Mastering Flash Photography: 5 Lighting Principles for Beginners

Master flash photography with this comprehensive guide! Join photo educators and Westcott Top Pros Steve and Mark of @Panopticphotography as they take you from fearful to flawless in using flash for stunning portraits. Learn to control light with key components like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and flash power. Discover advanced techniques like high-speed sync and explore the best light modifiers to elevate your photography game. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your on-location portraits, this video provides the tips and tricks to master flash and take your photography to the next level. Gear used: FJ80 ii: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/fj80-ii-m-universal-80ws-speedlight FJ200: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/fj200-strobe FJ400: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/fj400-strobe-400ws-with-ac-dc-battery Rapid Box Switch Octa-S: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/rapid-box-switch-octa-s Beauty Dish Switch(24”): https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/beauty-dish-switch-by-joel-grimes-24 Beauty Dish Switch(36”): https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/beauty-dish-switch-by-manny-ortiz-36 Rapid Box Switch Octa-M: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/rapid-box-switch-octa-m Compact Collapsible Umbrella: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/compact-collapsible-umbrella-optical-white-satin-diffusion-44 ProGrip 2: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/progrip-2 Shorty Arm: https://www.fjwestcott.com/products/shorty-offset-extension-arm-8-inch Follow Us Here: Instagram: https://instagram.com/WestcottLighting Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westcott.lighting Twitter: https://twitter.com/WestcottCo TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@westcott_lighting Subscribe to Westcott Lighting's YouTube channel for exclusive behind-the-scenes content, lighting education, and the latest gear tips from your favorite professional photographers and filmmakers. 00:00 - Intro 00:23 - Why Learn Lighting? 01:26 - Flash vs Natural Light 02:30 - Component 1: Aperture 05:47 - Component 2: Shutter Speed 08:08 - What is the Focal-Plane Shutter? 09:21 - What are Stops of Light? 10:25 - Component 3: ISO 12:06 - Component 4: Flash Power 15:16 - Component 5: Flash to Subject Distance 15:46 - The Inverse Square Law 18:09 - Using the 5 Components Together 22:33 - What about HSS? 24:16 - How to Choose a Modifier 31:07 - That’s a Wrap!