How to Create Subtle Light With Off-Camera Flash

When you think of using artificial light for portrait photography, you might think of it being a calculated, obvious aesthetic, but often, using flash is more about creating a subtle, understated effect that makes your images more balanced and well exposed. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use artificial light to create an elegant effect for an eye-catching photo. 

Coming to you from Jiggie Alejandrino, this awesome video tutorial will show you how to use artificial light for a subtle effect. As you will see, using flash is not always about overwhelming the ambient light totally; sometimes, it is actually about complementing the ambient light to create a more balance image. For example, you may have a beautiful sunset you wish to pose the couple in front of, but to expose it properly, you need to significantly underexpose your subjects. Adding a bit of flash to bring the exposure on them back to the right level can help you create the best possible image. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Alejandrino. 

If you would like to really dive into lighting for portraits, be sure to check out our range of premium tutorials in the Fstoppers store.

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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