Today I wanna talk about improving photography equipment with an external flash. Why, you ask? A few days ago, I had the great pleasure to work with a professional photographer for an upcoming magazine article I’m writing. Now mind you, I feel like I’m an adequate photographer, however when your job is to refinish furniture, it’s super hard to get great photographs while actually painting, sanding and, well, working on a piece of furniture.
So, the amazing Alan Poizner came down and spent the day with me, taking photos while I painted a piece of furniture with my shabby farmhouse paint finish. We chatted while we worked, him interested in painting furniture, and me interested in soaking up more photography knowledge.
While we were literally waiting for paint to dry, he offered to answer any questions I had about photography. I only had one: how do you take photographs of a room without blowing out the windows? His answer: External Flash.
Flash? What the pumpernickel? Almost every photography course, class or conference session I’d ever had taught me to never, ever use a flash. Heck, I even tell my own Etsy coaching clients to make me promise they’ll never use one. No flash. No how. No way.
But yet, this incredibly talented photographer was telling me it would solve my issue. And then he let me use his external flash and camera. Oh. My. Gravy.
After he left, I scoured the internets trying to find one. Of course, his version was hundreds of dollars. But, I did find this version on Amazon for $40 <by the way, that’s an affiliate link>. It’s not brand name, it’s not top of the line, but it did have nearly three hundred 5 star ratings, so I took the plunge and decided to try it myself.
Come to mama, you beautiful thing!
Although I know it works great on windows (because I tested it in my master bedroom!), I also wanted to share how great it works in a small area with no windows. My little bathroom makeover was never shown to it’s full potential, because I just didn’t have the right equipment. Funny how much difference improving photography equipment with an external flash can make!
So if you’re trying to take better photos, and want to invest in the flash, I wanted to share a couple of pointers:
Flip the flash towards the ceiling. It works better than the on-camera flash because you are scattering the light, not pointing it. It’s such a simple concept, yet makes all the difference in the world.
Adjust the level of flash. If you try it and it looks too garish, then reduce the flash, there’s a button right on the back of the flash that will allow you to adjust it, easy peasy.
Want to see more of my favorite equipment? I’m spilling it all in this post about the best photography equipment for bloggers.
Jaime Costiglio says
Gina this is great advice and sourcing. My really old home has tons of ‘dark’ nooks and crannies that I’d love to photograph but impossible without a flash, I might just have to buy this baby! Thanks
marsha cannon says
Wow, that is amazing! I am headed to a photography class this morning and am going to pursue this myself. Thanks!
Dawn says
Yep, I would have said the same thing get a flash. Works great with back light.
Susan Homeroad says
Wow that is a great tip… I am still learning to use this camera but the flash is not only affordable, it looks like works great! Thanks for the great tip Gina (and I sooo love your bathroom)
Susan
Suzy Handgraaf says
Wow – so glad I ran across this! Thank you for the great tip.
Rose FineCraftGuild says
Hey, I used to have a flash like that… back in the days I had my ‘real’ camera. Yes, I crave in many ways my old Canon AE1. Remember those, before digital??? It ONLY took good to great pictures with that set-up. Failure was not an option. Now, my cameras seem to break just after I’ve learned what’s in the manual ha ha… And sure not all pictures come out great… But we plow on… I guess it’s time to get a look into better flashes for my current camera also…
Melissa Bishop says
There are books, websites and flickr groups dedicated to flash photography. D.I.Y. projects showing how to make flash rings, etc. It’s all under the name, Strobist or Strobists. Some of the photography is just amazing. I try to tell people about using a flash as much as possible but I think some have been brain washed into thinking natural light is the only light. It is sad to see a well designed still life layed out only to have it show up too dark because the light was coming in form a window behind it. Here is another tip…lighting!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboystudio-Photography-Portrait-Continuous-Umbrellas/dp/B003WLY24O/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1373460466&sr=8-10&keywords=photography+lighting+set+up
I bought a set of these lights (but I also bought a metal reflector dish to go over one of the bulbs. It makes a HUGE difference in your set up. You do not need to race the sun while doing a project. You’ll always have good lighting.
p.s. I also recommend renting books from the library on photographic lighting.
p.p.s. white bulletin foam boards make great reflectors.
Rebecca Gonzalez says
How about this for insane. My husband bought me a flash for Christmas and I have never used it. Duh. I am pulling it out now.
Cristina Garay says
Oh, I love this! Thanks so much for passing on this tip!
Laurel Stephens says
Just ordered one from your link. Your photos really sold me!
Erin K says
Thanks for the tip! I just added it to my Amazon wish list. I’d always heard the same thing about flashes.
Jenny says
I’m not a blogger but I do take lots of pictures. I really want to improve! Thanks for the tip. And thanks to Alan too. :o)
Theresa Winter says
Ooh, that sounds like what I need for my little website. Always on the search for better ways to take pictures!
Thanks, Theresa @ Finding Grace, Going Mobile
Megan Gordon says
I totally just bought that! I have a Canon Mark II and it doesn’t have a built in flash and I need one. I had one with my old dsr and always used it angled up. Over the years, it finally died and I just never got around to replacing it but now I did!
Jamie {Better With Age} says
I can’t believe that’s the same bathroom!! Amazing. I gotta get a flash now!
Jamie @ Better With Age
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Gina…so what you are saying is that we need to purchase a separate flash for our cameras…I have used the flash outdoors on close ups and surprised how great the pic turns out…but I never thought that I would need a “separate” flash attachment…makes sense to point it away from the subject…I am still learning my Nikon D7000 every day!…so I am off to see about a flash!!….Thanks so much…like you, heard always to “stay away from the flash”!!!!…Thanks Gina!!
Rachel Matteson says
Just use flash when there is not enough lighting. I agree though that great pictures are taken without the flash but instead use the lighting of the surroundings. 🙂
– http://www.lensgiant.com/
Cori.Warner says
I just bought a new Nikon D3100, in the hopes of improving my photos. I wondered about how well the flash on the camera works versus a mounted flash, and now I know! Thanks!
Doreen@househoneys says
Gina, I totally get how a flash would help in low light situations, but how does it help with blown out windows?
And btw, your bathroom dresser is a great example of the power of paint! Great job!
Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside says
I got a new Canon and Christmas and am still struggling with taking pictures I read a lot of post that said don’t use the flash but I kept wondering, if so many people didn’t use them, why are they even on the camera. So it seems we just didn’t know how to use it! Thanks so much for sharing this tip with us! I’m headed to Amazon now!
Debbie says
Thank you! Thank you for sharing this! I have been struggling with lighting issues in our historic home. I can’t wait to try this and I look forward to following you!
Debbie
Jenise @ DIYFunIdeas.com says
Hi Gina,
I recently got my first dslr and I’ve been learning to use the various manual settings to work around lighting issues, but I’m wondering, when you use this flash, what settings are you using on your camera? Do you just set everything to auto?
Dagmar ~ Dagmar's Home says
I just bought the flash and can’t wait to try it out! Thanks for the suggestion! It is very difficult to shoot in our small cottage.