I'd like to talk to the digital compact camera shooters first. Guys and gals, you don't have an awful lot of options but you do have one or two. Compact cameras with very few exceptions provide only a small flash on the front of the camera. The flash is forward facing and very close to the lens, there is no way to change that. However you can get some relief by softening the light output.
I have found that a home remedy is best for compact camera flash. This solution is useful for times when we shoot in living room sized spaces. Simply tape a small piece of white gauze in front of the flash. Be careful that you don't use too many layers of gauze! This will cut down on the effective range of the flash but it will get rid of the spotlight effect and provide a softer illumination. I have also used waxed paper as the diffusing material and it can be just as effective on some cameras.
Interchangeable Lens Camera Nikon
While these suggestions for the compact camera owner aren't very high-tech they do get the job done. As a side note this kind of flash diffuser is very helpful when taking pictures of babies! Because we tend to get very close to infants when we shoot, the naked flash can be very overwhelming. A little diffusion will always yield a better picture.
Digital Camera Photo Tip: Mug Shot To "Nice Shot!"
On to digital single lens reflex camera owners. As a group DSLR photographers have a universe of choice when it comes to flash control. Starting with the basics, let's look at your camera's built-in flash.
I'm going to begin talking about built-in flash by offering my own opinion. One of the most misguided features added to SLR's back in the 90's was built-in flash. They are under powered and they provide light that is not one bit better than a compact camera flash. Having said that I also must say that they do exactly what they were intended to do: provide light for taking snapshots indoors or adding fill light outdoors.
Just like the flash on a compact digital camera a DSLR's built-in flash cannot be moved or positioned. Even though there is a little more separation between the flash and the lens they still provide very direct, very flat light for people pictures. The good news is that the same diffusion concepts used on compact cameras will also work for DSLR's. However we aren't likely to get good results from gauze scraps or waxed paper.
For a DSLR's built-in flash it may be best to look to manufactured solutions. There are diffusers made by companies such as Promaster or Gary Fong that are very effective and safe to use on our cameras. Safe? Yes, these products won't damage the camera's hotshoe with tape residue or rest too close to the flashtube where melting could become a problem. Cleaning melted waxed paper off of a DSLR flash isn't easy or fun! And just as mentioned in the section on compact cameras a flash diffuser will reduce the working range of the flash.
There is a better way to immediately improve your people pictures. Add a hotshoe mounted flash to your DSLR. Adding this one accessory can make all the difference between mug shots and great shots.
The very first benefit comes from the increased distance between the camera's lens and the flash tube. Even these few added inches benefit your images because the lighting isn't aimed like a spotlight at the subjects face. Red eye is all but eliminated and skin tones can look more lifelike.
Hotshoe mounted camera flashes come from many manufacturers. Prices can be as low as .00 to well over 0.00. Usually a very good flash can be had for around 0.00 to 0.00. As the price goes up so do the power and the feature set.
I would suggest looking for good power, tilt and swivel motion on the flash head, solid construction and compatibility with your specific digital camera. And here is the rub: there are a lot of flashes out there that say they work with Canon or Nikon or Pentax, but are they compatible with digital versions of those brands? The answer must be "Yes" or it won't work on your rig. Avoid getting ripped off, if the deal looks so much better than the rest of the offerings chances are there is a reason.
Another big plus to adding a camera flash is that doing so opens up a thousand possibilities for diffusing the light - and diffused light is beautiful light. Believe it or not, using flash diffusers is one of the easiest ways to add creativity without adding technical mumbo jumbo. All the photographer has to do is select a diffuser, attach it to the flash and shoot.
Each flash diffuser produces a slightly different lighting pattern, a lighting signature if you will. Some work well at filling larger rooms but then overwhelm in your living room. Others may produce a glamour-like lighting that you just don't care for. The packaging or online descriptions of the diffusers will steer you in the right direction. Odds are the photographer will own several different diffusers over time, each with its specific purpose or look.
Camera flash and all of the available accessories provide tremendous creative opportunity and possibility. The immediate improvement to our people pictures by adding a hotshoe mounted camera flash is just the tip of the iceberg. In the future we will explore flash brackets, off-shoe flash cords and much more. For right now though, take the next step and add a camera flash to your outfit. Move from mug shots up to "Nice shot!" in one easy step.
Digital Camera Photo Tip: Mug Shot To "Nice Shot!"
