In our last newsletter, I discussed a few simple techniques you can employ with your flash to make it easier to use, and to help you get better photos. This time, I want to introduce a few products available which can also help you achieve better results when using flash.

Wireless Triggers
If your camera does not have the capability to trigger a flash wirelessly or you want to trigger your flash beyond your camera’s abilities, a set of radio triggers is going to be your best friend. Removing your flash from your camera and changing the light’s position around your subject will help you create more dynamic lighting. There are many brands of triggers that are reliable and are as simple to use as attaching it to your flash and camera and turning them on. At the professional level, you will find Pocketwizard. They have been making radio triggers for a long time and make very reliable products. This is why you will find them in most professional photographer’s bag. A Pocketwizard transceiver (sends and receives signal) can set you back from $109.99 and up per unit (two are required for use), depending if you get the most basic model or step up to the TTL capable and more advanced models. Cactus wireless triggers are more affordable and are reliable as well with a set starting at $99.99 and up from there. Most notably, the Cactus triggers will have a shorter working range, and may have a harder time communicating if there is no clear line of sight between the triggers.

Flash Modifiers
Anything that changes the shape or controls the light from your light source is considered a modifier. There are lots of different types and styles of modifiers ranging from small and portable to incredibly large. When choosing a modifier, the first thing to decide is how you want your light to look and secondly, in what situation you will be using your flash. For events, weddings, or any scenario where you need one modifier that will cover a wide range of situations, a flash bounce is an excellent choice. The more popular products on the market are Rogue Flashbenders and GaryFong Lightspheres. Both are incredibly versatile, easy to use, and will give the look of a flash bounced off a ceiling even when there might not be one to bounce off of! Alternatively, an easy and cost effective option is the Speedlight soft boxes starting at 10cm x 10cm and gets larger from there. The Speedlight soft boxes fold up and are very easy to transport in your bag. From here, you can move into umbrellas, beauty dishes, and larger soft boxes (2 – 3 feet on the long edge) which are ideal for shooting portraiture, still life, or anything that you do not mind packing around extra equipment to shoot. A large softbox will create a very soft light with soft shadows while a silver reflective umbrella will give your shadows a harder edge while keeping a soft light. A beauty dish will provide a harder light with more contrast but still maintain excellent control over the direction of light.

Support
Once you take your flash off your camera and mount your new favourite modifier to it, you need to have a support to hold the flash so you can focus on shooting and not your arm getting tired from holding your flash. A light stand will range in size from a small short 2 foot high background kicker stand to 10’ and higher. Pricing varies as well with less sturdy and shorter stands starting at $24.99 and up. The more expensive stands will be sturdier, have better locking mechanisms, and a greater maximum height. Another alternative is a flash cold shoe which you can mount to most tripods. If you are going to use a larger softbox, umbrella or other larger modifier, you will need the appropriate mount. For umbrellas, you will need an umbrella swivel to hold your flash and umbrella before mounting it to the light stand. If you are using a softbox, you will need a speed ring in order to mount your softbox to your light or light stand.

Many of the products I talked about might sound complicated and not worth the hassle to some. But with the right modifier and technique, using flash can help bring your photos to another level. Anytime you want to know more about lighting modifiers or flash photography drop by one of our four locations and talk to one of our knowledgeable employees. Leave us a message on social media, or send us an email!