Shooting with One flash for Portraits? Advice needed.

[Nikon_Josh]

Here is a virtual studio tool to experiment with lighting you may enjoy. Click the top left square to position lights.

Virtual Lighting Studio

Great stuff! :thumbup:

 

[Mach0]

I have a D90, this is very interesting to think about. I didn't even consider using the built in flash in conjunction with the SB700. Will certainly be good to experiment! Soooo it will be possible to shoot the flash myself in a free hand then? I was thinking as a flash noob I would have to use a stand for every shot if I didn't have an assistant. Thanks.

You would hit the flash sync speed 1/200 s quick. The only thing about cls, is has to be able to see the flash from your camera. I personally use one Ttl flash( sb800) and manual flashes. The reason I went for the sb800 is a pc port.

 

[kundalini]

I kinda do have my heart set on a TTL flash just because I eventually hope to build up a TTL flash collection and I feel the SB700 will be my first step in this direction.

I wouldn't get all caught up in TTL. All my Nikon speedlights have TTL functionality, but I very seldom use it. I shoot them in Manual almost exclusively. I do employ TTL at times just so I don't get rusty with it. If you're wanting to start out slow with one speedlight and also on the cheap, look at the Vivitar 285 or similar.

I was thinking as a flash noob I would have to use a stand for every shot if I didn't have an assistant. Thanks.

If you get sweaty hands, buy a small ball bungee.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Scrap TTL

 

[lonewolfsx]

yeah TTL is really only designed to guess the flash power as if it were mounted right on the camera, so using it at different working distances and such off-camera require manual settings anyway. But the SB-700 is capable of both, so do whatever works for you!

That virtual lighting studio is sick nasty awesome btw, thanks for that.

to OP: No problem man, the built-in/wireless strobe combo I've dubbed as the "one and a half" flash setup, it's two flashes but the built-in one is pretty limited so it's more like a "half" flash.
I can't wait to get my new gear in, I have an SB-21 macro speedlight I'm just aching to use along with another strobe, I'm gonna make someone's eyes look fantastic. Ha! :thumbup:

 

[Nikon_Josh]

I forgot to come back and thank everyone for the advice here, some really good info provided and alot of points to think about and consider!