On Camera Flash = Garbage

We often cover poorly lit receptions or other events at which there is not as much light as we'd like. Cameras see light different than the human eye - even if you think there's enough light, the camera may not. This is typically when photographers pop a flash on their camera. Well we do everything in our power to not do this. Why? On-camera flash = less than stellar images. They might as well have come from a point and shoot. Here's an example I found online of a very typical on-camera flash result:

Notice the harsh shadows everywhere: behind the grooms head, under the bride's left arm, under the desk, behind the statue - this is what happens when you shoot with an on-camera flash and why we avoid it like the plague.

So what are your options? Well, DM Photo has a few that many other photographers don't have. First of all, our camera bodies are specially chosen due to their exceptional handling of low light situations. Here's an example of an image shot with no flash, outside at a reception lit by just the small tungsten light bulbs overhead:

Notice the absence of the harsh shadows caused by on-camera flash, lack of hot spots, and smoother exposure (light) gradients.

Another option is to bounce your flash off a nearby wall. Soft, flattering light is a function of 2 things: 1) the size of the light source (size matters and in this case, yes - larger is better, which is why small on-camera flashes produce unattractive lighting and harsh shadows) 2) proximity. The closer and larger your light source, the better. Many times, however, a small hot shoe mount flash (the ones you see on many photographers' cameras) are not powerful enough. That's why we carry a larger, more powerful strobe. When bounced off a wall, the light source in effect becomes the large wall and produces very flattering light. Here's an example:

Notice there are still shadows, but they are very soft and actually bring depth and interest into the image, as opposed to making it look like it was taken with a point and shoot camera.

On camera flash produces lousy images. Using no flash or bouncing the flash with a sufficiently high powered strobe produces wonderful images, which is why DM Photo has invested heavily in acquiring this kind of equipment. Check out our gallery of Arizona wedding photography to see more images taken with our signature style of creative and flattering lighting.