Why Flash Portraits
Portrait sessions are an investment. They take lots of time, planning, effort, and money to pull off successfully. How do you guarantee that no matter the time, place, or weather you get, the images you’ve imagined also stand out from everyone else’s portraits? Well, this is why I use flash photography.
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What Is Flash Photography?
A flash is a piece of equipment that emits light. Think of it as a pulsing flashlight. A photographer must control the amount of intensity, color, and “shape” of the light to influence how an image looks.
So why is this important?
The Benefits of Flash Portrait Photography
Overcast Days Look like Bright Sun
What happens if you want portraits with a golden sun look but it is overcast on your shooting day? Cloudy days reduce shadows and make for a softer or flatter-looking image. Total cloud cover also eliminates that signature glowing effect. We just need to add a flash or two to recreate the desired sun look. Throw on some orange-tinted gels (pieces of plastic that change the color of light the flash produces), and we’re golden! (pun intended).
Direct Sunlight is Less Harsh
Alrighty, but what about if it’s crazy sunny outside and you want softer images? Usually, we’d just find a patch of shade and shoot there, but that’s not always possible. There are two solutions — hold a giant piece of cloth up high to create shade or use a flash!
In this instance, a photographer can use a flash to fill in the shadows and reduce the contrast. They could also do something called “overpower the sun” and make the hard sunlight less impactful in your portraits.
The only thing a flash can’t fix is rain. You can get some fun shots with it, though!
Illuminate the Darkness
Sometimes, schedules are tight and force us to shoot at non-optimal times for lighting. Flash photography allows you to get great portraits regardless of the ambient lighting. If it’s getting late and the sun is dropping, a natural light photographer may pack it in. The flash, however, will illuminate you and the scene to look clean and crisp while also keeping natural tones and mood.
Creativity
One of the advantages of flash in portrait photography is that a photographer can modify it by doing a lot of funky stuff. These modifications result in unique and creative effects in your portraits. Intentionally adding color to flashes or using them like spotlights to accent specific details are great ways to make pictures unique.
Stand Out
Natural light portraits all look the same. Seriously. There are only a handful of natural lighting situations, and physics means the results are pretty consistent.Photoshop is a powerful tool and can be used to modify images, but it takes a lot of effort and time to look natural. On the other hand, the flash takes the possibilities to an entirely different level. Indeed, this is one of the perks of flash vs natural light in portrait photography.
Simply adding one flash to an image can completely change the look of your portrait. Want to introduce a purple color? Use flash. Want to spotlight yourself against a cool background? Use flash. Want to make daytime look like night? Use flash. If you want pictures that stand out from everyone else’s, then find a photographer who uses a flash.
Summary
So, why use flash for portraits? Because flash photography is a powerful tool. It ensures you can get the portraits you’ve always imagined for yourself, regardless of time, place, or weather. Additionally, a flash used creatively and intentionally can create pictures that stand out from the crowd and simply cannot be taken using natural light only.
If you want total control of your images, guaranteed results that match your vision, and unique portraits that no one else has, consider working with a flash photographer. And if you’re looking for a flash photographer in Atlanta to take your amazing portraits, reach out!
A quick note: I love natural light photos! I always start with natural light before pulling out flashes and strobes because it’s much easier for the pace and flow of a shoot.
This blog post is written to be a tad exaggerated, but make no mistake; if natural light is the best tool to get the best image, then I’m going to use it!