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Better Pop-up Flash Photos

If you use a DSLR with a pop-up flash, you’ll find the tips in this tutorial helpful in getting better flash photos. (Most of the tips will also work with the built-in flash on compact point-and-shoot cameras).

INTRODUCTION

In all honesty, the pop-up flash on your DSLR camera is convenient, but it’s never going to give you the control you need to get those great photos you seen that are taken with a large hot shoe flash.

However, there are a number of techniques you can easily master that will extend the range of photos you can take with your pop-up flash. These techniques can greatly improve the quality of your flash photos.

But first, let’s review the pros and cons of pop-up flashes.

Pros And Cons of Pop-up Flashes

Pros

It doesn’t add any bulk or additional weight to your camera, it doesn’t cost anything extra; and it’s always available – switch to flash mode and it’s ready to use.

Many pros will resort to the built-in flash when they need just an extra bit of light. The extra light provided by pop-up flashes can be used to fill in dark areas of a photo, resulting in softer shadows instead of hard, dark shadows. This helps to preserve details in shadow areas.

Cons - Red-eye.

The position of pop-up flashes (directly above the viewfinder) can cause your subjects to have red-eye. Red-eye occurs when light from the flash reflects directly from the rear of your subject’s eyes back into the camera lens. The blood-filled capillaries in the eyes make the color of the pupils look red. To help prevent this, some cameras emit a ‘pre-flash’ before the actual flash. This causes the pupil to contract before the main flash fires and the photo is taken, thus minimizing red-eye.

Cons - Harsh Shadows/Blown-out Highlights.

Another disadvantage of a pop-up flash is that it can’t be pointed in any direction other than straight ahead. Pop-up flashes tend to create harsh shadows (dark shadows with distinctive edges) on your subjects, as well as small overexposed highlights. Both of these effects are quite unflattering for portraits.

Cons - Limited Power = Limited Distance

Due to its small size, pop-up flash is limited in terms of power. That means anything beyond 3-5 meters (depending on your camera’s specifications) won’t be affected very much by the flash. If you are already using a large lens aperture, you can only extend the effective distance of the flash by increasing your ISO. That of course, can degrade the quality of your photo by introducing noise. So, you have to be close to the subjects you are shooting.

Some Tips to Get Better Pop-up Flash Photos

Overcoming Harsh Shadows/Blown-out Highlights

Larger light sources always produce brighter shadows with softer edges. They also diffuse highlights more than small light sources. One way to ‘increase’ a pop-up flash’s small light source is to use a third-party Flash Diffuser (which can be purchased quite inexpensively). Another method is to create your own temporary diffuser by wrapping a tissue around the pop-up flash!

If your camera lets you, increase the internal flash power by one or two stops. Then take a piece of white A4 paper and place it flat against the flash. Make sure the piece of paper is horizontally positioned. Take the shot. The result will be a much more evenly lit photo. This works because the paper spreads out the light from the flash.

Avoiding Red-eye

Here are three tips for avoiding the red-eyed effect when using your pop-up flash:

The best way to prevent red-eye when using a built-in digital camera flash is to ask a subject not to look directly at the camera when taking the shot.

When shooting indoors, turning on more lights will help reduce red-eye.

There’s another way of reducing red-eye when shooting indoors. First, get within one to two meters of your subject. Then, hold your lens cap at a 30 to 45 degree angle in front of your flash. This will bounce the light off the ceiling while blocking your subject from the direct flash (hold it very close to the flash). For even better results, use a white business card instead of your lens cap. (If the ceiling in the room very high, or very dark-colored, this technique won't work very well).

Using Fill-in Flash

Have you ever taken a photo of someone outdoors, but ended up with an image where their face is in deep shadow? Sunlight can cast a deep shadows on subjects. Next time, try using your pop-up flash. It can easily correct the problem of shadows on a close-up portrait shots taken outdoors during the day. The combination of the ambient light with the flash will produce an evenly balanced shot with the face nicely lit and a minimum of deep shadows.

Conclusion

None of these tips will beat using an external flash. But, if used properly, they’ll help you create much better looking photos with your pop-up flash!

For more photography tutorials, visit our TutorialsPage.