Speedlight for portraits?

travisPIETSCH · Mar 5, 2012

MrsLittle said:
Beautiful work Travis! I'm seriously in awe of some of your photos.

thanks! i really appreciate it! do you have a flickr? and heres anotherexamle of combining natural light with strobes i just took this weekend of my family.
i used my alienbees ab1600 with a 47" octabox camera right for some soft natural looking light

The Fam by Travis Pietsch, on Flickr

2WheelPhoto · Mar 5, 2012

Shot yesterday afternoon in total blowout FL sun, attempted a save with fill camera left

MReid · Mar 5, 2012

The worse the light is the more I use flash.
Midday or green shaded park light I always use flash, speedlight with a 42" shoot through umbrella style softbox.

Evenings when the light is great I usually, I shoot natural and stay out of green shadow park light.

It is just different look...shoot what you like.

MrsLittle · Mar 6, 2012

I decided to try out some shots in the afternoon with a speedlight. I took a snapshot of my sons in my backyard.

Bare SL camera left. Once my softbox comes in, I will try it with my alienbee.

DSC_3693_edited-2 by Lily Belle Photos, on Flickr

DiskoJoe · Mar 7, 2012

Decent. Background is a little over exposed. Maybe tone down the exposure some.

MrsLittle · Mar 7, 2012

DiskoJoe said:
Decent. Background is a little over exposed. Maybe tone down the exposure some.

This was merely a snapshot. I would never do a photoshoot in my backyard with a dirty trampoline. LOL

travisPIETSCH · Mar 7, 2012

MrsLittle said:
Beautiful work Travis! I'm seriously in awe of some of your photos.

thanks that means alot!

cgipson1 · Mar 7, 2012

Speedlight portraits? OK... natural light and a OC SB900 with a bounce card

hannah by CGipson Photography, on Flickr

Indoors..... OC Sb-900 with large bounce card

Unknown Lovely at Xmas Party by CGipson Photography, on Flickr

MrsLittle · Mar 7, 2012

Is that your cute daughter? My son turns into a strawberry whenever he runs around in the sun too. Thanks for posting, I like!

cgipson1 · Mar 7, 2012

MrsLittle said:
Is that your cute daughter? My son turns into a strawberry whenever he runs around in the sun too. Thanks for posting, I like!

No.. just a friends daughter at the park! Hot day.. and she was actually sweaty (that is why her eyelashes are wet).. and she was very flushed! Thanks...

Spoe · Mar 7, 2012

speedlights for outdoor portraits? never leave home without 'em

single sb-80dx for fill shooting into a falling sun..

SAF_4848 by Spoe70, on Flickr

Tiberius47 · May 6, 2012

MrsLittle said:
Do you think it's overkill if someone uses a speedlight for outdoor portraits versus full natural light? I love the look and results I get when photographing with my SL, even in the golden hours. Does anybody else do this?

No, it's not overkill.

The reason it is done is to fill in the dark shadows caused by direct sunlight.