How To Use Flash Photography in Tight Spaces with Justin Yoder
A decade ago, I was fairly new to the professional world of photography. While I didn’t know much, using flash was something I knew I didn’t want to do. My limited knowledge of artificial light led me to believe that it looked fake, harsh, and not very flattering. That was until a friend challenged my thinking. He knew I had what it took to be a great photographer, but also knew I could elevate my work so much more if I would just learn to use flash. He convinced me to meet up with him one afternoon, which would change my photography forever. I walked away feeling overwhelmed by how little I knew about lighting—but also knowing my perspective had changed and it was time for me to embrace using flash.
What and Why
Most of us probably know what a Flash Photography is, but just so we are clear: a flash is a small light that can be attached to your camera or used off camera that creates a single burst of light. I rarely use my flash on my camera simply because I like the look of off-camera flash better. When I use my flash on my camera, it’s for situations in which I have to move around a lot and do not have other options. Most of the time, it’s on the dance floor, but even then, it’s only during selected times. We will get into that more later.
There are many reasons to use flash. Some of the biggest reasons are when it’s just too dark to shoot natural light, or the available lighting is bad. It can create drama in your photos. It can help your subject stand out by creating separation between your subject and the background. Flash can even help freeze motion. To think that such a small, lightweight and (sometimes) relatively inexpensive piece of equipment can accomplish so much! There is no good reason not to add flash to your gear bag.
