georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

I keep turning down job offers for photographing people, having been mostly into landscape. Now, needing the money, I have decided to give it a shot. I have been researching the field, and it seems that use and knowledge of flash is needed. I have heard some professionals advise never to use a camera mounted flash for professional or creative work and I think I see the reasons for saying that. So, what kind of hand-held, portable flash unit is available for gigs on the go? I am interested in el cheapo to start. I just got a good deal on a new Nikon 3200 for under $500, I was seduced by the 24 megapixels and the Nikon legend, having been a Canon man up to now. I had my aging Canon looked at in a Camera shop and the built in flash appeared to be broken. So I don't want to spend more than what I paid for the camera, I know with these photography gizmos the sky seems to be the limit. So I am talking about the minimum without buying a piece of trash. Actually I have been a portrait painter all my life, so I know something about the aesthetics of portrait imaging.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Buy a one of Nikon' speedlights, an off camera cord, and a frame http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-701-s&va=flash+frame+bracket

You can ad a diffuser to soften the light but there are many to choose from. http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A2KJkeyDU3hQlgwAQhiJzbkF?p=speedlite%20diffuser&fr=yfp-t-701-s&ei=utf-8&n=30&x=wrt&fr2=sg-gac&sado=1

The frame will keep the speedlight far enough from the camera to prevent red eye and it will give you some necessary shadows. Lighting that is straight on is usually unflattering and flat. This is good for wedding, parties, and events where you are on the go.

If you are going to do portraits, you could buy a longer (33') off camera cord, and an inexpensive light stand with a 1/4-20 stud to attach your speedlight to. This gives you more flexibility in lighting placement. People can trip over cords like this so it's only good for studio type photography.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

The cameras are sometimes the least expensive part of the kit.
Good lenses are expensive as are good flashes.
I only use the Nikon flashes- look for an SB700.
After you get the flash, you'll need, at minimum, something like a Light Genius Light Scoop. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/811481-REG/LITE_GENIUS_LITE_SCOOP_Lite_Scoop_Flash_Modifier.html Bigger is better for softening the light. Size matters. The plastic caps do nothing to soften the light outside. Inside they have the ceiling and walls to bounce light off of- still not great lighting for portraits though. I use a 30" x 40" softbox or an umbrella, depending on what I'm shooting. Umbrellas are inexpensive, but they tend to throw light everywhere.
You might read something about being able to control the remote flash automatically with the camera, but the D3200 doesn't offer that feature. Going with a cord is the least expensive way to hook the camera up and still maintain ttl control. (but when you learn more you will want to use manual) There are inexpensive radio units that will trigger the flash...but you will need to use manual power settings with those.


My favorite strobe lighting website:
http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/

Look for the Lighting 101 section on the right of the opening page scroll down a ways.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Thanks for the tip! I never even heard of a frame before! Found a video on how to use a basic frame to be able to get an off camera flash angle -even adjustable to be from the side a little?. I remember having seen photographers with a hand held flash with a coiled cord, but that would only leave one hand to hold and operate the camera, but I swear I saw a photographer at a wedding doing it that way. I just saw a video as I am multitasking here with a lady explaining the coiled cord but I am still not clear on it-can you just attach it between the hot shoe and the flash like an extension cord, with no "transformer boxes"? Seems like it might be the cheapest way. People always say stick with the top brands and methods,(there were some really fancy looking frames on the frame images page, the lady in the video had a very simple looking frame but it had variable adjustments for angles sort of from the side-I think it would be highly desireable to have a lighting angle slightly from the side, not perpendicular on top of the camera, even at an extended height) but I am self employed artist and can't always afford the best.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Thanks for the response! Flash, Strobe, are they the same thing? What is ttl control? I actually had a two white umbrellas and flash setup for my first Canon some years back, so I could take photos of artwork hanging on a wall without any glare reflection(it was very jury rigged, I used old flimsy tripods and real umbrellas that were white from the dollar store, and it did work, but it took an hour to take a picture). So such an arrangement is not possible, even with new equipment, with the D3200?

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

Thanks for the info. Yesterday it was like "I don't know anything". Right now I am looking at the
Nikon SB-400 Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash with the Vello - TTL-Off-Camera Flash Cord for Nikon SLR - 3' (1 m) from BH Photo, both for about $132.00, as a starter flash kit. I am wondering if it says TTL flash cord it will fit the iTTl. But if BH puts it on its D3200 accessory list I trust it is compatible. And a simple frame for around $20 should complete it. Then I can at least start taking some portrait photos "on the go" without having to lug around stands and umbrellas and still get beyond on camera flash.