 Andrea R. Siebert |
using flash reflectors and diffusers for a wedding Hi. I am shooting my second wedding in June and want to make sure shadows are not a problem. I have a flash diffuser that fits right over the flash head and also a larger flash reflector that straps onto the the flash. is it ok to use both of these to shoot portraits? or will that be too much light diffusing? if you could answer this question I would appreciate it so much! Please reply as soon as you can! thanks Andrea
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Kerry L. Walker |
Andrea, as you well know, the purpose of a diffuser is to diffuse the flash, not to eliminate shadows. I think the use of two diffusion devices is overkill due to the fact that it will cut the effective power of your flash tremendously. Other than that, I don't think you can diffuse the light too much. If you are trying to eliminate the shadows you need a good rotating flash bracket, which will place the flash well above the camera and allw you to rotate it in order the keep the flash above the axis of the lens. This will place the shadows below and behind the subject, out of view in the photo.
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Andrea R. Siebert |
well, I don't have a bracket. I have heard two sides of a story that you need on or you don't need one. for now i'm not using one. my last camera didn't have a cord that ran from the flash to the camera that was available. maybe in the future i'll buy one, but for now my flash has seemed to work pretty well for what I do. any last advice when using an on camera flash (SB800)? thank you so much for responding so quickly! oh...also, is it a good idea to bounce the flash when taking outdoor portraits? I havn't done that yet, but didn't know if it makes a big difference or not. andrea
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Kerry L. Walker |
"maybe in the future i'll buy one, but for now my flash has seemed to work pretty well for what I do." - except for the shadows which the bracket will eliminate? You are shooting your second wedding in June. I shot my second wedding many years before you aere born and have leared a lot since then, mainly by listening to the advice given to me over the years. I don't mean to sound harsh but you asked for advice yet choose to ignore it. "is it a good idea to bounce the flash when taking outdoor portraits?" Off what are you going to bounce? An umbrella? Can't do that without a cord, which you say you don't have. Sure can't bounce it off the sky. Just dial down your flash comp. to about -1 and shoot straight on. Don't even need a diffuser since you will be using it only as fill flash. Again, I do not mean to sound harsh but you asked for advice and I gave it but you won't take it. The only other suggestion I have to eliminate the shadows is to bounce your flash - if the ceiling is low enough to do so, which it isn't in most churches.
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Andrea R. Siebert |
thank you for your advice. every photographer I have talked to has different things to say! I am a young photographer, so I am still try to figure out what works for me. thank you for taking time to answer my question. again...i am not ignoring your advice I am just asking multiple photographers on their opinions. thanks andrea
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John H. Siskin |
Hi Andrea One thing to keep in mind every diffuser also reduces the light from your strobe. If you use two diffusers you may have better light but you will certainly have less light. That could be a big problem. Thanks, John Siskin
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Andrea R. Siebert |
thanks for answering my question. I think I will just stick with my bounce reflector and not the omega bouncer. I definatly don't want to loose light! andrea
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