Flash vs. Continuous Lighting: Which is Right for You?

Photographers often debate whether to use flash or continuous lighting, and each option has a direct impact on the appearance and mood of your photographs, as well as affecting the convenience of your workflow.

Coming to you from Brandon Woelfel, this insightful video demonstrates the practical differences between shooting portraits with flash and continuous lighting. Woelfel partners with Tina Eisen, each using the same setup, model, and composition but distinctly different lighting techniques. Eisen, experienced with flash, shows how flash lighting allows photographers to freeze motion sharply and use lower ISO settings, resulting in images with clear, precise textures and reduced noise. Her demonstration emphasizes how flash can sculpt and define features effectively, making it ideal for crisp, dramatic portraits.

In contrast, Woelfel showcases continuous lighting, highlighting its advantage of offering immediate visual feedback. This method allows you to see exactly how shadows and highlights interact with your subject in real-time, making it easier to adjust positioning and angles quickly. Woelfel prefers the warm, softer quality of continuous lighting, emphasizing how this method can naturally complement skin tones and fabric textures, creating a subtle and engaging aesthetic.

This side-by-side comparison offers a practical educational experience, helping you understand the strengths and limitations of each lighting method. Rather than promoting one approach as superior, Woelfel and Eisen encourage you to explore both types of lighting to expand your creative options. The comparison also illustrates how each lighting method affects photographic decisions like exposure settings, ISO levels, and shutter speeds. With flash, you typically have more flexibility to use lower ISO and faster shutter speeds, which help manage movement and produce sharper images. Continuous lighting, while potentially requiring higher ISO settings, offers easier adjustments and immediate clarity on how the final image will look, benefiting photographers who prefer an intuitive, hands-on workflow or who aren't very experienced with flash. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Woelfel.

If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"