A Fundamental Off-Camera Flash Technique

A lot of photographers struggle when they first start working with off-camera flash. One of the most fundamental and crucial techniques you will need to master is balancing your strobes and ambient light. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to do just that.

Coming to you from FJH Photography, this great video tutorial will show you how to balance artificial light and ambient light when working with strobes. While in a lot of situations (particularly in the studio), you will want to cut out the ambient light entirely and light your subject solely with your strobes, there will be other times (such as location or outdoor work) in which you will want to use both the ambient light and the artificial light in tandem. This will allow you to include the surrounding environment in your shot to create more visual interest. However, when in such an environment, you can't expect your flash to light the entire scene; thus, you will need to use the flash for your subject while also maintaining an exposure for the ambient light to illuminate the rest of the scene. Once you figure it out, it will open a lot of creative opportunities. Check out the video above for the full rundown. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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4 Comments

Gotta take those advices and practice now, thanks for helping Francisco!

Very helpful article, thanks FJH for sharing your knowledge! You’re the best ! I’ve learned a lot from your BTS’s and tutorials!

Awesome info!

Thank you Francisco....love the way you simplify things.