Simple Flash Portrait Photography Tips by Dom Bower

[slyfox540]

Thanks!

[CumulusSkies]

I, like some others, am pretty ignorant about how to program the "settings" on my speed light (SB600 - wish I had the SB900, BTW). Could you tell us more about your flash settings (and why you chose them) for different photographic scenarios?

Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. Cheers!

[MomentsExposedPhot]

great video!! very helpful!!!



[bendingsnake]

Also buy a model.



[mickeyfp]

Hi Dom,which flash gun would you recomend for portrait and just some general all round photoghraphy, i have a Nikon D50 and the D5000. keep up the good work,regards.

[2FoG2]

Dammti Dom not seen your films since a couple of weeks and now ost in youtube clips !!grrrr great vids all gotta love the fact you remove the"artwork"from your walls lol

[peterwatson12]

Love it!. Keep them coming.

[keape86]

Very nice tutorial. keep posting!!

[kadzbiz]

Dom, the thing I'm not sure about is the zoom settings on the flash. I have a SB900 and SB800. I don't know when to use what zoom setting. Can you help?

[AubMar]

Excellent Video Dom.

Thanks for uploading (and making first!)

Are you in Ireland by any chance???

Thanks again,

Aubrey

[nickMOSTERENERGY]

nice video dom

[promodchevelle]

Nice video ... that end part made me laugh ..funny guy !! 

[IvicaM90]

What ISO you use for portraits?

[darkvader47]

Very Simple! Thanks

[ivan357ag]

-What flash models are you using?..

-Awesome video thanks!!

[rhysblakely]

great video. thank you

[tuggymcgee]

The built in flash can still affect shots if shot up close. Nikon makes a product, sg3-IR, that blocks the flash but still let's the IR signal through. The IR is what communicates with the speedlights.

[surendrans]

Trying to fire an SB900 wireless without inbuilt flash , i tried using turned my inbuilt flash off in the flash commander mode, but where i've turned the inbuilt flash to -- the comp mode next to it still shows 1/1 and i've got a feeling this needs to be 0 for the inbuilt flash not to fire , need you suggestion dom .

[pjos111]

Does the built in flash fire? Can you explain the process?

Paul

[FinlandApollo]

@pjos111 It flashes but it doesn't affect to the picture. The built in flash fire because it commands other flashes.

[antropoloscar]

if this had a Fill light or a white reflector on the left side..it owuld be even better maybe ???

[Ceillyang]

What a helpful video!

[french02chris]

hi again...i see that you compensate your background flashes at +3, but i would like to know if all the flashes are in Full power or different power settings??

thank you

[french02chris]

great Stuff....i have been looking at a LOT of video on Youtube concerning Low and High Key ...and yours are the best...very easy to understand and to follow...i have been practicing my low key ....so far so good....

you are Great!!!!

[mmhtproductions]

What is Dom's e-mail?! I have been searching for days & I can't for the life of me find it! Help please

[izzy2bong]

Hi Dom, great video!!!!! thanks for sharing this video. it has helped me a lot in my photography. I have a question. If u use a flash what WB or calvin temp. do you use? thanks dom!!

[dombower]

@izzy2bong depends on the type of flash, but if it is a speed light then set your camera to a Flash setting wb or in K it is around 5500k

rtm of your flash

[izzy2bong]

@dombower thanks for the reply dom!!! ill try it out.. thanks!!

[idrive12]

@izzy2bong i always shoot raw which means that i don't need to care about the wb and adjust it in postprocessing. if you want to be super exact use a graycard or color checker card to adjust it.

[izzy2bong]

@idrive12 thanks!! ill try that out also!

[nedergah]

Thanks Dom

Just in time for a shooting session of my daughter and a girlfriend dressing up for a galla :)

[michellexm]

Great video. This demystified a lot of information about lighting!

[mattemus2006]

nice i like it! im getting my 1st flash this weekend :)

[fyezone]

thanks for such great tutorial.. learn a lot from u as a beginner. just wanna ask, how do i set my sb900 when in commander mode because when i set my built-in flash to (- -) and i shoot it still firing.. i use d90.. thanks again for the video..

[lei1411]

huge help! Thank you for the video. Indoor photography is always what frustrates me and finally I have brought myself to youtube to try and figure out good ways to go about it. Plus you are more entertaining to watch :) Thanks again! I am off to watch more of your videos so I can master the art!

[ForeverSnapping]

Thank you for doing this video, I'm a beginner to flash photography and your advice and tips have helped. Keep up the good work!!

[babybum2000]

just bought a couple of basic speed lights and watching this has really inspired me to go try stuff like this. great vid Dom...keep up the good work.

thanks.

1 more thing...i have a 450d and was trying to set up the speed lights as slaves, but this only works with the camera flash going off...does the 450d have a commander mode as well? if so how do i set it up.

thanks again

[dombower]

@babybum2000 not sure, the canon flash system is different from the Nikon versions. I think you will have to have the on camera flash go off with that camera you have

[sjphs]

@babybum2000 no it doesn't have any, canon 7d has

[babybum2000]

@sjphs

thanks. just bought a 550d...guess a 7d would have been a better buy. thanks anyway :-)

[urbanbboy]

Long time no see a so good material. thank's alot!

[Nozzall]

Great advice. I'm not really into portrait photography, but it's nice to have in the arsenal. I'll have to try a few of these and get comfortable taking them. By the way awesome picture of the wasp at the end of the video.

[Tagfir]

Thanks from Russia.... 

[4DeeTee]

thank you so much you helped a lot!

what kind of flash do I use for a nikon d40?

[shahidmm]

nice work

[sillywabbit92]

did you use the nikon CLS without the popup flash?

[EdGeinSonOfSam]

you are the man, here's a fan haha. thank you very much.

[brilliantboy88]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing your techniques. I have a white umbrella, but I think I'll get a silver one so it can reflect more light.

[jeffreyracca]

nice video. i just wanna ask, coz u got white background but the end photo was black. i just wanna ask how'd you do that?! thank you...

[dombower]

@jeffreyracca by having a fast shutterspeed and a small apertrure so that it was dark, then the flash is the only thing that llights up the place

[tobiasash]

Just bookmarked this page. thanks so much. Finding practical info on remote flash is a mission I am finding so thanks very much

[dombower]

@tobiasash thanks man but i have also opened a new youtube page just about photography so you might want to sub to that one as well

[SaDScO]

Great tips, ill start looking for a umbrella and a light stand. You and Jared Polin are my inspiration.

[dombower]

@SaDScO thanks man thats very nice of you to say so

[mullaneder]

excellent video. 

[alexhrust]

great tips for newest photographs! thnx Dom!

[ahoyhoyhoyhoy]

Mate your video was so well presented and helpful that you made me comment for the first time ever on a YouTube clip. I agree with the other posters. Your method of explanation is great. Keep it up. Cheers.

[dombower]

@ahoyhoyhoyhoy thanks for your kind words. I have opened a new youtube channel which is just about photography check out dombowerphoto

[ahoyhoyhoyhoy]

@dombower Thanks for pointing that out Dom. Checking it out right now.

[mindyjean233]

Very cool tutorial! I love photography and have been meaning to get back into it.

[blackxthink]

oh my god , Thanks for showing that you can disable the pop up flash :D

[MrYawn1]

really good info there....thank you

[lepeanut]

its really cool how you went through all this, thumbs up!

[Bullit2k]

Good simple vid. Thanks!

[paoiedude]

hi! i have an sb600 it has a wireles triger.how come the camera flash stills comes up every time a take a shot???? my camera is a nikon d60.

[bearchamp69]

thnks dom...awesome video

[shredbobo]

Hey, this was very informative. Thank you!

[Schneeerich]

LOOOOL @ 3:58

cant stop laughing :D

btw very nice tutorial !

greetz from germany

[collegeguy15]

it so refreshing to have someone like you explaining instead of some gray man explaining it really slow

[DBOATYZ]

Oh thank you its not, i thought when you turn it off it wont fire after that, but right now i took some picture and the pop up flash doesnt affect the image.. thank you

[DBOATYZ]

Oh i think you got me wrong, i used a SB-600 but i want to use it wireless, but i keep trying to shoot with just the SB600 and turn off the pop up flash but i did the same thing as you did the pop up flash is still flash together with the sb600, thanks

[dombower]

@DBOATYZ it will still fire but it shouldnt affect the image. is it affecting your image?

[AZNFlipy12]

@DBOATYZ is long as the pop up flash is set to -- it shouldnt affect it at all

[DBOATYZ]

Hi Domb just need your help, i got a D90 and im using a wireless flash unit, but i keep trying to turn off the pop up flash on the camera so it doesnt effect the picture, and i did it exactly the same as you turn off yours but is still fires together.. thanks

[dombower]

@DBOATYZ wait a min... you have a wireless unit.... just put the pop up flash down.

[euphilena]

Where is your wireless transmitter for your wireless flash? I don't see it on your camera!

Thanks!!

[dombower]

@euphilena hahaha check out the other videos, especially ones about the nikon cls that i have done,that should help explain

[all3st]

Really helpful! thanks a lot :)

btw the "umbrella" is it just a regular umbrella?

[rhardy10]

Hi Dom, quick question, i'm using a D300 with an Sb900 flash, i went through your video on how to disable the pop up flash, when you set the pop up flash to -- it shows a 0 in Comp Colum but when i do it, it still shows 1/1, which means when i fire the pop up flash it blows out my subject!! any ideas?

[rhardy10]

Hi Dom,

Quick question for you, i shoot with a D300 and have just brought an sb900, i don't seem to be able to disable the pop up flash in the menu like you did, it always leave a 1/1 in the comp colum, so the pop up flash always fires and blows out my pictures!! any ideas?

[JessieD0205]

just wanted to say that i am a big fan of your tutorials.....i have a nikon d90 and you have actually guided and taught me a lot when I have had questions or thoughts on using the cam and extras!! thanks again! great info!

[kindagoodphoto]

laff,you are a beautiful lady Dom Bower!!! hahahehehoho,jk,....Two big fatman thumbs up for the vid showing how lighting can make ugly shadows turn into pretty pictures!!!

You rock Dom Bower!!!!

[dombower]

@kindagoodphoto why thankyou!

[patrick2504]

Dom, I think this video is great, very informative although I had a reasonable idea to start with it always helps to have it simplified, which I think you do very well, thanks !!

[robroyman1980]

Thanks, very helpful video :)

[mixandmatchprods1]

ur vids are immence

[machineman9]

What colour and size umbrella would you reccomend and what kind of zoom on the umbrella flash is typically good? Would you want a wide angle to spread the light as far as possible and diffuse it as much as possible to make it softer? How much does the distance of the umbrella from the flash affect this sort of image?

[Makkopoli]

I am gonna buy a simple flash thats gonna sit on my camera, is that gonna be good pics? or do i rly need a Umbrella? :)

[numberoneportsmouth]

dom i use a cheap sony alpha a350 and have just bought my first external flash gun and was trawling the net looking for some useful instructional videos and struck gold in your videos i am learning so much from them my only problem is the pop up flash on my camera is the commander but you cant turn it off i have to stick something over it otherwise i will watch your posts with avid interest

[dombower]

@numberoneportsmouth ill have a little video on that soon

[sanchilz]

great vid!

[Cybercreeps]

Hi Dom, Can you make a Quick look around video on you studio?

[BlossomImage]

Fantastic!! Thanks a lot!!

[kempster456]

very helpful thanks very much :D

[dralreefi]

WOW.....I think that was the most helpful video

in youtube about portrait photography.

Nice job.

[photographyconcepts]

Hey Dom,

Long-time fan of your videos... Quick question about what type of flash bracket to purchase for a D300/SB-900?

Thanks,

Andy

[ErDerErIs]

hi dom

im a canon user.. just for saying that and my english isnt the best but im going to try to ask you some questions..

1.) i dont anderstand why you take the camera flash too (did it also make a flash??)

2.) where did you get the umbrellas? and how expensive?

3. how do you get the umbrellas an the stativ?and is it a own flash stativ? ore can i put my flash with the umbrella on a normal camera stativ?(hope "stativ" is the right word in english.. i meen the thing that hold your umbrella)

[hybriddesignz08]

Dom,

First off-thank you for taking the time to show me and others different ideas for flash photography. I just bought a flash online last night with some ctr-301triggers. I cant wait to get them in the mail and start shooting the techniques you have shown.

Maybe you could show us more flash techniques for night time creative shots as well?

[MATTIIAO]

Hi Dom, love your videos,can you tell me how to turn the in built flash on d300 off.I'm using two sb800's and even though i'm putting the "2 dashes in the commander mode the in-built flash still goes off!!

[fallyhag]

You have a good way of getting this info across. Having looked at quite a few videos with boring grey men in you are a breath of fresh air. Love your style of explaining. Cheers.

[dombower]

thanks. i find it the same soo many boring old fat balding men talking in a boring way about photography.

[bobbydale]

Hy Dom, I have a Nikon D3000 and the SB600 I would like to know if you can take the black photos with the flash mounted on the camera, can I bounce it to the wall to get the effect?

[dombower]

how to get black photos???? dont take off the lens cap!

[bobbydale]

Sorry, my question was of your other video, were you dont have a shirt on, when you take the photos that have a black background and the flash just iluminates a part of your body. Can I make that kind of photos with the flash mounted and bouncing it to the walls ?

[dombower]

why would you bounce it off a wall?

[bobbydale]

I Have a Nikon D3000, and the SB600, my camera does not work with the flash in wireless mode, so If I leave the flash mounted on the camera, Is there any way I can make the black background photos and the flash just iluminating a part of your body?

[SenorMADador]

Wow. This is really informative. I actually learned something! Thanks!

[dombower]

there is lots more where that came from, now have 240 videos up. ! and a book coming soon as well

[GoncaloMagalhaes]

Thank you for the tips. Learned a lot.

Just one question. At last shot you used the flash for background, flash on the umbrella and the pop-up flash right? How did u make the others flash to 'flash' when you take the picture without a wireless transmiter?

[dombower]

@GoncaloMagalhaes nikon cls! check out my other videos regarding flash to understand

[usmcdevildoc]

Loved it very much, it was plain and simple. What type flash was that?

[asjesus1]

Your videos have help me so much. Thanks for going into details, since they are what really makes your videos so interesting.

[dombower]

@asjesus1 my pleasure, just hope people like the book as much!

[adteclesan]

Really pleasant, direct approach. Thanks

[4DSquad]

Bummer Dom,

I bought a D5000, I can't take advantage of the CLS...budget wouldn't allow for a D90.

Great Vid!

[Tortuga699]

You can still use flash's & cables, before the Nikon CLS appear they were doing it this way. You can buy a Master flash & slave flash as well with some cheap triggering equipment & it will work. Look for the "strobist & flickr" on the net if your interesting in lightning photography.

[dombower]

@Tortuga699 totally agree, you can still use the flashes in su4 mode old school style

[OVABouw]

You can also use a pocketwizzard..

[dombower]

expensive and not needed.... unless you are a canon user

[OVABouw]

that's true, but using su4 mode will mean you most likely cannot use ttl and have to go in manual mode

[dombower]

why use su4 mode when you have Nikon CLS?

[OVABouw]

there's no reason for that of course, but the d40 range and the new Dx000 range doesnt have CLS, what is a awful shame, nikon could've just added that function softwarematic..

[dombower]

ah yes the bummer of the cheaper models. booo

[OVABouw]

yeah.. luckily im a happy D90 owner :) don't get why they do not put in the cheaper models though, puts them down to level of canon!!

[dombower]

think cls is not easy and needs some serious software/hardware to work and helps justify the price for the more expensive stuff

[OVABouw]

Actually, what i just said there is not true, i just tested it quickly with a sb900 and it does go off when the on-camera-flash is in ttl. I thought a bunch of preflashes would mess up the slave.. well, learnt another thing today! cheers on the vids though dom, everybody - including me - loves them !!

[rojaslaz]

very nice video! Only thing id change would be to place the second flash to camera left and snoot it from flashing your face, that way you have the dark side of your face with the brighter side of the wall and the lit side of your face against the dark side of the wall

just a small suggestion, but otherwise great and informative video

[magermax000]

well looks like I'd better get saving for another flash haha

[Koroush51]

Would one umbrella flash be enough for portrait shots?

[dombower]

sure

[Koroush51]

Thanks. :)

[riccia888]

your the best dombower. great video, hope u will make another flash video like 3 speedlight setup. what do u think?

[dombower]

funny you say that! last photoshoot did a lot of 3/4 flash settups

[potografiadelima]

hi Dom! can you please help me with regards to off camera flash with my nikon D300 and sigma 530DGST flash? coz even i put my camera to commander mode group1 (TTL) and built in flash (- -) it doesnt working at all. instead the camera build in flash bounced. thanks in advance...

[dombower]

thats cos your using a sigma flash, this is only applicable with nikon speedlights. thats why you have to spend more to get the best

[craniumdesigns]

thanks for the informative and kinda silly video. landscape photographer here trying to get into flash. :)

[Bizahaaaa]

Really enjoyed the tips, thanks :)

[Lardinio]

Really useful Dom. Just getting into flash photography. About to buy an SB-800 for my D300.  I have my first shoot at the weekend, doing the santa shots in his grotto at my kids school fair this weekend. You have really helped me.

[hezooskristos]

very helpful sir

[ovee666]

a great fan of yours dude... keep it up

[losahdanny]

I like your explanations. Thank you very much! Funny about the pretty lady part haha =]

[JD95]

I have a question dom, are you able to connect the SB900 directly to the tripod? do you need a hot shoe adapter?

[dombower]

you need a cold shoe you get one with the flash

[JD95]

Thank you very much!!

[ev0luti0n1988]

Really cool. Big fan of you.

[kaguvi777]

Thank you

[snappuppy]

Great tutorial Dom.

[espacionphotography]

Simple, straightforward and superb :)

Thanks Dom

[mamio3]

Dom. you are awesome!

[TheFireicing]

i like his style of explaining.he gets to the point,in and out.

[obskure1]

this video is EXTREMELY helpful as I have just purchased my 2nd flash for portraits. thanks!

[chikete29]

Thanks, very cool vid.

[eoa05]

Thanks for the vid!

[WillDavidClarke]

hi, where did you get your flash stand, and for how much? Thanks very much dom, your videos are very useful!

[casetay]

we call the white walls you have there Off White if you were wondering haha. Thanks for the tutorial I'm gonna get myself an umbrella

[coolinen2007]

upload more videos

I want to know how to take pictures of sexy girls in my house

:)

[JohanLinden1989]

Nice video(s). Like your "step by step problem solving" approach

[djsintek]

i prefer using a softbox ;)

[mounopita]

DOM..do you always use those diffusers in front of the flash when shooting pictures either through an umbrella or direct?

thanks....u are the MAN

[dombower]

thanks, and about the diffusers.... in this video i dont have a diffuser on it . so the answer to your question is no.

[timmyguy13]

Hey, what size is that umbrella??

[classicalmusic03]

great video.....thanks for the info :)

[jasonstackens]

Hi Dom! Im a new subscriber...great video. QUESTION....Im using the d300 w/ the sb900 but when i go to commander mode to set it so my built in flash won't affect the photo it wont switch to -- under comp. it says 1/1??? Please Help! THANKS for the knowledge.

[dombower]

you dont want it to under compensate if you want it to not affect the image you set it to -- and that means it fires but before the shutter opens.

[petersellmer]

great intro and fun too!