Picked up my first flash! Any tips?

[robb01]

I can't wait to bounce it off the ceiling/side walls to get some nice soft light on my subjects. Any other tips on using my first real flash?

 

[raryke]

What kind of flash did you get? I would say first buy a wireless remote so you can use the flash off camera, I have noticed that I get better results when my flash is off of the camera.

 

[robb01]

It is a Vivitar 383 for Nikon

 

[Opher]

Take it off camera. get a wireless trigger. (cactus ones are cheap)

 

[Geaux]

Take it off camera. get a wireless trigger. (cactus ones are cheap)

This.

 

[robb01]

Stop encouraging me to buy even more stuff, LOL

 

[Opher]

Stop encouraging me to buy even more stuff, LOL

I could have said pocket wizard lol... thats my next step.
but here are the triggers i was talking about

 

[Geaux]

Stop encouraging me to buy even more stuff, LOL

If you want to use the flash off camera, you'll need them. And a light stand or if you have a human helper lol.

Does the vivitar do iTTL on camera?

 

[Ginu]

Shoot and test as much as possible and as someone already mentioned get some wireless triggers (this is one of my next buys also).

Grats on the purchase.

 

[raryke]

My first wireless trigger was from Cowboy Studio and I think it only cost me like $25 and it got the job done.

 

[KmH]

If you are going to bounce the light, you will need to make a DIY bounce card. Lighting tip - 4 ways to bounce a flash | DIYPhotography.net

 

[Felix 222]

Take it off camera. get a wireless trigger. (cactus ones are cheap)

THIS + diffuser cap = WIN

Diffusure caps are especially useful if you're mounting the flash on the camera

 

[amoncur]

Learn about "dragging the shutter" - it's a great tool!

Really well written tutorial here: http://neilvn.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/3-dragging-the-shutter