Flash photography tip: Forget the built-in flash
Thursday 24 November 2022, 16:08 by Elja Trum | 3,340 views | 5 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Many cameras have a built-in flash. Unfortunately, the photos you take with it are usually ready for the digital bin straight away. My advice is therefore not to use the built-in flash.
There is one exception. When you only want to add a little fill flash to a photo, the built-in flash can be very useful.
Fill flash means lightening a dark shadow on your subject slightly. For example, when you photograph someone with the sun behind them, as in the photo above.
Using fill flash for a portrait also creates a small reflection in your model's eyes. This 'catch light' makes the eyes stand out a little more and look more lively.
Camera manufacturers also know that built-in flashes are pretty useless. That is why you almost never find a built-in flash on more expensive professional cameras. The target audience for these cameras would not use it anyway.
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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5 comments
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Matt wrote on Friday 25 November 2022 at 15:39 | replyThere is another reason to use the built-in flash: wireless control of external flashes. That is why omitting the built-in filter is, in my opinion, really a loss.
Translated from Dutch. -
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Matt wrote on Friday 25 November 2022 at 16:58 | reply
@Elja: That is then yet another piece of hardware that you have to own and take with you.
Translated from Dutch.
Now I simply take the camera and a compatible speedlight with me. You can then put it on your camera or use it wirelessly with the built-in flash as a trigger.
For studio use, a radio controller is of course more convenient. -
Ronald wrote on Tuesday 29 November 2022 at 14:29 | replyBy far most amateur photographers are seriously satisfied with a fill flash. So...... leaving out such a flash is in my opinion not a good idea.
Translated from Dutch. -
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Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about PhotofactsPhotofacts is made possible in part by
