How to take off camera flash portraits in 3 easy steps

[@NeilRedfern]

Please note that every off camera flash photograph in this video was taken with a shutter speed of 1/1250 - some of settings in the video say 1/200, which they were not. Sorry for any confusion!

[@malonephotography]

Understood.

[@catsasscafe1512]

Got ya. An amazing photographer you are my friend

[@AprilRawApril]

Using filter ?

[@Mark-Roche]

High speed sync ?

[@Jack-oc5ty]

If shutter speed is over the cameras synch speed HSs has to on for the flash to fire. I always have HSs engaged on my flash. It does nothing if my shutter speed is at or below synchspeed.

[@bepositivenow]

My God! I learned so much in this video than hours and hours watching other stuff. Amazing thank you!! BOOM! ❤

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much! That means a lot. I am really pleased you enjoyed it 😊

[@barkyvonschnauzer2188]

This has to be the most understandable education moment I have seen in a long time. Thank you, Neil.

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much!

[@jorgetapia1329]

What a easy way to explain how to work with flash! Im really new using flash and this video was absolutely amazing thanks Neil!

[@zbaudio178]

Better explained somewhere? nope, hands down and thank you for the extremely clear explanation! blessings!

[@robertdr2010]

Best explanation ever!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much!

[@nicolemulmore3335]

Best explanation and tutorial I've come across in a long time! Thanks Neil

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much!

[@Stealthphotography]

I like your style! Thanks for the lesson.

[@niallmorrissey3715]

Thanks soooo much for this. I bought my first flash yesterday (a Quadralite Pulse 800). This video, in its command of (and complete dismissal of) ambient light is an inspiration. And not a light meter in evidence! Your style of teaching is wonderful. I've been deep in learinng in the arena of large format photography, and I don't think that I've had a lesson as straightforward, direct, and helpful.

[@RHC_NYC]

You really did an amazing explanation here. Really looking forward to applying your techniques at tomorrow's shoot. Thanks for sharing!

[@pathfindercod4638]

Absolutely one of the best videos I've seen with great explanations. Thank you.

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much! That means a lot

[@enyce989]

Thank you brother! This is by far and beyond the best explanation I've ever heard.

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much!! That is honestly so nice to read - I really appreciate that

[@enyce989]

@@NeilRedfern absolutely my pleasure!

[@dimitri_6212]

This right here!! Absolutely beautiful!!! Such elegant portraits!! Thank you for such a great tutorial!!

[@mjjgythrrrf]

You are my inspiration to improve my skills. I have a lot of respect for you as a master photographer.

[@NeilRedfern]

That is very very kind, thank you 😊

[@qlogic74]

OMG you just made this so easy to understand. I have been taking landscapes for a while now and would like to get into portrait as well. I heard about off camera flash and was wondering how to do it. This was so helpful thank you very much!

[@AudaryaisticPhotography]

Excellent step by step instructions. Very well explained and demonstrated. I wish there was enough time during the actual event to do this, and that too, without an assistant. Everything is usually rush rush rush.

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much! I do agree, these things are always harder when the pressure is on and we have time restrictions. However, I promise that with practice, shots like these can be achieved very very quickly

[@FinesseMediaPro]

Thank you for this video, this was sooooo helpful and super easy to understand. Can’t wait to implement and see what I come up with. Curious though, is this also what you would do at night? Could you do another video at night??

[@kraft1954]

Amazing photo! Neill is an amazing photographer!😍👍👍👍

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much! 🙌

[@brittnez]

Five minutes and I already subscribed wow, just well

[@aureliorussellcano8028]

Top drawer once again Neil. You are a very talented man, both in photography and content. Many thanks 👏👏💪

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that

[@enixshen9604]

very useful tips. Thanks for sharing.

[@NeilRedfern]

My pleasure, thank you!

[@markglenday7291]

Hi Neil thanks for another awesome video, I am currently struggling with OCF and your explanation is easy to understand, Thank you. Mark from Australia

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much Mark! I am pleased you found the video helpful 😊

[@tylerjackson3847]

Neil wonderful instruction, can't wait to apply these steps.

[@lamirasaraswati4848]

Absolutely love the way you deliver all of the information ❤

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much!

[@boostedmaniac]

Your photography is always on another level Neil! Love your videos! Thanks for sharing.

[@NeilRedfern]

Too kind! Thank you very much

[@glenndavidphoto10]

I have only just discovered you through research in to Magmod. This is by far the most useful, understandable, and enjoyable explanation of OCF I have ever watched. I did get confused with the shutter speed but you addressed this in comments. I have never purchased anything of the back of KZbin channels but I will be definitely buying magmod for portability! Lovely photos of Darcie's wedding by the way. I have met and worked with Darcie in the past a true pro model. Thanks

[@luzye]

Thanks for sharing! I really enjoy your content. Greetings from Southern California!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much, I appreciate your support!

[@tinujeron33]

Those portrait shots 🔥

[@CarlosMvlog1]

The best video I ever watched thank you 🙏 for sharing your experience with us.

[@NeilRedfern]

That is so kind, thank you!

[@rickymcc8624]

Hi Neil, I'm new to your site and like what you showed in this vid. I do appreciate getting the background light exposure right, rather than ambient light as the darker feels adds mood. When it comes to OCF via a gridded softbox your approach delivers nicely. I use Godox flash too, but feel if you had an AD200 unit you would have more power to work with for a similar bulk. High speed sync does allow you to use higher shutter speeds which in turn are needed to reduce ambient light impact. But, HSS is a real drain on flash power. It may be worth considering something like a 3 stop ND allowing you to use flash without high speed sync (HSS). Separately, Godox do decent (good value) soft boxes that will fit straight onto a 'bare bulb's configured AD200. Or, if preferred, you can switch to a round head to fit other mods. Nowadays I quite like a PixaPro PakFlat 70 softbox in Bowens mount. More expensive but super fast to rig/collapse. Still easy to use with an AD200 via a Bowens bracket adapter. Anyway lots and lots of options, mostly all great value in the Godox ecosystem. If you have an assistant or want less mass on the end of a quick stick then AD200 (and larger 400 or 600 heads) can have batteries and capacitors split away from head and connected via lead. Anyway lots of options that can be useful to anyone using flash on location.

[@ladmanstudiosphotography]

Gold as always Neil!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much TJ! 🙌

[@waleedalmalki55]

Brilliant and creativity inspiring ❤ thank you so much

[@marchinderickx8193]

Great explanation with simple words; really appreciated!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much!

[@Cjp123-cjp]

What you showed n Wat you explained was superb n understood very easily sir thank you

[@hiteshpatel586]

Excellent Very detailed but simple to undestand the process. Thanks

[@NeilRedfern]

Very kind, thank you!

[@geraldinebryce594]

Love this set up, gorgeous photos. Really like you style and your videos are well explained ❤

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much Geraldine, very kind of you

[@YourBoyStevoVA]

What an amazing and educational video. Thank you. I am currently trying out flash with my photography.

[@NeilRedfern]

That's great - I hope you enjoy using flash!

[@YourBoyStevoVA]

@NeilRedfern thank you.. i am.

[@kingsleysunday881]

Nice one sir, I am new to photography. Please I will need more tutorials from you. Thanks

[@MrTabasamu]

This is so helpful. Have been struggling with this. Thanks a bunch!

[@Mark-Roche]

This is great but may I ask how do you see the screen as it will become dark. Kind regards Mark

[@LeosChannel3]

What a video. I’ve been watching these types for months, and you have just nailed all the steps and key decisions in a concisely and clear manner. Great teacher, gorgeous model, with an outstanding team. Kudos, thanks much. Keep them coming! JE

[@MrAgentElsewhere]

Wonderful clear concise. Thanks Neil! Beautiful work!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much 😊

[@ferramirez4668]

Amazing explanation. You have a new subscriber. Thank you

[@rolandfirman]

Do you have links to the flash/gears that you used for this video? Thanks for the simple explanation

[@qlogic74]

I am new to portraits I mainly shoot landscapes. So needless to say this is out of my wheelhouse but after running across this video I bought some flash equipment. Do you have recommended settings like flash sync speeds and setting the camera up to take photos like this. Maybe you already have a video? Thanks and I have watched alot of your videos alot of great info for sure 👍

[@justforfunphotography01]

Explained very well! Thank you!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you!

[@adenewton]

Great video Neil, well explained.

[@NeilRedfern]

Very kind, thank you

[@StakyAll]

Hi Neil, love all your videos but especially this one. Great explanation. One question, what white balance do you use please. I can’t get my head round how you keep the colour of the lights and also the colour temp of flash in the subject. Hope that makes sense, I’m new to all this

[@PatDesrochers-Photo-Video]

Very good tutorial. Did you use a CTO gel on the flash to match the lamp colour?

[@Biz_Kellam]

Good stuff, Neil! Muchos Mahalos from Hawaii!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much Biz! 🌊☀🙌

[@TonyMachin-f4b]

can i have more info about the quick stick and who from please

[@justray65]

Wow very impressive, good tutorial...Thank You

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much 😊

[@videojoy88]

What method do you use to set the white balance? Auto, tungsten, shadow, etc?

[@NeilRedfern]

I use manual white balance

[@KristoffWilson-r1j]

Amazing! Thank you!

[@sagardk6533]

man you explain very well, thank you from india..

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much!

[@LuiggiBenedetto]

Neil, when do you use the ND filter on the flash? Can you prepare a video for us on the use of ND in flash, please. Thanks greetings

[@NeilRedfern]

You would generally only use an ND filter on a speed light if you wanted less flash power than the minimum settings of the speedlight

[@calbalu51]

Fantastic demonstration. Cheers

[@NeilRedfern]

My pleasure, thank you

[@patrikhennebold4463]

hi Neil, great video... but I have a question... around min 4:17 you set the camera for the ambient light.... min 4:17 shows a picture F1.8, 1/200, ISO100...this pic looks good exposed... the room os bright... then you increase the time to 1/1250 and say that is the exposure you want... later at min 9:49 you show a picture with a darken room, model is well exposed with setting F1.8, 1/200, ISO100.... what I wonder is that the room is darken... more darken than at min 4:17 with the same setting..., why? many thanks, brgds Patrik

[@MsHONDON]

Great Video Neil. What is the handle used with the light stand called? Thanks

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much! The pole is called a QuickStik+ Telescopic Handle and I bought it from Adorama

[@patriciaterranova1074]

Was gorgeous

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you!

[@LisaRSArt]

Love your explanations and teachings. Thank you. ❤😊

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you so much Lisa!

[@jorgemonteiro5379]

Hi @NeilRedfern congratulation for Your vidéo very cool! I have one question for you😊 I see that the model have a great skin tone a bit yellow colo which it a great because the lights on the background are yellowish two so it seems that she is lit a bit with them, so my question is do you use a CTO gel on the flash? (Cause you still have a bit of day light on her from the windows) and if you do use a cto gel I presume that sh will be more blueish tone. What white balance have you set on your camera ?( cause you a bit of mix light speed light and natural light) thank you in advance for your response and great job I love your videos very useful 👍😀cheers

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much! No, I rarely do use gels - I probably should - but I like to shoot in manual WB and just make sure that I am happy with the skin tones. I can correct the rest in post. So, no, I rarely use correction gels, but that isn't to say you shouldn't, just that I am a bit lazy 😂

[@jorgemonteiro5379]

@@NeilRedfern thank you for answering me! :-) I don’t think you are lazy 😂 Gels maybe good in some situations ( I rarely use them myself to light people) but in your photoshoot maybe it´s better to change the WB to have great skin tone (that´s the most important subject t in the photo) by the way could you tell me in your photoshoot you have light with 3200k in the background (more or less) and 5600k with the strobe and daylight, do you mix the kelvins (5600+3200)/2 that give 4400k) so do you use 4400k on camera and then adjust in post, so you have great Gold skin tone that mix well with the lights on the background?

[@curtalexander7320]

Am I right that the crucial element in all this is the grid? It seems that the lighting set-up is almost a fragile thing, and that it collapses unless the grid is used. Theirs no way to preserve the softness of the background light without using the grid. Is that accurate?

[@aluby1441]

Neil Love this video and how you break it down, my question is if you shoot the same subject matter but don’t have your assistant holding high you’re magbox could you still get the same results if magbox is on a light stand with no assistant?

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you! Yes, you can use a lightstand instead of an assistant, however just be aware that unless you use a 'c stand' you are unlikely to be able to get the softbox at the same angle as I use in this video - so the direction of light will be slightly different

[@Isma-Menlu]

Amazing, thanks 😎

[@Sai-df4yt]

What is the distance from subject to flash approximately? And also can you make a video on how to expose/ light for backdrop when shooting model on backdrops

[@NeilRedfern]

You can see that in the video? It is very close. That is a good subject but goes in to studio photography, which is something which I do not do very much of. My suggestion would be to practice and work out what works best for you

[@romankorya]

Hi Neil - impressive as always! I have a question: what type of boom is the one with the grip holding the magmod?

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you! The pole is called a QuickStik+ Telescopic Handle

[@romankorya]

@@NeilRedfern Great! Thank you!

[@marcoscabreracastellano8652]

Thank you Neil

[@NeilRedfern]

My pleasure!

[@SonuSharma-ok5eh]

Fantastic job

[@Joysingod]

Very well done

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much

[@snelson4u]

On an actual wedding day, do you shoot in Manual or AP outside?

[@snelson4u]

What do you get when joining the monthly?

[@87dinab]

What light stand is the assistant using? Looks short. Don't see it linked.

[@NeilRedfern]

It is called a QuickStik+ Telescopic Handle

[@ovidan1]

Good job.

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you!

[@jorgemb3395]

thank you Neil! I end overheating my godox flashes when I use sync speed 😩 Any advice?

[@NeilRedfern]

I haven't experienced this. All I can suggest it to not shoot too fast if you are using your speedlights at high powers

[@TimothyBennett]

great job, the images are amazing.

[@Photojeniastudiomukono]

thank u chief

[@coinstarbon1693]

love it!

[@charlyduque8521]

Siempre quise hacer algo así y no entendía cómo hacerlo. Muchas gracias.

[@NeilRedfern]

Mi placer! Me alegra que hayas disfrutado el vídeo :-)

[@claudiasilvestre4597]

Great explanation!!! Thanks!

[@OkwyUgonweze]

This is a master at work. Very lovely job.

[@NeilRedfern]

Very very kind, thank you so much 🙌

[@agriplast]

You are the best

[@vapoimaging4429]

You are great 🤯

[@NeilRedfern]

Very kind, thank you

[@tonymarsh9282]

Where do we get the quick stick from Neil.

[@NeilRedfern]

Adorama in the US mate 😊

[@followfocusmedia25]

What was the white balance set to?flash,auto or what?

[@NeilRedfern]

I always use manual white balance and have it set to around 5800K

[@gharawala]

i have a question @time line 4:17 you said S/S 1250 and you says not changing any setting and @8:13 S/s 1/200 with off camera flash , explain me how come the soft box light power give in such low shutter speed , i am confused

[@NeilRedfern]

Please accept my apologies- you are correct, this is a mistake. All the off camera flash photos were taken at 1/1250th

[@rainerwunderlich8023]

@@NeilRedfern Neil, in using shutter speed of 1/1250 you are exceeding the flash sync time - don't you need HSS within TTL? I can't imagine right shutter speed of 1/1250 when flash power amounts 1/128 on manual. Please help me to understand. Thank you for the Vid - and kindly regards

[@NeilRedfern]

Sorry, I am not sure what you mean by "HSS within TTL" for the off camera flash shots in this video I used a flash power of 1/4 because I was shootig at 1/1250th which is HSS. If you are shooting in HSS you will need much more stronger flash powers. I hope this helps?

[@rainerwunderlich8023]

@@NeilRedfern I mean, I have to use high speed synchronization to get around the shutter speed limitation. Maybe I overlooked that in the video to sorry.Thanks for answer.

[@rainerwunderlich8023]

@@NeilRedfern Neil, thank you so much - it helps! Have a nice day 🙂 it's hard to be a photographer, the hardest to be a flasher...

[@ericlarson6180]

Some photographers recommend using ND filters vs High Speed Sync to overcome flash sync speed issue. Could you comment?

[@NeilRedfern]

A ND filter would do a good job in this situation so they are a good option. Personally I don't use them because, as a wedding photographer, I am used to working very fast in limited time, but there is certainly nothing wrong with using one :)

[@martinedwards3082]

subscribed,very good.

[@Teslien]

Ngl if you try watching this in lower resolution the quality drops alot compared to some a9iii videos. Great tips on the flash tho!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you 😊 I am confused though, this video is nothing to do with the A9iii?

[@Teslien]

@@NeilRedfern Lol I was watching your a9iii video and commented on the wrong one :P

[@GTMWC]

Did you gel your flash?

[@NeilRedfern]

No, I didn't in this example

[@sanalkumar5560]

Super class

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you!

[@hegemomusick]

Why did you have to use sync if you was shooting at 1/200 of sec and the sync speed of that camera is at 250 you got New subscriber. I would like to to hear your answer

[@graxxor]

His camera was set at 1/1250 not 1/200

[@igorcicala7]

video starts at 01:28

[@antony_reynolds]

wow!

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you very much

[@paigeofstylez]

@neil it's called penumbra, the graduation of the shadow area

[@NeilRedfern]

I did not know that! Thank you 😊

[@denizahmet2299]

I would be careful with softbox too high (especially for close-ups) - it leaves no or uneven catch lights in the eyes which it is a bit of a 'dead' look.

[@NeilRedfern]

Good point, I agree with you, this is important to avoid. I sometimes slightly tilt the softbox towards the subject or ask them to look up slightly

[@Gurpreet_Photographer]

everything explain is good but i see the image much darker then the natural light. you can use that i little bit, but whole process make photos so much darker .

[@NeilRedfern]

Thank you! I think you have to bear in mind that we all have our own styles - and that's good! Art is subjective. What you see as being too dark, I see as being just right, what I see as being too light, you see as being just right. We are all different 😊

[@ToTo-wk5rr]

多谢分享有用讯息

[@okyaratilla5194]

👏👏👏

[@dypestano5519]

Sir how about WB? Are you on auto?

[@NeilRedfern]

Manual ☺️