nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

What is the importance of white balance when using a flash?
I am about to do a shoot indoors and using my flash for the first time.

PaulDBowen Loc: Belfair, WA, USA

A flash is just another light source as far as white balance, WB, is concerned. Most DSLs provide a way to set a custom WB in the settings menu; however, most people don't bother and just use automatic WB. That is a mistake and the quality of your photos can be dramatically improved if the time is taken to set a custom WB in-camera for each lighting condition encountered. (In other words, for each photo shoot, unless shooting in exactly the same lighting each time.) Lighting conditions are constantly changing (intensity, shade, direction, or in the case of flash, distance from flash to subject. The more frequently you are correcting the WB the better your photos and it costs nothing but your time and a small effort. Sort of like taking the time to bracket exposure or to use a tripod.

Also, note that if you are shooting RAW format and postprocessing, you can set in-camera WB at anytime during the shoot and correct in the postprocessing software, but if you are shooting in Jpeg, the WB must be set as the 1st shot in the shooting, since correcting in postprocessing will be limited at best.

If you really want to delve into color temperature (which is what WB is all about), get into setting the complete color profile for your camera/lens/lighting combination. Each model of each camera differs.

Using automatic settings for WB or color profiles means letting the camera think for you and it will at best be only a mediocore compromise. Sort of like using a point and shoot vs a DSLR vs large format. The more time and effort put in, the better the results out.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

It might be wise to set WB to "flash" if you will be always using flash indoors for these pictures.

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thank you, Paul. I have been reading quite a bit about flash, but it is complicated to me at this point. As you suggested, I will set the WB (outdoor wedding/and then a restaurant celebration afterward). I only have 24 hours to prepare, as I just received the flash a few days ago, but I hope I can get some decent shots and then really dive into the details and get some professional help (camera help, that is!)
In the restaurant, should I set the ISO, TV/AV to the ambient light in the room, or do I have to anticipate the amount of light that will come out of the flash?

PaulDBowen Loc: Belfair, WA, USA

Re the restaurant, if you have the time, do an in-camera white balance using an 18% grey card or a blank sheet of white copy paper if that is all you have got. True matt finish grey cards are available at most camera stores and cost very little. Consider going to the restaurant early or the day before if the photo is going to be considered important (valuable). Generally set ISO as low as possible for shutter/appereture setting to lessen noise in photo, but remember that the lower the ISO the more light required,which might be too slow of shutter = blur. By the way, a concrete sidewalk makes a pretty good grey card if in the same lighting.

nat Loc: Martha's Vineyard, MA

Thank you chapjohn - sounds like a good idea if I panic!
I'll bet I will have a great opportunity to practice shooting with flash - Irene is coming and we may be out of power for several days!

jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.

setting a custom white balance will definitely help your pics, but you have to do it often as the lighting, colors, etc change they make several "gadgets" that make it pretty simple to do "expo disc" is one, and photovisions target is another..but I am sure there are many more ..good luck with Irene and the wedding

jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.

PS..if you figure out how to do it..send us some rain here in S. Tx..

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

When I'm shooting flash I alway use manual settings for Aperture, shutter speed and flash intensity and I'm constantly adjusting on the fly. After awhile it becomes second nature.