Balancing Flash and Ambient for Photographers

ambient light

Balancing Flash and Ambient for Photographers with John David Pittman

As a freelance commercial and editorial photographer, you never quite know what the job will bring you. Today you could be inside a state of the art studio, photographing the CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Next week you might be standing in an Arkansas rice field photographing farmers. Next month you could be in Kenya, photographing members of the community to help a non-profit organization tell their story. The variety of being a freelancer is what drew me to the field, but I learned quickly that it would require a diverse set of skills. Lighting that CEO portrait on a studio backdrop is one thing, but lighting your subject inside a restaurant, on a city street or in the African bush is completely different. Early in my career I felt like I had a firm handle on the controlled studio portrait, but was intimidated by lighting my subjects anywhere else. It took me a few years of trial and error, but I finally learned to be as comfortable blending ambient light and off-camera flash as I was in a completely controlled studio environment. The best part is that it’s not as difficult as you might think and with some help, you can learn much quicker than I did.

As I said earlier, I am a freelance photographer. Roughly nine out of ten times, there is a human being in my frame. I work for companies, advertising agencies, magazines, non-profits, etc. But ultimately, I just love portraiture. I consider myself a portrait photographer. That means the tips I am going to share with you today will apply to the work you do every day, even though we aren’t doing exactly the same job. If you are photographing seniors, weddings, families or dogs, you can use these tips to better light your portrait subjects on location.

The most important lesson I learned about lighting on-location portraits is not technical in any way and involves zero equipment other than your eyeballs. You should teach yourself to recognize the way light naturally falls on the world around you and understand what makes good light good. If you find yourself sitting with a friend in a coffee shop and you notice that the light falling on them is beautiful, take the time to investigate. Why is it beautiful? What are the light sources? How do the natural light sources like a window interact with the artificial ones inside the coffee shop? I used to go as far as to pull out a notebook and sketch a quick lighting diagram. Learning to recognize good light and break it down will be a really great tool when lighting your photography subjects on location. The perfect ambient light situation is very rarely available so we as photographers need to know how to create it on our own.

OK, enough with the philosophical pondering. Time for some tips.

ambient light

Get the full story

To read the full article, launch the digital version of the August 2021 magazine.

Leave a Reply

Want more content like this?

Check out our recent posts

yt thumbnail 8 poses for seniors

8 Poses for High School Seniors

In this comprehensive photography posing tutorial for professional photographers, discover 8 essential poses specifically tailored for high school seniors. From casual and natural to elegant and confident, learn how to expertly guide your subjects for captivating portraits. Join us as we delve into the art of posing, exploring key techniques, composition, and tips to enhance your photography skills.

Read More »
yt thumbnail how to make women look good on camera

How to Make Women Look Good on Camera

Everyone wants to look their best on camera, as a photographer, it’s your job to helping them shine. Learn the art of posing women for captivating photographs! In this tutorial, we share expert techniques to make women look stunning on camera. From flattering angles to highlighting feminine features, discover essential tips for posing women that will enhance their beauty effortlessly.

Read More »