Photography is light. And when the wedding photographer is able to control the light, then excellent results are achieved. Hence the importance of using more flash in wedding photography. It is a tool that puts us in a position to be able to dose and direct the light when and how much is necessary.
However, not all flashes are the same. A professional needs radio-controlled umbrella flash lights. In short, up to the job. In fact, photographing with a flash that is too small (as those of cameras generally are) is the source of a series of imperfections that make it really difficult to take a beautiful photo.
For example, there is a risk that the subject will be burned and that light coming from only one direction will make everything behind the subject completely dark. The result are ghostly photos, as if they were set in a cemetery.
The wedding photographer and radio-controlled umbrella flash lights
Working as a wedding photographer in Milan, I am used to finding myself projected into very different photographic sets. Indoor or outdoor, sun or rain, city or countryside, evening or day. Every location or circumstance has its own light, which sometimes alone is not enough. Or it's not balanced enough.
For this I need professional and complete equipment. Which necessarily also includes radio-controlled umbrella flash lights. These are discreet flashes, which illuminate uniformly and naturally, with the right temperature, without unwanted effects or excessively strong reflections.
In this way the light does not hit the subjects but envelops them, highlighting what is important and hiding the details that no one would want to immortalize. For example, a wedding photographer equipped with this type of flash can allow the light to enter the skin and micro-wrinkles, giving a lively and attractive appearance to the subjects. Just as if they were all photo models.
We could say that using the right flashes and umbrellas is like always having a portable Photoshop. It allows you to obtain post-production quality shots on the spot. In fact, it is no coincidence that this is the professional photographic equipment used in fashion shoots and advertising to bring out the best in the products.
Likewise, you can be sure that every detail of your wedding is photographed in the best way: from the dress to the group photos.
Check out our gallery to see how we use flash during our work sessions.
Let's go into detail about the use of flash in wedding photography
Whatever the location, a wedding photographer finds himself working with mixed light. That is, a mix between the light that comes from the flash and that of the environment. The quality of the photos depends precisely on the professional's ability to balance the two types of light, correctly measuring the exposure.
In places where the ambient light is weak, more sensitivity is needed in the machine. For this reason it is advisable to raise the ISO parameters from 100 up to 6400, depending. Naturally it is very important to raise the ISO only as much as necessary, since the more their value increases, the more the electronic noise also increases. Furthermore, it is important to calculate the guide number of a flash, i.e. the product of the aperture f/ of the aperture and the distance in meters between the flash and the subject to be photographed.
Therefore: ng = meters between flash/subject x aperture
From this formula we can also draw other logical conclusions. For example, to correctly expose a subject at a certain distance, you need an aperture which you can calculate by multiplying the guide number by the distance.
In conclusion, with manual flash, exposure depends on three factors:
The ISOs
The opening of the diaphragm
The distance of the flash from the subject
Remember: only use a wedding photographer who knows the importance of flash and professional equipment. Contact us now!