Junior Rasmussen
Wedding photographers have a challenging task: capturing the most important day of their clients' lives in a variety of locations and lighting conditions. Off-camera flash photography is a useful skill to master to ensure you're prepared for any situation, especially at wedding receptions, which are often dark and moody. With off-camera flash, you control the light source, from placement to power to height to direction. You can use natural light for most of the day, but when the sun sets, you'll need an additional light source. To get started with off-camera flash, you'll need a camera, a flash, and a few accessories.
Characteristics and Values of Using Off-Camera Flash for Wedding Reception
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lighting Setup | Use natural light when possible, but add an off-camera flash for more control over the light source, especially after sunset or in windowless indoor spaces. |
| Equipment | A digital SLR camera, versatile low-aperture lenses, and an off-camera flash with a trigger system or wireless setup. |
| Flash Angle | Place the flash at a 45-degree angle to the subject for most situations, but adjust based on the desired lighting effect. |
| Flash Power | Start with lower flash power (e.g., 1/64) and a higher ISO for softer light and a glowing background. |
| Aperture | Typically use the widest aperture your lens allows (e.g., f/2.8 or lower), but avoid shooting higher than f/2.8 with a single off-camera flash setup. |
| Shutter Speed | Use faster shutter speeds (e.g., 1/250s with High-speed Sync) to freeze action during receptions. For slow-moving subjects, a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/125s) can work. |
| Lighting Techniques | Use the flash as a spotlight for key moments, match the flash to the existing light using gels, and bounce the flash off ceilings or walls for softer lighting. |
| Creativity | Experiment with different setups for specialty dances, cake cutting, and toasts to create unique and dramatic photos. |
| Practice | Off-camera flash photography is a skill that improves with practice, so don't be intimidated to try it out and learn as you go. |
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What You'll Learn
- Using off-camera flash for the groom: use a single flash with a MagGrid and lower the ambient light
- Using off-camera flash for the bride: place the sun behind her and light the front with a softbox or Octabox
- Using off-camera flash for specialty dances: set up on the dance floor and decide what you want in the background
- Using off-camera flash for ring shots: shoot at a high aperture and use a lot of light
- Using on-camera flash: bounce light off the ceiling or walls, but be careful of coloured surfaces
Using off-camera flash for the groom: use a single flash with a MagGrid and lower the ambient light
While the bride is usually the star of the show, it's important to give the groom some attention, too. A fun way to do this is to use a single off-camera flash with a MagGrid and lower the ambient light for a dramatic effect.
Start by adjusting the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture until the photo is pretty dark. Then, introduce the flash. Position the flash at a 45-degree angle to the groom, relatively close to him, to keep most of the focus on his face. The further away the light is, the more it will spread. You can also try this technique with the groomsmen and combine the photos later in Photoshop.
If you're in a room with high ceilings, a bounce flash will create more evenly lit subjects than a direct flash, which can cast harsher shadows. However, if the ceiling is low and dark, you'll need supplemental light at ground level.
Another option is to use two off-camera flashes with MagGrids opposite each other to create a moody effect, but be aware that this can result in dark shadows. For more variety, experiment with different lighting patterns when shooting portraits of the groom.
It's also important to consider the ambient lighting in the venue. If there are special features like a fireplace or candles, you may want to maintain the ambient light and use a flash to enhance it. In most wedding reception ballrooms, the light is tungsten, so have orange gels ready to match the existing light.
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Using off-camera flash for the bride: place the sun behind her and light the front with a softbox or Octabox
Wedding photography is a challenging task and using off-camera flash can be a great way to create stunning portraits of the bride and groom. One popular technique is to place the sun behind the bride and use a softbox or Octabox to light her face from the front. This setup helps to avoid deep shadows in the eyes and blown-out backgrounds, resulting in more flattering and evenly lit photos.
To achieve this look, photographers often position the flash at a 45-degree angle to the subject. This angle is used to create a balanced lighting setup, ensuring that the light hits the bride's face directly while also illuminating the background. By using a softbox or Octabox, the light becomes softer and wraps around the subject, reducing harsh shadows and creating a more flattering look.
When using this setup, it's important to consider the exposure. Photographers should first set the exposure for the background without the flash to avoid it being underexposed or pitch black. Then, they can introduce the flash and adjust its power accordingly to light the bride's face. This technique ensures that both the foreground and background are properly exposed.
Additionally, photographers can experiment with different light modifiers, such as Magmod grids and gels, to add creativity and variety to their images. For example, using a gel with an off-camera flash can help match the colour temperature of the existing light in the room, such as tungsten lighting, creating a more cohesive final image.
It's also worth noting that off-camera flash can be used at different times throughout the wedding day. While some photographers use natural light for certain shots, off-camera flash can add drama and impact to detail shots, such as rings, dresses, and flowers, as well as create unique portraits of the bride and groom.
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Using off-camera flash for specialty dances: set up on the dance floor and decide what you want in the background
When using off-camera flash for specialty dances, such as the first dance, father-daughter and mother-son dances, it's important to set up on the dance floor and decide what you want in the background. Unlike shooting outdoors with natural light, you have control over the light source.
You can choose to keep the background free of the DJ and their equipment, ensuring your off-camera flash isn't in the background of your shot. Instead, you can use your off-camera flash to expose the front of your subjects. You can ask the DJ to turn off the special colour lights for the specialty dances, creating one less variable to worry about.
For specialty dances, you may need a higher flash power depending on how far away the subjects are. It's a good idea to do a set of test shots before the events start so you know your desired settings. With practice, you'll be able to adjust settings on the spot.
To avoid overexposing your subjects, start with a lower flash power (1/64 is a good starting point) and a higher ISO. This will create a softer flash on your subjects and allow the background to glow. It's also recommended to not shoot higher than a 2.8 aperture with this setup.
When using flash photography, there are two exposures happening at the same time: the ambient light exposure and the flash exposure. The ambient light exposure relies on your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, while the flash exposure relies on your aperture, ISO, and flash power. To capture motion during the dance, use a slower shutter speed and swing or rotate the camera while the shutter is open.
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Using off-camera flash for ring shots: shoot at a high aperture and use a lot of light
Wedding receptions are often lit to be dark and moody, so flash is required to add light to your scene. When it comes to ring shots, a high aperture and a lot of light are needed.
For this setup, you will need a camera that works in Manual mode and has a hot shoe. You can mount your speedlight to an extension pole (or monopod) and have someone hold the light above your model. This gives you more options when shooting and ensures there are no light stands in the way of your shot. Using a speedlight as a bare light source creates a harsh style of lighting, similar to harsh sunlight. To soften and control the light source, you can use a small or medium softbox. A good softbox to start with is the LumiQuest Mini Softbox, which attaches to your speedlight with velcro and can fold flat for easy storage.
To manually adjust the flash output of your speedlight, switch the setting from its default of TTL to M (Manual mode). If you're shooting in full sunlight and need an aperture of f/16 or higher, use a power setting of 1/1 (full). If you are shooting at f/2.8 or f/4, start at around 1/16-1/32 power.
To keep light from spreading everywhere and to create a more dramatic photo, use a MagGrid. You can also use a softbox or Octabox to soften the light and allow it to illuminate most of the subject. The MagGrid will keep the light hard and focused.
It is important to match your on-camera flash and off-camera flash to the existing light in the room. Most wedding reception ballrooms have tungsten light, so you will need to add a gel to your on and off-camera flashes.
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Using on-camera flash: bounce light off the ceiling or walls, but be careful of coloured surfaces
Bouncing light off the ceiling or walls using an on-camera flash is a technique that can help photographers achieve soft, directional illumination. This approach can be particularly useful in wedding photography, where natural light may not always be available or sufficient.
When using an on-camera flash, photographers can bounce the light off nearby surfaces to create a softer light effect. The softness of the light depends on the size of the illuminated section of the wall or ceiling. By moving further from the bounce surface, photographers can allow the light to spread out more, resulting in a softer light. Additionally, zooming the flash head in or out can create a narrower or wider beam, respectively.
However, it is important to be cautious when bouncing light off coloured surfaces. While white ceilings and walls are ideal for bouncing light, dark-coloured surfaces can still reflect some light and be used for bounce flash. Surfaces like brick or wood panelling may reduce flash output and drain batteries faster, while also adding a colour cast to the image.
In venues with low white ceilings, photographers commonly bounce their flash off the ceiling to illuminate their subjects. However, in locations with dark wood or painted ceilings, photographers must adapt by finding walls or other objects to bounce their light. For example, a photographer might bounce the flash off a wall to the side or behind them, creating a larger light source relative to the subject.
It is worth noting that in some cases, such as a nightclub with black walls and ceilings, bouncing the flash may not be effective, and photographers may need to rely on direct flash instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Off-camera flash gives you control over your light source, which is especially useful in low-light conditions or when you want to add drama to your images.
You will need a camera, a flash, and a way to trigger the flash. You can use a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera with good low-light performance and versatile, low-aperture lenses. For the flash, you can use a manual flash, speedlites, or a Speedlight flash with TTL capability and a diffuser.
Place your off-camera flash at a 45-degree angle to the subject, and use a MagGrid to control the spread of light. For bride shots, place the sun behind her and use the flash to light the front. For the groom, lower the ambient light so that the flash is the main light source.
Use a Custom Colour Temperature setting in-camera to balance the light. In tungsten-lit rooms, use orange gels to match the light.
Use a faster shutter speed to freeze action and turn on High-Speed Sync to capture kids running around and people dancing. Use your off-camera flash as a spotlight for the couple and speakers during toasts.
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