Flash photography tip: Don't aim your flash at the head

Friday 15 March 2024, 16:08 by Elja Trum | 2,199 views | 3 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

We usually aim our flashes at the head of the person we want to photograph. After all, that is what you want to expose well. It is also a good choice when you are only photographing the head. But certainly not in every situation.

Sophie - f/9, 1/125s, 100 ISO @ 35mm
If you want to photograph someone from head to toe, aiming your flash at the head is not a good idea. The light falls off as you move further down. So you end up with dark feet and a light head.

In situations like this, it is a good idea to aim the light more at the middle of the body. It also works well to move your flash a little further away. The light fall-off between the head and feet is then less pronounced.

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About the author

Elja Trum is the founder of Photofacts and online photography course website Photofacts Academy. He has been writing about photography since 2006. Elja is also the author of (Dutch) books on composition, black-and-white photography, flash photography and portrait photography.

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3 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Friday 15 March 2024 at 16:28 | reply
In the case of full body, I use 2 flashes. That way the entire body is well lit. Because of the space, I can't place the flash much farther from the model.
Translated from Dutch.

Elja Trum wrote on Friday 15 March 2024 at 16:53 | reply
Yes, that is of course also a perfectly good way, but then you need to have that extra flash available for it (including the light modifier you have on it).
Translated from Dutch.

Donald Willemsen wrote on Friday 15 March 2024 at 17:17 | reply
Elja, I have 3 studio flashes, all 3 with light shapers. I expect to buy more light shapers soon, especially an octabox
Translated from Dutch.

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