1
Light quality Not all light is made
equal. When choosing your flash
heads, think about the reliability, size,
modifiers, weight and cost of the units.2
One at a time When setting
up your lighting, test every light
separately, and you’ll be able to see the
effect each is having on your subject.3
Consider the outcome Before
you start, consider what you want to
achieve, the type and quality of light, and
the feel. This will inform your choices.4
Modify your modifier Many
modifiers can be manipulated
further to help refine the light that
you’re shaping.5
Experiment Don’t limit yourself
to the ‘how to’ of a setup – if you
think the light would look better from a
different angle, move it.6
Modelling light Your modelling
light will allow you to see the
direction of the light and location of the
shadows before you fire your flash.7
Go with your gut It’s easy to read
instructions and set up ‘correctly’, but
work with what feels right to you, even if
it’s not strictly correct.9
Use what you have Not
everyone has the budget or space
for multi-light setups, so use reflectors,
boards or tinfoil in place of fill light.8
Start simple Lighting doesn’t need
to be overcomplicated. Starting with
one light and building up is the best way
to approach your lighting setup.10
Cut out ambient light
Controlling the light will simplify
your settings, so block out any ambient
light that might change during a shoot.Flash hacks
10 top tips for using flash, and
how to deal with the challengesSubtly in style
a much more subtle triangle
can be seen in the short side
of the face in this image, this
is created by feathering the
light more and adding some
fill back using a reflectorTECHNIQUES
1
LightqualityNotalllightismade
equal.Whenchoosingyourflash
heads,thinkaboutthereliability,size,
modifiers,weightandcostoftheunits.2
OneatatimeWhensetting
upyourlighting,testeverylight
separately,andyou’llbeabletoseethe
effecteachishavingonyoursubject.3
ConsidertheoutcomeBefore
youstart,considerwhatyouwantto
achieve,thetypeandqualityoflight,and
thefeel.Thiswillinformyourchoices.4
ModifyyourmodifierMany
modifierscanbemanipulated
furthertohelprefinethelightthat
you’reshaping.5
ExperimentDon’tlimityourself
tothe‘howto’ofasetup–ifyou
thinkthelightwouldlookbetterfroma
differentangle,moveit.6
ModellinglightYourmodelling
lightwillallowyoutoseethe
directionofthelightandlocationofthe
shadowsbeforeyoufireyourflash.7
GowithyourgutIt’seasytoread
instructionsandsetup‘correctly’,but
workwithwhatfeelsrighttoyou,evenif
it’snotstrictlycorrect.9
UsewhatyouhaveNot
everyonehasthebudgetorspace
formulti-lightsetups,sousereflectors,
boardsortinfoilinplaceoffilllight.8
StartsimpleLightingdoesn’tneed
tobeovercomplicated.Startingwith
onelightandbuildingupisthebestway
toapproachyourlightingsetup.10
Cutoutambientlight
Controlling the light will simplify
your settings, so block out any ambient
light that might change during a shoot.Flash hacks
10 top tips for using flash, and
how to deal with the challengesSubtly in style
a much more subtle triangle
can be seen in the short side
of the face in this image, this
is created by feathering the
light more and adding some
fill back using a reflectorTECHNIQUES