Using Flash With Weddings Indoors

[together]

AAh wish I read this before last nite doing indoor shots.
Had great trouble bouncing off ceiling.

What do you do in places w/ high ceilings or no wall behind you to bounce?

[Charismatic]

Depending on your Flash, but I've shot in some high-cieling places and even my little 430 seems to be enough to brighten the place up. Obviously if it's a church though... Bounce card. Bounce off walls, if possible. Bounce off of people.

Use a soft-box or diffuser of some sort other than the one that comes with the flash.

[Photogenic]

Thanks for the link Smorter - there's a lot to work with there - off to practice
Linda

[together]

the diffuser built in the flash, fflips over onto the flash lens. There's also a white plastic that sticks out but doesn't fold over. What's that for?

[Charismatic]

I'm not familiar with Nikon, though it sounds like a bounce card.

[together]

assuming it is a bounce card, when would I want it sticking out?
I guess when I aim the flash up only?

[Charismatic]

Well it wouldn't serve much purpose otherwise lol.

But like I said, the in-built ones aren't usually that great. You may aswell spend the money($30-60 tops) and get yourself something better. Whether it's a softbox, an omni-bounce, a flip it, a fong dong(Aka, Gary Fong Lightsphere), or whatever. You can even make ones better than the inbuilt for like, $3 - Of course, they don't look all that professional with random cardboard on the back and the like.. but hey! If your cheap, do it.

But yeah. Spend the money, get something decent. Alot of people say they are all gimmicks, but I find they work if used properly. If your too cheap to fork out that $30-$60 to find out the difference, your clearly in the wrong hobby/profession.

[Shaddsi]

Correct, some of the light will bounce off the white card. this will light the subject while the flash towards the roof will provide ambiant light

[Smorter]

The primary purpose of the bounce card is to provide a catchlight in the subjects eyes. It also has a secondary purpose of sending some light forward as Simon and Karizmatik have said

I never use it because I rarely have the flash straight up bouncing because of the shadow issue I showed with a picture of me earlier. A bounce card somewhat helps alleviate the shadow issue, but a better way is to just bounce the light behind you

[Charismatic]

but a better way is to just bounce the light behind you

+1

I do this a lot, too.