Everyone welcome back way-outnumbered. Her first guest post was a big hit around here! I think this one will be a hit too. Make sure to visit her blog to see more of her awesome photography and comment if you have any questions or compliments for her! 
I first read about “Fill Flash or Daylight Sync” almost 2 years ago when flipping thru my owner’s manual for my shiny new Pentax. There was a tiny little snippet of a paragraph describing fill flash and the benefits of it. In a nutshell, Fill Flash is using your flash outdoors to fill in shadows on your subject.
I remember thinking “Flash?? Outdoors?? On a sunny day?? Sounds a bit too sophisticated for me!” And I never thought about it again…until a few weeks ago.
I recently started doing some outdoor photo sessions for families and I quickly learned that just because it’s nice and sunny doesn’t mean you don’t need additional light. The sun can actually be your worst enemy for creating harsh shadows, ugly color casts and underexposed pictures if you decide to head for some shade.
I was getting so frustrated with some of my shots that I finally decided to pop up my flash and give that little tip a try. Wow! It’s amazing how one simple technique can change your photos!
Here’s my first example of a shot without fill flash and then With Fill Flash. I turned the boy away from the sun to avoid blown out areas but then the shade was just too dark. The flash gave me just the even light I needed for his face. These shots are SOOC, no editing, no nothin’!
Here’s another example using some sweet little boys…again, the light was behind them and the shadows were just awful. A quick pop of the flash and now I’ve got something I can work with.
The flash I’m using isn’t some big, external, expensive flash. This is just the pop-up flash that’s on my camera. I think on point and shoot cameras you can activate it manually also so this technique should work with about any camera. And I was really surprised that it did a pretty good job of creating better lighting even when I was far away.
Take a look at these family pics…they’re still kind of dark but a huge improvement with the flash than without it.
Now this next shot was just bad on so many levels! The angle of the sun wasn’t flattering, the shadow area was way too dark and I shot several of them horribly out of focus! I decided to turn him around, add the fill flash and move in closer. The additional flash really helps to get that dark cast off his face.
One final example…this really is so simple…why in the world didn’t I try it before???
And since I can’t bear to show you unedited pictures without showing the edited, here’s the final versions showing how adding a little extra light was able to help me create some great family photos.
I hope this helps you with your outdoor shooting and I really hope it doesn’t take you 2 years to put it to good use like it did me! Enjoy!
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I use my flash outdoors alot!! Thanks for the great post and the great final photos!!
Jo´s last blog ..Scopin’ Photo Locations with the Diva!
Very helpfull information, I am totally overwhelmed with my camera and all the different solutions for this that another, but this article is simple enough for even ME to figure out……I think…….now HOW do I get my flash to pop-up??????
If you have a dslr there should be a little button near the top of your camera that you can press to manually pop up your flash. Look around for that or if all else fails…check your owner’s manual! Good Luck!
Wow – what great information. I love checking to see what you will write about next. Thanks for the info.!!
Great information. I just bought a new Nikon D40 and can’t wait to try it out on my subjects aka family! Great pics!
OMG, you’re timing on that is perfect. I just took my daughter’s family pictures and played with and without fillflash. Even with fillflash mine still didn’t turn out all that good, lol. I just bought a new lens and am still trying to get used to it.
Thanks for all the great articles & tutorials.
Such a simple technique but so useful! The only caveat I give my students is to remember you have to be within your flash’s range to get any use from it. Most on-board (pop up or on camera) flashes are good for 6-12 or 15 feet. Beyond that, it’s useless. So Fill Flash won’t help you if you are taking photos of the pitcher on the mound… unless you’re in the infield with him!
Thanks for the great reminder as we all head out for those outdoor fall photos!
Jenn White´s last blog ..Quick Tip Tuesday – Blue Skies – making a nice day better!
I have used a flash for fill for years. I now have an external flash that I use over the on camera flash. The on camera flash is great if you photo horizontal but as soon as you turn the camera for a vertical the flash is to the side and most of the time doesn’t “fill” the subject evenly as the “light” is all to one side. I have problems though with the external flash in adjusting it so that it doesn’t cause over exposure. Any suggestions? The flash itself has settings — I am really struggling with this alot.
your camera should allow for flash compensation – you will want to get out your manuals and find out how to adjust it. Your external flash may allow you to make the adjustment right on the flash, or you may have to go into your camera’s menus to find it. Another quick and easy trick is simply to ‘bounce’ your flash off the wall or ceiling, thereby diffusing it and taking it down a notch. If you are outdoors, you can attenuate the flash a number of ways – cover it with a piece of paper, point it up with a bounce card behind it, I’ve even seen diffusers made from milk jugs! Google DIY flash diffuser, or go to photojojo.com and search diffusers and you’ll get lots of good ideas! HTH
Jenn White´s last blog ..Blog Action Day – October 15, 2009
I agree with the fill flash. I bought a Canon 30D in May of 2007 and went ahead and bought the external flash as well because I knew how to mildly use it in certain situations—outdoors was not one of them.
I finally found the time and the urge to take some continuing education courses at the University of Texas at Arlington this summer and learning how to control my flash has done WONDERS for my photography. My results were dramatically different in the last three photoshoots I have done. It is actually quite easy to learn how to control your flash and increase and decrease the amount of light that is coming out of it during the shot.
One suggestion my teacher had was to control the flash from your camera, not from the flash–because if you shoot on Manual anyway–you’ll be familiar with the controls themselves and it will be easier. It’s very similar to adjusting your exposure when working with a Canon camera at least.