How to Use a Camera Flash for Studio Lighting

A flash unit for a SLR camera.

A studio gives a photographer complete control over lighting conditions. Using strobes to light a scene requires a little forethought and a lot of experimenting. In the world of digital photography, experimenting is now easier than ever. There are still a few techniques to remember that will help in lighting a scene appropriately.

Things You'll Need

• Digital and/or 35mm SLR camera
• Flash
• Reflectors
• Umbrellas
• Flash filters/diffusers

Instructions

1. 

   A modern flash with remote firing capability

   Mount the flash off-camera to avoid dull, flat images. When the flash unit is mounted on top of the camera, the lighting conditions often fill in shadows and lose detail in a subject. By changing the angle of light, shadows are cast, retaining detail in the shot. Use either a hot-shoe cord or wireless flash triggering system--often built into many modern digital SLRs--to remotely fire the flash, which can be mounted on a spare tripod.

2. 

   A studio set-up with multiple sources of light

   Add a secondary fill light to your flash setup for even exposures. Using a secondary flash, or constant source of light such as a hot lamp, that is less powerful than the main flash will provide enough light to capture detail in shadows. Consult your camera and flash operations manuals for information on firing multiple flashes at once. If your existing equipment does not support a multiple flash setup, then a commander unit can be purchased to add this functionality.

3. Choose your lighting technique based on your subject. There are a variety of different techniques providing different results. Classic Rembrandt lighting places the main light source in the upper left of the shot with a fill light in the lower right. Beauty shots often light a model from underneath the camera to reduce wrinkles, while butterfly flash setups use a rectangular zone of light to evenly light a subject from each angle.

4. 

   A highly reflective silver umbrella with flash

   Choose the right umbrella setup. Umbrellas are used in studio photography to diffuse harsh light from flash strobe units and provide softer lighting conditions. Silver umbrellas provide a highly reflective bounce, ideal for glamour shots, while white umbrellas are available with black backing to prevent light escaping and provide softer light than silver umbrellas. Translucent umbrellas provide delicate light when used to bounce, or can be used to filter light by pointing them straight at the subject.

5. 

   Diffusers and gel filters can be added to flash units like this for creative shots.

   Use colored filters and flash diffusers to adjust lighting. Many photographers use colored gel filters to project colored light at their subjects during photo shoots. Tinted flash diffusers fit on top of the unit and are a cost-effective and space-saving method of diffusing raw flash lighting. Experiment with different colors and setups to find the right balance.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always worth documenting your lighting set-ups for future reference. It can take a while to get your lighting just right, and a picture will provide you with an idea of what has worked well in the past.

• If you are shooting with film, then a good tip is to carry a digital camera with you and use it as a light meter to set up your shots. Professional photographer Ken Rockwell has written a guide on this, found in the resources section.

• If you are using an constant source of light such as a hot lamp as a fill light along with your strobe flash, ensure the bulb is painted blue and balanced for daylight. Traditionally hot lamps are balanced for tungsten white balance, and strobe lights are balanced for daylight.

References

• Ken Rockwell: How to Use Strobes and Studio Lighting
• ePHOTOzine: Studio Lighting - A beginners guide to lighting

Resources

• Ken Rockwell: How to Use a Digital Camera as a Light Meter