Nikon Speedlite
Off Camera Flash Photography
Off-camera flash appears intimidating to many amateur photographers, because it sounds (for understandable reasons) like something complicated, expensive, and difficult. And it can, in fact, be all those things without the right guidance. But with the right advice, even a beginning photographer can get started with off-camera flash easily and inexpensively.
Today, using small hot-shoe flashes off-camera has become the beginner’s path to great photographic lighting, a realm that in the past required big, expensive studio lights and a big studio budget.
Not anymore.
New technology had made it possible for anyone to take professional-looking photos using the small, detachable flashes (called Speedlites or Speedlights, by Canon and Nikon respectively) that are designed to mount on top of a digital SLR camera. Be getting them off the camera and triggering them remotely, we get studio quality light without the big studio gear.
Best of all, the equipment required to get the flash off the camera costs only a fraction of the price of the flash unit itself.
According to photographer Phil Steele in his off-camera flash course at SteeleTraining(dotcom), a photographer can buy the basic off-camera flash equipment for less than $100.
The basic requirements:
1. A light stand – to hold everyting
2. An umbrella or softbox – to soften and spread the light
3. An umbrella bracket – to mount the flash and umbrella
4. A trigger device, typically a radio trigger
In the last few years, new technology has radically dropped the price of Hong-Kong-made radio triggers, making it possible to buy all this gear, combined, for less that half of the cost of the flash unit.
Now, anyone who wants to make the effort to learn the techniques can have professional-looking light on a low budget.
Small-flash photography should not be thought of as a low-budget compromise for those who cannot afford big studio lights. The strobist-style small flash setup has some real advantages over studio lighting in being portable, battery-operated, smaller, and lighter to pack and carry around.
And although it’s possible to get started on a low budget, photographers should be careful, because it’s easy to spend huge sums if one goes by the advice of certain “experts” or just goes out and buys the most widely advertised gear. Getting started affordably takes some knowledge and research.
With the right advice, the amateur photographer can put together a solid off-camera flash kit on a shoestring budget and get photos just as good as those shot by a photographer who spent ten times as much on equipment.
One source of such guidance is the online video course at SteeleTraining(dotcom) entitled “How to Shoot Professional-Looking Headshots and Portraits on a Budget with Small Flashes.” This 9-video series gives a complete top-to-bottom education in small flash photography, from equipment, to photo shoots, to post-processing.
Anyone interested in better photographic lighting should investigate the new options for inexpensive, off-camera flash photography, especially before investing in big studio lights. You may find that the equipment you already own, with a few small additions, can provide all the light you need.
About the Author
Copyright 2010. Mark Lawson writes for SteeleTraining.com where photographers can find
free photo tutorials
and training on a wide variety of photography subjects, from
off camera flash photography
to Photoshop techniques and everything in between.
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Flash Case for Nikon Speedlite SB600 SB800 $7.99 |
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5x NIKON SPEEDLITE SB-900 XENON FLASH TUBE NEW ORIGINAL $58.00 |
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10x NIKON SPEEDLITE SB-900 XENON FLASH TUBE NEW ORIGINAL $114.00 |
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2x NIKON SPEEDLITE SB-900 XENON FLASH TUBE NEW ORIGINAL $24.99 |
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New TTL Flash Speedlite YN-468II for Nikon D400 D300s D300 D200 D90 D80 D60 D40x $48.00 |
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TTL Flash Speedlite YN-468II for Nikon D7000 D5100 D5000 D3000 D90 D80 D60 D40 $46.00 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Cameras E0097A $94.99 |
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YONGNUO YN467 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Digital Camera $86.44 |
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Flash Bounce Diffuser Softbox for Nikon Speedlite SB700 SB-700 $4.68 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Cameras E0097A $86.44 |
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YONGNUO YN467 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Digital Camera $100.69 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite YN560 For Canon Nikon Pentax, Olympus DSLR Camera $75.39 |
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Portable Two 20″ 50cm Softbox for Speedlight Flash Light Nikon Canon Speedlite $74.95 |
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Yongnuo TTL Flash Speedlite YN-467 II f almost Nikon Cameras (YN-460/YN-465) NEW $69.46 |
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Yongnuo YN-565EX TTL Flash Speedlite Nikon D5100 D5000 D90 D3000 D7000 D300 D200 $146.98 |
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GODOX TT560 Flash Speedlite for CANON NIKON PENTAX $53.88 |
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Bounce Flash Diffuser for Nikon SB-900 SB900 Flash Speedlite $0.55 |
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YONGNUO YN467 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Digital Camera $111.85 |
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YN-465 TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D5000 D90 D300 D70 $101.99 |
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YN-460 Flash Speedlite For Nikon D90 D80 D5000 D40 D60 $59.99 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon TTL Cameras E0097A $93.99 |
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New Speedlite Photoflash For Nikon Coolpix 8400 8700 8800 P5000 P6000 $88.35 |
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YN-465 TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D5000 D90 D300 460 $101.99 |
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YN-465 TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D90 D80 D70s D40x $101.99 |
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YN-460 II Flash Speedlite for Nikon D5000 D3000 D90 D80 $46.99 |
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TTL Flash Speedlite YN-465 for Nikon D90 D80 D70S New $68.98 |
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YN-560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon D90 D80 D70s D60 D40 $101.99 |
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OLOONG Speedlite SP-690 f Nikon i-TTL auto flashlight Auto Zoom GN50 LCD display $144.99 |
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OLOONG Flash Speedlite SP-680 for Nikon i-TTL LCD display+1*Free Flash Diffuser $114.99 |
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YONGNUO i-TTL Speedlite Flash Light YN467-II YN-467 II for Nikon D7000 D80 D5100 $75.49 |
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New Camera Speedlite Single Contact For Nikon D5100 D7000 D3100 D3S D300S D3000 $45.99 |
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New Camera Speedlite Single Contact For Nikon D5000 D3X D90 D700 PENTAX Q K-5 $45.99 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite YN560 For Canon Nikon Pentax, Olympus DSLR Camera $75.39 |
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YN460 YN-460 Flash Speedlite f Nikon D5000 D80 D90 D300 $41.90 |
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YN-465 YN465 TTL Flash Speedlite Nikon D90 D80 D70s D60 $67.99 |
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New Manual Single Contact Speedlite For Nikon D5100 D7000 D3100 D3S D300S D3000 $38.95 |
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YN460II 460II Flash Speedlite f Canon Nikon Pentax DSLR $49.99 |
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OLOONG SP-690 Speedlite Flash 4 AA Battery Nikon i-TTL Large LCD Panel D80 D7000 $148.00 |
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Pro Manual Single Contact Speedlite For Nikon D5100 D7000 D3100 D3S D300S D3000 $29.55 |
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Manual Single Contact Speedlite For Nikon D5000 D3X D90 D700 PENTAX Q K-5 K-r $29.55 |
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Triopo TR-980N TTL Flash Light Speedlite For Nikon D5100 D7000 D90 $101.00 |
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TT560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon D7000 D5100 D5000 D3100 D90 D80 D40 pentax K-7 K $56.66 |
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Yongnuo YN-467 II ETTL TTL Flash Speedlite For Nikon D7000 D90 D300 D900 D5100 $83.99 |
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Speedlite Flash PG-708 For Nikon DSLR 360°left&right whirl flashing freeShipping $106.08 |
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YONGNUO YN460 II Flash Speedlite Light for Nikon D80 D90 D3100 D5100 D7000 D300s $54.48 |
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Yongnuo YN-467 II ETTL TTL Flash Speedlite For Nikon D7000 D90 D300 D900 D5100 $83.99 |
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TT560 Flash Speedlite light for Nikon D7000 D5100 D5000 D3100 D90 $59.99 |
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camera TT520 Flash Speedlite for NIKON D7000 D5000 D3100 D3100 D90 D80 $50.99 |
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OLOONG Speedlite SP-690-II Mark II f Nikon i-TTL auto flashlight Auto Zoom GN50 $176.00 |
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OLOONG Speedlite SP-660 4 Nikon D200/D300/D700/D5000 $95.00 |
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YN-565EX YN565EX Flash Speedlite for Canon 1000D 550D 500D 450D 400D 350D nikon $136.99 |
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camera TT560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon D7000 D5100 D5000 D3100 D90 $49.00 |
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P864 Camera Flash Diffusert for Nikon Speedlite SB-600 $6.99 |
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P868 Camera Flash Diffuser for Nikon Speedlite SB-800 $6.99 |
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YN-460 II Flash Speedlite for Nikon D5000 D3000 D90 D80 $53.88 |
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YN-460 II Flash Speedlite for Nikon D700 D300 D200 D100 $53.88 |
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YN460 Flash Speedlite For Canon Nikon Pentax NEW $49.99 |
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YN460 II Flash Speedlite for Canon Nikon Pentax NEW $56.99 |
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ITTL YN-465 Flash Speedlite for Nikon D90 D80 D70s D60 D300 D700 D3000 D5000 C5B $76.99 |
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Yongnuo YN-468 II TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D7000, D5000, D5100, D3100, D90 $93.99 |
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Yongnuo YN-468 II TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D300, D300s, D200, D80, D70s $93.99 |
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Yongnuo Digital Speedlite Flash YN465 for Nikon DSLR Camera $59.99 |
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YN-467 TTL Flash Speedlite For Nikon D300 D90 D400 D100 $77.79 |
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Flash Speedlite YN-560 for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus $75.95 |
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YN-560 Flash Speedlite for Nikon D80 D70s D700 D300s $75.96 |
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NIKON SB-24 SPEEDLITE VIDEO $9.91 |
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NIKON SPEEDLITE SB-600 BATTERY DOOR COVER LID CAP NEW $21.50 |
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FLASH DIFFUSER COVER FOR NIKON SPEEDLITE SB600 SB-600 $5.16 |
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I-TTL For Nikon D90 D80 D70s D40 D60 D3X D3S D3 D700 D7000 Flash Speedlite $59.99 |
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Flash Speedlite YN 462 for Canon Nikon Pentax Cameras $52.99 |
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Pitching Rotation Automatic Speedlite For Canon G2 G3 G5 G6 Nikon D5100 D7000 $39.95 |
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New Pitching Rotation Automatic Speedlite For Nikon D3100 D3S D300S D3000 D5000 $39.95 |
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New Pitching Rotation Automatic Speedlite For Nikon D3X D90 D700 PENTAX Q K-5 $39.95 |
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YONGNUO YN560 DSLR Camera Speedlite Flash Light for Nikon Canon Pentax Olympus $58.88 |
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Yongnuo TTL YN-467 YN467 Speedlite Flash Light Fr Nikon D5000 D400 D300S D90 D80 $85.09 |
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YONGNUO YN-460 YN460 II Flash Speedlite Light F Nikon D90 D3100 D5100 D7000 D300 $54.48 |
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Yongnuo Upgraded Flash Speedlite YN-560 II for Nikon D700 D300 D300s D200 D100 $80.99 |
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Yongnuo Upgraded Flash Speedlite YN-560 II for Nikon D700 D300 D300s D200 D100 $80.99 |
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Yongnuo Upgraded Flash Speedlite YN-560 II for Nikon D7000 D5100 D5000 D3100 $80.99 |
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Yongnuo Upgraded Flash Speedlite YN-560 II for Nikon D90 D5000 D80 D70s D3x D3 $80.99 |
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TT520 Flash Speedlite For Nikon D7000 D3100 D3000 D5000 $42.85 |
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flash soft box diffuser for speedlite Sunpak PZ42X PZ40X PZ30 Nikon Canon $17.99 |
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YN460 Slave Flash Speedlite for Nikon D90 D80 D70s D60 $41.98 |
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Flash Speedlite YN-560 for Canon Nikon Olympus Pentax $76.00 |
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Omni Flash Bounce Diffuser fr Nikon Speedlite SB600 600 $2.98 |
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Universal YN560 Speedlite Flash Light for Nikon Canon Pentax Olympus DSLR Camera $75.97 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox White MQ-D6 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-400 $5.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox Golden MQ-D1 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-600 $5.99 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox White MQ-D1 for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-600 $5.99 |
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YN-467 TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D3100 D5000 D7000 $77.79 |
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YN-467 TTL Flash Speedlite Nikon D40x D40 D60 D90 D3000 $77.79 |
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YONGNUO i-TTL II Flash Speedlite YN-467 for Nikon DSLR $77.79 |
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Yongnuo YN-565 EX TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon D300 D300s D200 D90 D80 D3 C6A $165.99 |
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Flash Speedlite YN-460 II for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus $51.03 |
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Omni Bounce Diffuser Light Softbox MQ-D5 Green for Nikon Flash Speedlite SB-700 $5.99 |
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YONGNUO YN-560 Flash Speedlite YN560 For Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus DSLR Camera $75.39 |
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Yongnuo YN-468II TTL Flash Speedlite for Nikon Series D90 D80 D70 D70S D60 D700 $129.76 |
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YN-565EX Flash Speedlite For Nikon Yongnuo D70 D70S D60 D3000 D3100 D90 D80 $165.75 |
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NEW Flash Reflector Diffuser Bender for Canon Nikon Pentax Flash speedlite $19.95 |
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Flash Diffuser Reflector + 360° Rotatable Bracket fr Canon Nikon Sony Speedlite $9.79 |
