on Understanding Exposure and practiced with it.

Another reading option is Syl Arena's Speedliters Handbook

itsallart wrote in post #18795585
Understanding Flash Photography by Bryan Peterson is a great book to start with.

Just me, but Peterson's more of a landscape shooter than a portrait shooter. His flash book doesn't seem that great to me.

I'd actually go with Neil van Niekerk's Direction and Quality of Light, or Syl Arena's Lighting for Digital Photography as beginner texts. And maybe the standard college textbook, Light Science & Magic by Hunter and Biver.

Also, David Hobby (the Strobist) has a lighting-with-flash course on lynda.com.

I've used the Lynda.com you mentioned at the suggestion of a university professor that teaches photography to art students. You might also check you local camera clubs. See https://psa-photo.org …jersey-clubs-amp-councils for a list.

You purchase a flash to pay for the shadows. Experiment. Learn. Pay attention to what your gear is doing. I rather like to use a flash meter and shoot manually.