With artificial light, you gain a freedom that daylight can never offer you. You decide for yourself where the light is positioned, how bright it is, and how it falls on your subject. Whether you shoot at seven in the morning or ten at night then no longer matters. Before you get started with the practical side, you should know the two systems you can use to work with artificial light: portable on-camera flashes and stationary studio flashes.
The video is only loaded from YouTube when you play it – data (including your IP address) is then transmitted to YouTube/Google. More in the privacy policy
Key Takeaways
- On-camera flashes are portable, while studio flashes are rather stationary and usually stand on a tripod.
- Both systems are controllable light sources. You control them through their position and their power.
- On-camera flashes offer less room for shaping the light, because they can't be mounted on a tripod as easily.
- Studio flashes are particularly well suited for working in the studio without disruptive ambient light. They are also available in affordable versions.
- An on-camera flash is not a studio flash and vice versa. Both fulfill the purpose they were built for.
- Studio setups can in principle also be recreated with on-camera flashes, but the effort increases as a result.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Understand artificial light as a deliberate decision
The chapter begins with a welcome from Matthias, who introduces you to the area of artificial light. The most important idea here: you no longer shoot only with the light that happens to be available, but shape it yourself. Keep this principle in mind, because it runs through all of the following steps.
Step 2: Understand the division into on-camera flash and studio flash
The chapter deliberately separates the two flash systems, because in practice it makes a difference whether you work on the go or in the studio. So first ask yourself where you mainly want to shoot. This answer determines which area is more relevant for you.
Step 3: Recognize the similarities between both systems
Whether on-camera flash or studio flash, both are light sources that you can control. This happens in two ways. Through position, you determine how close or how far the light is from the subject. Through power, you determine how strongly the flash fires. You will use these two adjustments again in almost every setup.
Step 4: Assess the strengths and limits of the on-camera flash
On-camera flashes are significantly more portable. You mount them on the camera, take them with you everywhere, and can react spontaneously. The price for this is less creative freedom in shaping the light. Since the flash sits on the hot shoe, it can't simply be placed on a tripod. It is possible, but more cumbersome. Take this characteristic into account when considering which system suits your way of working.
Step 5: Get to know the studio flash as a stationary solution
Studio flashes are intended for use on a tripod, especially when no outside light enters the room. Many beginners consider studio equipment unaffordable. But that isn't true, because there are also inexpensive studio flashes. If your focus is on the studio, you therefore don't automatically have to start with the on-camera flash.
Step 6: Make the right choice for your photography
An on-camera flash is not a studio flash and vice versa. Both were developed for different tasks, and neither is fundamentally better. Take time to think about what suits your subjects, your workspace, and your budget. Over time, you will notice on your own which tool makes sense in which situation.
Step 7: Transfer setups between the systems
The setups created in the studio can theoretically also be implemented with on-camera flashes. However, this becomes more complicated, because you have to compensate for the lack of tripod stability and the limited light shaping. In the practical part of the course, Matthias shows how he shoots with both types of flash. Pay particular attention there to where the limits of the on-camera flash lie and how to work around them.
Summary – Understanding Artificial Light: Comparing On-Camera Flash and Studio Flash
Artificial light makes you independent of the time of day and the weather, because you determine the position and power of the light source yourself. On-camera flashes are mobile and flexible to use, but offer less room for shaping the light. Studio flashes are stationary, are ideal for the studio, and are sometimes available at a low price. Which system is the right one depends on where and how you photograph. Both systems are equally valid in their area of application.
FAQ
What is the main difference between an on-camera flash and a studio flash?The on-camera flash is mobile and sits on the camera, while the studio flash is more stationary and is usually used on a tripod in the studio.
Can I also implement studio setups with on-camera flashes?Yes, that is theoretically possible, but it becomes somewhat more complicated.
Are studio flashes always expensive?No, there are also inexpensive studio flashes.
What should I start with if I mainly want to photograph in the studio?If you primarily want to photograph in the studio, you should not start with on-camera flashes, but consider a studio flash.
