Can a professional photographer work without ever using flash?
Asked 5/2/2011
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2 answers
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A photographer I know has been working professionally for years, mostly shooting weddings and engagements, and says he never uses flash at all. Is that a valid approach for professional photography, or are there situations where flash is essential? Can a client still get a complete photography service if the photographer never uses flash?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Lets break this down into sub-questions to make the answer more obvious:
It is possible for someone NEVER to use the flash?
Yes. Buy a DSLR without a built-in one and do not pay for an add-on flash, and voila!
Can you make great photos without EVER using a flash?
Yes. Just look at photos taken without a flash. My entire gallery has been taken without a flash. Sometimes I use flash, it is extremely rare but not an absolute for me.
Are you going to run out of photos to take if you do not use a flash?
No. There is always more to shoot, more subjects, more angles, etc.
Can you take every type of imaginable photograph without a flash?
No. Some shots require flash to get it a certain way. High-speed photography like water-drops are a good example.
Can a photographer be a professional if he only shoots photos without a flash?
Why not? It is part of style. Some photographers are even more restrictive. I've heard of one which shot everything in natural light with a 50mm lens over a 30+ year career. He neither run out of photos to take nor of people willing to pay for them.
Honestly your friend probably has an excellent advantage on his side. His wedding photos probably look unlike most typical wedding photos. That is a pretty cool selling point!
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — a photographer can absolutely work professionally without ever using flash, and many great photos are made entirely with available light. For weddings and engagements, this can be a deliberate stylistic choice and part of what the photographer is selling.
That said, never using flash does limit what you can do. Some images are difficult or impossible without added light, especially when you need very specific lighting control, want to overpower or shape ambient light, or are doing things like certain high-speed shots. Flash is also useful for creating polished event and portrait lighting when the existing light is poor or flat.
So the real answer is: yes, a photographer can offer a valid and professional service without flash, but not every possible look or shooting situation will be covered. A photographer who understands flash has a broader toolkit, even if they choose not to use it often.
If a client likes that natural-light style and understands its limits, then it can still be a full and satisfying service.
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