Multiple Flash Power | Ask David Bergman

Today's question from Jon S. is, “If I use two flashes side by side, does it increase flash power or coverage?” And another question from Ben W. “What‘s the difference between using a 300 w/s flash vs using a 600 w/s one at half power? For example, if I shoot most of my flash photography in a small home studio, why would I need a light with more power output than 300 watt-seconds, since that will light most normal-sized rooms? Am I missing something?”
Go to www.AskDavidBergman.com to submit your own photo question, see David's gear list, and view the episode archive.
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#flashphotography #lightingtutorial #adorama
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00:00 Intro
01:23 Take your flash off the camera
01:55 Mount two flashes together
02:35 Fire two flashes at the same time
03:00 Why use multiple flashes at once
04:44 Why do you need more flash power
05:17 Advantages of using lower power flash
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Recommended Videos:
Mixing Flash Brands and Triggers | Ask David Bergman
• Mixing Flash Brands an...
Guide Number vs Watt Seconds | Ask David Bergman
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@photo2000]

David is one of the most accurate, clear and concise photography educators on KZbin. Another excellent Q&A!!

[@DickBudnik]

Shooting a higher power flash at a lower power setting also gives a shorter flash duration which can be desired for freezing very fast motion.

[@dribblegoo6808]

Exactly the point that I was going to make...

[@zenphotojourney]

I was going to say that but you beat me to it. 🙂

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

In most cases yes, but some flashes are the opposite. Check the manual.

[@benpeterson3847]

I use flash with extra power, and often at 1/8 of the power. Mostly because it give me a shorter flash burst, and therefore is better to freeze motion

[@bennoa3968]

Awesome answers! Got already two out of 1 question! Thanks a lot David Bergman and Adorama (and all your other great hosts) for all those videos and streams! I seriously appreciate all of them!

[@mpassibarros]

Thank you David for putting together this video, it clear many of my old questions

[@arbee1958]

Hi David - I have 2 godox AD600's and a Trio of V860mk2 Speedlights ... LOVE the big units on location or when I'm using my large gridded strip boxes or 75" White lined umbrellas ... When starting out with a 60cm soft box and a speed light it's fine - but as you move to full length portraits , large groups ... every stop becomes critical I find shooting a 160cm long strip soft box soaks up many stops of light energy with each configuration ... The box loses a full stop with both diffusers , another 2/3 stop with a grid and if I want to place it more than a meter or so away or add gels - even more ... a speedlight just doesn't cut it . Also in a long shoot with speed lights you eventually hit overheating as a problem if operating at more than 1/4 power and particularly if shooting ETTL or HSS. Another often neglected aspect is the bare bulb of the studio units that seems to help make the light that much more even. I often find myself shooting using flash at the beach ... in full sun - with my AD600 I can light someone 10m away using a parabolic reflector and keep the flash gear well away from the water

[@tylerHphoto]

Great explanation! TH

[@pattymattes7124]

I discovered that shooting at a lower power shortens flash duration which is helpful for catching action. Thanks for another great video!

[@daletaylor2433]

A couple of items here. 1) Some comments below re duration. Generally true, but NOT ALWAYS. Read your flash manual (hopefully before buying if that is important). 2) In same vein, some speedlights have maximum durations of 1/200. While my fastest sync is 1/250, using it by rote robs me of 20% of my power there. 3) Flexibility is also an issue. 6 speedlights are more versatile than one unit with 6 times their power. Try to split that one into 6 lights for a multi light set-up. If ganged together you can still get advantage of scale and run them all at, say, 1/4 power rather than full. Depends on what you are doing and what you do most.....

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

All great points, thanks!

[@christianmejia4839]

Thank you.

[@mikek1681]

I shoot real estate and always go in with my 600ws TTL strobe, and a handful of speedlites, all with radio triggers. You can never have too much light.

[@darlingtoncd]

Hi David, you're probably aware that Rotolight (here on youtube) produce a RGB LED highspeed sync flash with the Titan (costly) and their NEOii (not as powerful) which has the benefit of constant light but also can be used in flash mode (NO recycle time). The future is LED combined Flash units...they're getting there👍

[@derekbell-jack9929]

the flash duration is better for stopping action at the lower output levels too

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

With most flash systems, yes. But not all.

[@brianbudd803]

There is an issue when using a strobe that is to large for size of the studio. Even at the lowest setting, the entire room is lite. Controlling the spill , moving the strobe far enough away and directing the light correctly can be challenge. Strobes are manufactured in different power outputs to match the shooting environment.

[@stephengatley8144]

What you can do in that environment is scrim off your walls with a black cloth to cut the light down, you can also get scrim panels.

[@photonsonpixels]

On the question 300 vs 600, another advantage of using 600 at half power would be faster flash duration isn’t it? ie it would freeze the action of moving objects a bit better. Is that correct?

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

For MOST flash systems, yes. But some work the opposite way. Check the manual.

[@mkshffr4936]

Is there a generalized equation for added flash units? For example if you have one flash with guide number of 150 and another of 80 can you calculate the equivalent guide number of the two in combination?

[@ihknilsen]

Excellent information for us noobs!! As always #adorama #CreateNoMatterWhat also everyone come over and join the AdoramaXP Discord for more great conversation, ideas, and troubleshooting!!

[@AaronShaHome]

Great video. How to put 3 speedlite in one modifier softbox?

[@kesienaojakovo2545]

Can i use a speed light and strobe at the same time

[@edwardacallender]

To make things a bit easier on my flashgun I will often raise the ISO to 400 as opposed to leaving it on 100. Still noise free but also can mean the flashgun can use 1/16th power or less so a faster flash duration. Good for freezing motion if necessary.

[@Neopulse00]

Missed ya David.

[@b991228]

If you are using flash outdoors or at a concert and you are planning on allowing ambient light to contribute to the final shot will that mean that less flash power is needed? Will gels be needed to match the flash & ambient kelvin?

[@eddieteabagify]

Yes and yes all other things equal.

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

I wound't use flash at a concert, but from a technical standpoint.... It depends how much ambient there is. In bright daylight, you'll need a lot of power to even be able to see the effect. But at night with minimal stage lighting, you don't need much power at all - especially when shooting at higher ISOs.

[@randyfox5317]

Bonus: that 3rd light doesn't have to be on the models front. It can be a rim light from the back, or a light on an interesting background behind the model.

[@soumoyadeepkundu3079]

Please make a video about different between speed light power vs more power full waats light like ad200 300 or up I want to tell you that suppose i have one ad200 and one godox 685 flash or v1 or 860 .if my main light is ad200power and my subject exposed properly at power of 1/64 of ad200 and as we know rim light shoud be one or 2 stop higer tha main light but then the power will be 1/32 or 1/16 between two.but my rim light is 685 flash which is less wart power than ad200. My question is here then this power ration dose work???? Because my main light wat is 200 and speed light power way less from 200wtt or 76wt around something.

[@denzilmason5551]

I have a nikon D 750 Camera i try to shoot with out using flash but if i am using a flash what trigger would you recommend with the nikon sb800 flash

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

I generally stick with the same system so use the Nikon trigger.

[@denzilmason5551]

Thank you David much appreciated.

[@inphotoframeStudio]

I m trying lots of time multi flash for indoor Shoot and outdoor shoot But not get properly result Plz make some more videos on multi flash more then 3 flash ❤️ From India

[@DavidBergmanPhoto]

Submit it at www.AskDavidBergman.com

[@DH-kx7ej]

Godox AD 1200 solves all these Problems :-)

[@stephengatley8144]

Jesus i'm already lugging a 20kg backpack & X300 roller bag the 1200 is overkill for all but High End Fashion!.

[@cosmo0080]

i never take my flash to the limit not a smart thing to do blessing

[@inlocoparentis]

I used to max out my flashes, but I stopped doing that.

[@ghanacuty]

First commenter. 😍

[@slavkodochome8087]

Using a 600w flash at half power reduces the life of the lamp less than using a 300w flash at full power.

[@unkreativnet]

how the f*k did you set the lights so that there is no reflection on your galsses???? :-)

[@Rupemannen]

Maybe a polarizing filter on the lens.