Why use flash?

As a portrait photographer there is ONE thing I cannot operate without.

And I'm not talking about having a "pro" camera, because when you actually test the facts yourself (and I have tested them which you can see here) the camera is like 10%. It's NEGLIGIBLE.

The one thing I absolutely cannot create my work without is right there in the definition of the word photography:

Photography = Light Writing

photo = light

graphy = writing

I need light.

And what's more, I need light which I can CONTROL myself.

When you're practising and learning, simply go outside and use the natural sunlight. And then later if you want that natural light to look "better" then take your photos are either dawn or dusk, because the ANGLE of the sunlight at those times of day tends to look more pleasing to the eye.

And some photographers may decide to stick to just that. Natural light all day long until the sun goes away.

But what if you want to shoot at night?

What if you want an epic sunset look but it's the middle of the day?

What you if want to create visual moods and feelings that look straight out of a Hollywood movie?

THAT'S why I use flash.

Take the example at the top of this page.

Same woman, same situation, taken only seconds apart, but the left photo is using natural light and the right photo uses my flash.

AND LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW THIS PHOTO NOW FEELS.

It's gone from casual Thursday afternoon to THE F***ING WORLD IS BURNING AND EVERYTHING HINGES ON THIS MOMENT.

Ok that's a bit exaggerated but you see the difference right?

Many people may think that flash is used to "make the photo brighter".

That is INCORRECT.

Flash is used to CONTROL HOW THE LIGHT APPEARS ON THE SUBJECT.

"Appears" doesn't mean just "brightness". Appears means brightness plus THREE MORE THINGS (which I cover in my course).

In photography you are trying to communicate messages with light.

LIGHT is your power.

Today the camera is pushed as the superhero of great photography (and a lot of companies make plenty of money when people believe that).

But a camera is NOTHING if there is no LIGHT for it to record.

The ART of photography comes from how you CONTROL and USE the light.

And that's why I use flash and that's why you should do my course.

Much love,

Luke