Flash Photography: How to Use Off Camera Flash (For Beginners)

[@sergiogomezphotography]

Thank you Vanessa, I knew most of this information but you are such a good instructor I'd watch you teach how to make a cup of tea. : )

[@VanessaJoy]

sergio gomez haha I do make a mean cup of tea

[@engmax3375]

Yeasss.. i was literally learning on this topic. And here i am blessed by Vanessa joy... Cheers ✌️✌️

[@VanessaJoy]

Perfect! Glad to help!

[@maf3695]

Ahhh! Set the camera exposure for scene and flash for you people. Camera is for the ambiance. Flash is for people, yes?

[@VanessaJoy]

You got it :)

[@jameswilliamson7288]

Thank you for this video. Off camera flash was a mystery to me and I needed it broken down in simple terms. Finally I've found a tutorial for beginners. 🙏

[@VanessaJoy]

Glad it helped!

[@jonathang9631]

You're saving my life here... lost our photographer and have to do a big shoot myself with OCF for the first time in my life. Bought all your guides, diving in. THANK YOUuuuuu

[@VanessaJoy]

Best of luck!!

[@jonathang9631]

@@VanessaJoy It worked! I spent a couple days with your OCF courses, and we had the best shoot ever. Even tried the "flash yourself" technique at the end and every photo was amazing. Like, no edits needed. Thanks so much Vanessa, you're a great teacher.

[@lolabanky3305]

Thank you so much! new to photography' I have a shoot tomorrow and need help with my Profoto B10. Well! you explained how to get started so well, I followed along with my tiger and B10 on hand, I feel so confident for the morning shoot. Wish me luck! I subscribed and of course thumbs up. GRATITIDE!

[@MichaelRippas]

Thank you very much Joy, your explanations are really fantastic, even if I know the technology of the flash units, it is a great pleasure to listen to you and I have the feeling that I am still learning a lot because you can explain it so clearly. Thanks a lot!

[@VanessaJoy]

Fantastic! Happy to hear it :)

[@joelh1950]

Some one should make a transmitter that will work with multiple brands of flashes .

[@soverycarrie7626]

Wow... you did a great job explaining!! I've been practicing so much...but now I can try your tips! Thank you

[@ba553y]

Glad I made it here. I'd really like a video, like you mentioned, that shows how to shoot with OCF and it blends so well, you can hardly tell the difference.

[@miguelfloresphoto]

Excellent video and LOVE your channel! Liked and subbed! And THANK YOU for addressing the HSS power loss @16:34. Another YTber said he uses a sensor ND filter to stop down 6 and he can shoot outdoors, full sun, and stay under his sync speed.

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks for being here! Yes ND filers are a great option too ☺️

[@miltphoto3336]

2 years later and it is still very informative. You have a great way of explaining things. I will be buying your book. THANK YOU !

[@VanessaJoy]

Thank YOU!! Means a lot to me!

[@justanothermanful]

Thank you Vanessa for this very straight forward beginner-friendly explanation! :) although lol @ 13:03 :D :D :D

[@VanessaJoy]

Lol we ALL do it

[@shirleyhuang4958]

I‘m going to be a brand planner in a company producing flashes, but I know nothing about photography/camera. Your videos are so informative. Now I understand the function of these flashes.

[@VanessaJoy]

Happy to hear it

[@milliebucks6050]

Thank you Straight to the point 📌🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@lauriegreer1466]

Thank you! I could not understand why I would get a dark shadow in the bottom portion of my photo! Now I know! Don’t go over 200 sync! Thank you so much!

[@VanessaJoy]

Glad I could help!

[@amandamacphee2235]

Question: what settings would you suggest if you had to shoot a ceremony at night? Especially the procession and recession with all that movement, and the shutter speed not being able to exceed 200

[@VanessaJoy]

I’d probably use off camera Flash or an off camera video light with a grid. If that wasn’t allowed then it’s higher ISO and a wide open aperture. While they were standing still during the Ceremony I would go below 200th of a second on my shutter speed

[@PIXELvoiz]

like the way you said "through the lens" with little dance 11:09 😀

[@VanessaJoy]

haha

[@kenharnish5778]

Enjoy the videos, enjoy your positive energy. I'm just starting out. What kind of camera is that you had?

[@VanessaJoy]

Canon F1 :)

[@jimm.leonardo]

Hi Thanks. I love your content about flash photography

[@VanessaJoy]

My pleasure!

[@delipviswanandan5513]

Brilliant. Thank you

[@QLFProductions]

I like how you explain, now I need to find your explanation of where to actually place the flash when off camera as this is my biggest concern. Every video I've seen so far explains it as trial and error.

[@VanessaJoy]

I have lots of videos on that. Check out this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLsXiwWyXBJianUH5jfR336BYWSa_avvVg

[@QLFProductions]

@@VanessaJoy ThankYou

[@lalaishadove2223]

How do you determine where you place the off camera flash when taking pictures? Thanks!

[@VanessaJoy]

Lalaisha Dove check back next week for one of my FAV easy light placements and tricks!

[@deenugent473]

You are so charming! Thank you Vanessa for the tip and explanation.

[@VanessaJoy]

My pleasure ☺️

[@MaryD321]

This was a great video, so clear and helpful - THANK YOU!

[@VanessaJoy]

My pleasure 😇

[@pattymattes7124]

Thank you!!! I can't wait until the next installment. I want my flash to look natural especially outside. I'm looking forward to getting your book!!!

[@VanessaJoy]

Patty Mattes yayyyy

[@adipop]

Learn something new 👍😄👍

[@VanessaJoy]

Glad to hear that ☺️

[@maf3695]

First

[@VanessaJoy]

you're THE BEST!

[@maf3695]

Vanessa Joy thank you! But that title belongs to you and Rob!

[@lamarcy]

Very informative video. Thanks for sharing. I have a question regarding this subject. What white balance should one use when shooting with flash? Should we use AWB or Flash mode? How about when shooting in daylight with flash? I would really appreciate any information you can provide on this matter. I don’t use flash at the moment because is very confusing to me. Skin tones come out horrible.

[@gm010379]

THANKYOU...

[@bioliv1]

Amazing! I've been watching so many male videos on flash, and just become more confused, and then comes a woman and makes it all so easy.

[@VanessaJoy]

Yeah we tend to do that 😉

[@NiniRockX]

Agree !

[@jeanettesheets2556]

thanks michelle for the awesome tips

[@VanessaJoy]

lol I'm Vanessa, but I'm sure Michelle is awesome too ;-)

[@73puka]

Toe pick. Lol if u know the movie. Lens cap

[@VanessaJoy]

Haha I do!

[@gailware3779]

Thanks love those ideas 🥰🥰🥰

[@VanessaJoy]

Happy you do!

[@abchappell01]

This is an excellent presentation :)

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much

[@walterbosschaerts129]

X

[@kencrisp6333]

Vanessa...your videos are a joy to watch (no pun intended!). You probably intended to make a basic OCF video, but I think you left-out several points that would be good to know...even for people new to OCF. You covered exposing for the ambient light before setting-up the flash exposure. You then covered setting-up TTL flash and going to manual mode, if necessary. And you touched on shooting in high speed sync (HSS) mode. The topic of shooting OCF can get complicated, but even at the basic level, I think it would have been good to mention how to control the balance between the ambient light and the OCF light if they wanted to go outside the TTL camera settings. When shooting up to your specific camera's max flash sync speed, the camera's shutter speed will control the brightness of the ambient light only and won't affect the flash exposure (because the flash duration is much shorter than the shutter speed). The lens aperture controls the flash brightness only. When shooting in HSS mode, however, both aperture and shutter speed affect the flash exposure. This would be good to know when one's photos aren't exposed as expected when shooting with OCF. I also shoot with Profoto lighting and feel that their menus and controls are much more simple and easy to understand and use than the other flash/strobe brands. I believe beginners will find using non-Profoto flash units more complicated to grasp, because the settings are not as straightforward. Looking forward to more videos from you! :)

[@jl1515]

Wow. This was the best short and sweet master off camera flash class. Thank you so much for the amazing video. I thought I knew off camera flash pretty well until I saw this video.

[@jon112media]

Hi Vanessa! I just got an ocf system and was wondering how ttl works off camera. Member knew there was a pre-flash. Thanks for the explanation!

[@berniestang2616]

Love your tutorials !! Great explanations for us beginners .

[@captaintendean4116]

“To do like a BRRRRRTTTT...” IM LIVING FOR THIS

[@VanessaJoy]

Lmao. I thought it was fairly accurate 😂

[@peterlemke3468]

@@VanessaJoy l thought that was the sound of you machine gunning your 1DX. Spray and pray baby lol. Going to miss that when all cameras are mirrorless.

[@VanessaJoy]

I don’t spray and pray. But thanks.

[@billx4266]

please make a on camera flash video

[@VanessaJoy]

Here are some I’ve made: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpyoi6JqnZmWaKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4eVknSXgJadjbM kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3PPeY2lftl2ec0

[@billx4266]

@@VanessaJoy thanks beauty and happy newyear

[@wellwhatthen10101]

It's on order

[@VanessaJoy]

wellwhatthen10101 woohoo! Have fun!

[@70sroomreviews14]

Hold the phone! You mean you are a KZbin female photographer, who shoots with a Canon, and actual shoots with strobes (not natural light only photographer)??? Holy smokes, yes!!!!

[@VanessaJoy]

Lmfao. I know right? Unicorn status over here 😉

[@70sroomreviews14]

Vanessa Joy however one question please? Just wondering why so many female photographers use Canon? Do you feel woman are more prone to imitate other female photographers? I mean, yea men do it to, but the force is strong with the Canon brigade. Mind you brand truly is irrelevant. The photographer with talent will produce great images regardless of what logo is on their camera. Why do you think so many woman do natural light photography only? Also, you need way more followers. How is it that natural light only female photographers like Jessica Kobessi and Irene Rudnuyk have so many followers? They are not even close to being on the same skill set level as you. I wish you the best.

[@VanessaJoy]

Reddon Harper LoL my friend this sounds like a convo best had over drinks :) not sure of the answers on most of those things but I’ve only been at YT for about three months now and those other YTers have been working quite a bit so they should have more than me. But if you’d like to help share me around that would be lovely!

[@70sroomreviews14]

Vanessa Joy that answer was way too politically correct. I thought after the Fro bash video you and myself had the same mind set (the over the top ego of many KZbin photographers being just too much for their limited skill set in the real world). I think new photographers in general are too influenced by these no creditable work self professed KZbin PRO photographers. I was hoping you were a new breath of fresh air in the KZbin photographer community. Now I am not too sure. 😫🥺

[@VanessaJoy]

Reddon Harper just bc I won’t have a full blown discussion via YT comments?? Common now...

[@TonyMellinger]

Great video! I just bought the Canon 470EX-ai for my first flash and I like it but apparently you can't use it with a transmitter... so it's going back. Thanks for the intro tutorial!!

[@VanessaJoy]

Really?? I’m surprised, but then maybe not bc that flash is definitely made for people who aren’t super advanced in flash so putting a receiver in there would raise the price out of that demographic’s price range

[@TonyMellinger]

Vanessa Joy yep. Agreed ha. Do you have any experience with the Godox flashes? I am a videographer but see a lot of the wedding photographers I work with mention those. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@VanessaJoy]

Only bad misfiring, color shifting experiences

[@TonyMellinger]

Vanessa Joy 😬 good to know! Thanks! Keep up the great content. Appreciate you!

[@NiniRockX]

I don't know, I looked at various photographers who explain the Profoto Light System. But you just make that stand out. Thank you, Vanessa, and stunning images. If you give workshops in the future I would like to learn from you. But first I bought your book.

[@VanessaJoy]

Wow, thanks!

[@stephv9949]

This has been the best explanation I've watched so far. thank you. Keep doing these videos.

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks, will do!

[@muratbasc8302]

Most people who are explaining using flash act like everyone already know all the basic terms when they trying to explain flash usage. A very helpful video from this point.

[@VanessaJoy]

I found the exact same problem when I was trying to learn flash! Trying to do the opposite here :)

[@automationintothings]

Nicely explained for a difficult subject matter. Thank you for the tutorial !!

[@VanessaJoy]

Happy u like

[@rahelfoto1914]

I'm learning about off flash camera photography and, by far your video explains exactly how I want to learn. Thank you so much Vanessa Joy

[@VanessaJoy]

So happy to hear it!

[@JasonYergin]

I've never thought much about trying flashes but I just ordered a reflector 🙂and so it begins

[@VanessaJoy]

Yay have fun!

[@noelwhitman1788]

Did you upgrade to the A1X?

[@VanessaJoy]

Yes I did :)

[@noelwhitman1788]

@@VanessaJoy I'm contemplating it myself, but they dropped the price on the dual kit A1 to 1k. I didn't buy the B2's either. :) Thank you for the response. You have a great channel.

[@VanessaJoy]

Noel Whitman happy you’re here!

[@michaelanderberg]

As always an extremely well made video! Thanks! Just a question - do you want us to adopt #ItsNotSunItsProfoto to make it spread - or do you rather keep it for yourself? :)

[@VanessaJoy]

Feel free to use it :)

[@augustobenjamin9749]

Was that a TTL dance? Is that a Vanessa Joy thing? lol Great video BTW. For the record I hate strobes and flash, but they are a necessary evil!

[@VanessaJoy]

Lol gotta dance where I can

[@nathanschwade5555]

I have your book and this video was very nice review. I do have a question about step one. When you were setting your exposure before turning on the transmitter are you in manual mode? Or does the camera shift into a manual mode once the transmitter is turned on? Just curious how it maintains aperture ISO and shutter speed? I shoot Sony alpha 9 and have a prophoto Ax 1 on the way. Ty!

[@VanessaJoy]

My camera is in manual the entire time. If you’re not comfortable with manual yet, use whatever program you’d like and then just copy that exposure to your manual settings. :)

[@tacotaco7658]

Awesome, simple explanations and tips on TTL for the 1st photo then tweak for the power after. Thks

[@VanessaJoy]

You got it!

[@worldofentertainment250]

Thank you Vanessa, Amazing. Your photos on the intro look fantastic.

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much ☺️

[@MVaseghi]

Great content Vanessa! And you are mesmerizingly beautiful.

[@VanessaJoy]

So sweet, thanks! Glad you like and thanks for subscribing :)

[@mikemoe6433]

Excellent video Vanessa ... I just subscribed. 👍

[@VanessaJoy]

so happy to have you here!

[@julianroberts9544]

Thanks for this Vanessa. An on-camera version of this would be very welcome.

[@VanessaJoy]

Ooooo good idea

[@kellyorosco4169]

Thanks for the video Vanessa! Just saw your class at Imaging and it was so insightful!! You are a great teacher, make it so simple. I was trying to remember about what you said about white balance for using flash. Do you always keep it at 5600 K? of 5900K?

[@VanessaJoy]

Kelly Orosco thanks for coming!! So the light is 5600k, but I like a slightly warmer image so I usually set it to 5900k :)

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Thanks, Vanessa! The photos you showed during this presentation are gorgeous. And... Congratulations on your new "Explorer of Light" opportunity!

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much 😊 I’m so excited

[@cindyfields6076]

I love your teaching style. thanks so much, I feel more comfortable now with off camera flash.

[@VanessaJoy]

So happy to hear it!! I think you’ll like this video next: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpTVlKWHl7KMeM0

[@davesabin1157]

Cool, thanks! I learned something new! Now I just need to pick up my camera!

[@VanessaJoy]

Go for it!

[@ianjohnstone1061]

Well Done Vanessa - a Real pleasure 2 view. & will sub. Cheerz fum AU.

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much!! Cheers 😊

[@bretwalley4673]

You date your bodies, you marry your lenses and lighting.

[@VanessaJoy]

Haha I love that

[@vinhgolf]

thank you..now i can understand more about using the flash.

[@VanessaJoy]

You are most welcome

[@juliastreich84]

Thank you so much for providing this! Can't wait to apply your lesson to practice

[@VanessaJoy]

Yay so happy it’s helpful for you!

[@clbd39]

Love it! thanks for the explanation! Vannessa Joy = one of my Most favorite photography teachers! :D

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so so 🥰

[@remoniffelerphotography]

💯 😉

[@VanessaJoy]

😊

[@rmr046]

you should have been my math teacher . you are great teacher.

[@VanessaJoy]

haha , actually, my high school geometry teacher is one of my motivators in teaching :-) thanks!

[@timbyron7320]

Thank you Vanessa. Glad this came up on my feed. Just starting to use off camera flash now.

[@VanessaJoy]

Tim Byron perfect! I made this just for you 😊

[@viciwo3396]

Great tutorial as always!. I've already ordered your book through Amazon and hope to have it in April or hopefully sooner.

[@VanessaJoy]

Yay!! Can’t wait for that to be in your hands 😊

[@jessicamorrisy8996]

Can’t wait for your book!!! 💜💜 you are the master!

[@VanessaJoy]

Jessica Morrisy yay thanks!! I can’t wait either!

[@annieglendinning9827]

Great video - easy to understand! Thank you :)

[@VanessaJoy]

Glad you like!

[@geminiredcard]

Excellent Tutorial, thank you

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much 😊

[@AGag47]

Heard you on Fro's podcast, hope it gives your subscriptions a solid bump, you've earned it.

[@VanessaJoy]

Anny Bobanny ummm I’m not in a house. I’m in my studio where I meet with clients.

[@VanessaJoy]

Aw thx

[@PaulQuinones]

Great tutorial and as always, your photos are beautiful.

[@VanessaJoy]

Paul Quinones thank you so much 😊

[@250GTOAJ]

Well done, Thanks Vanessa, I am following you on instagram now too!

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much!! Means a lot to me :)

[@250GTOAJ]

@@VanessaJoy Most Welcome :)

[@drewrobertson6286]

Yes, today I choose joy, but not every day... I have an 11 year old daughter & that makes choosing joy everyday quite difficult... that was my “flash” news update, now back to our regularly scheduled programme..... with V is for Vanessa!

[@VanessaJoy]

😂 you’re the first person that noticed that sign :)

[@drewrobertson6286]

Vanessa Joy, I love stuff like that, small, Skuttle but huge at the same tyme, it made me smile! maybe I’m just the first to comment on it is all, let me just say one more thing Miss Joy, you rock girl, you rock! 🎸

[@drewrobertson6286]

Vanessa, one more thing, didja ever read comic books as a kid? Marvel used to give out “no prizes” to people who noticed things in the comics & wrote them a letter about it, maybe you could do “no prizes” as well sometimes.... as long as Marvel doesn’t sue you! 🤐

[@VanessaJoy]

No I haven’t! Cool idea

[@prasadperumalla7059]

Wonderful video. keep it up

[@VanessaJoy]

thanks for the love!

[@paulgalli6433]

I'm a hobbyist sports photographer that uses a 1DX Markii and love to see this camera used in the use in your style of photography and amazing photos BUT do you have any recommendations for something a little more budget friendly for flash? Your setup is amazing but for some of us that are starting out or experimenting with portrait pictures, I think Glass Glass comes before light setup. Just saying $1500 for one light vs a 50 or 85mm 1.2 would be first before 1 light. I currently have been using a basic cheap 2 soft box setup that came with fluorescent bulbs but have switched to led and getting better results but would like to use some strobe lights that aren't going to break the savings. Thanks

[@davidbrown_au]

Take a look at godox, they have a pro range of strobes that cost a lt less then other brands, but work great, check out the v1 flash, the ad 200pro pocket strobe & the ad400pro strobe.

[@VanessaJoy]

I would personally try to find older or used Profoto or canon speedlights before I went godox. Again, it’s about the eco system and where you want to be. And personally there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to learn flash with a system that misfires a lot... you can never tell if you’re doing something wrong or the flash is just acting up. The Profoto b2s are amazing strobes that you can find very cheap rn

[@davidbrown_au]

@@VanessaJoy I have never had a problem with mine misfiring, just use the correct batteries, & the close mode when using closer then 100 feet.

[@VanessaJoy]

Good to hear!

[@allanmarshall4582]

Nice video, love your enthusiasm.

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks so much 😊

[@allanmarshall4582]

@@VanessaJoy your are welcome

[@cassiwalden7415]

Thank you so much for this! It was super helpful. What would you recommend for dark receptions when your camera can’t find the focus for the image? I am currently using on camera flash. Of course the scene is well lit when the flash fires but the focus is off because it was dark until the flash went on. I feel like I’m having to trash so many images because of this.

[@VanessaJoy]

glad you like! So this can be a lot of things. What camera and lens are you typically using? And what focus mode/method? All play a part in you ability to focus quickly and easily.

[@cassiwalden7415]

Vanessa Joy I’m using Canon 6D mark II with a canon 24-70mm f2.8. I use the single point autofocus and normally select the the middle focus point then back button focus and recompose.

[@VanessaJoy]

Cassi Walden so try and not recompose, that will potentially cause your subject to slip out of the focus plane. Best to move your single point focus around to wherever you want to shoot

[@cassiwalden7415]

Vanessa Joy I will definitely try that. I was thinking my solution would be a constant lighting system so it could find what I’m aiming to focus on rather than just guessing in the dark.

[@VanessaJoy]

Cassi Walden does flash have a good flash assist?

[@drachenarchiv]

Well done !

[@VanessaJoy]

Thanks 😊

[@TheFamilyMan12]

Great Vanessa...please continue, please for part two! :-)

[@VanessaJoy]

kastrola12 I will! What would you like to see me go over??

[@TheFamilyMan12]

@@VanessaJoy Shooting! :-)

[@TheFamilyMan12]

@@VanessaJoy Like to see shooting! Great to see you working with 1dx. Thanks

[@VanessaJoy]

Next week :) promise

[@victorbillups8450]

@@VanessaJoy Editing! I have you presets. Would you recommend editing a whole wedding with them?

[@teleking58]

You make it brighter or you make it darker blah blah blah....Your next T-Shirt Vanessa.

[@VanessaJoy]

Haha 🤣

[@Mr09260]

Thanks so much Vanessa ...I want to get up to speed for my Son's wedding in April ..and havent a clue how /what I can get out of my new Godox V1 and Godox Nikon Trigger ..I am not the Wedding photographer as I will be father of the Groom but I want a couple of off camera flash shots ...Reception etc great informative video coming at the right time for me

[@VanessaJoy]

Congrats!! That sounds like a fun thing to try - though I do suggest enjoying being the dad too!

[@peterlemke3468]

Just get out and practice as much as you can. Then using a flash will be second nature and not a mystery.

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

I like your way of making things simple. I heard that TTL stands fot Totally Terrible Lighting. Not true?

[@VanessaJoy]

Lmao not anymore it doesn’t