How to Make Flash Look Natural in Outdoor Portraits

How to Make Flash Look Natural in Outdoor Portraits



Learn how to blend flash with natural light for portraits that don’t look “flashy.” In this outdoor tutorial, Mark and Steve from @Panopticphotography show how to balance ambient light with off-camera flash to create natural, professional results in any environment. Even in harsh midday sun! Using the Westcott FJ400 II Strobe and Click Box 2×3 softbox, you’ll see side-by-side comparisons of natural light, subtle flash fill, and dramatic lighting setups that transform an ordinary location into a stunning portrait backdrop. Whether you’re new to flash photography or looking to refine your lighting techniques, this video will give you practical tips and inspiration to take your portraits to the next level.

Gear Used:
FJ400 II:
Clickbox 2×3:
FJ-X3:

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Comments

25 responses to “How to Make Flash Look Natural in Outdoor Portraits”

  1. @TristanPortrait Avatar
    @TristanPortrait

    How to Make Flash Look Natural in Outdoor Portraits: we will never know.

  2. @ahtungdihtung Avatar
    @ahtungdihtung

    one uses F stops and other uses high shutter – for me maaybe a better to use F stops, but shutter works just fine on sunny day – w&wo flash.

  3. @mariomalmanza Avatar
    @mariomalmanza

    oh wait..STEVES shots are the super edited ones… lol

  4. @mariomalmanza Avatar
    @mariomalmanza

    sometimes I wish they'd share the raw file out the camera…Just so that people can see how much of it is lighting and how much of it is editing

  5. @heyricksander Avatar
    @heyricksander

    Again, these shots are so ovely processed its imposislbe to know whats happening.

  6. @harryconte7222 Avatar
    @harryconte7222

    Were you shooting in TTL or Manual? If manual, how did you determine your settings?

  7. @taeinmotion Avatar
    @taeinmotion

    When you said it was at full power at 3.5 on the flash is that because it’s in TTL mode? Is the max on the flash 9.0?

  8. @boarderjm Avatar
    @boarderjm

    are you guys using ND filters to shoot wide open or just high speed sync?

  9. @bobortiz Avatar
    @bobortiz

    How did you get ISO 64

  10. @auxsom Avatar
    @auxsom

    Extremely helpful. Thank you. Love the calm demeanor of you two.

  11. @__7000rpm Avatar
    @__7000rpm

    Some of the most 'un'-natural shots ever. Clickbait.

  12. @BrieWilly Avatar
    @BrieWilly

    Westcott Lighting for the win!

  13. @alonzo2k Avatar
    @alonzo2k

    One thing to think about for new shooters at F1.4 at the first location would be to wide open or shallow depth of field it looks sharp on screen but close inspection of your photo certain areas will be blurry!. Think about shooting no less than F4

  14. @Rabe1907 Avatar
    @Rabe1907

    28 mm für Portraits ist denkbar ungeeignet…..

  15. @AliA-we2uu Avatar
    @AliA-we2uu

    Thank you Mark and Steve and Westcott for the informative tutorial! Learnt a lot! Best of luck to you!

  16. @dshovis7106 Avatar
    @dshovis7106

    Did you take the photo with Manual setting on the light?

  17. @beastleemain Avatar
    @beastleemain

    What’s the lens?

  18. @RobSpooner-i3i Avatar
    @RobSpooner-i3i

    Hi guys! Great video! Are the images you show edited or straight out of camera?

  19. @Janet-e8z Avatar
    @Janet-e8z

    Amazing when you’re an artist, you can see things others don’t and just gets so many things and imaginations😊❤

  20. @pothyraja5346 Avatar
    @pothyraja5346

    talk less work more,then talk about,,,

  21. @KartikChauhan152 Avatar
    @KartikChauhan152

    😊❤

  22. @happyjackphoto Avatar
    @happyjackphoto

    i loveshooting into the light with fill flash

  23. @marclabro Avatar
    @marclabro

    nice tuto but i ama little confused between two photographers. generally we increase shutter speed to reduce background exposure (ND filter when higher than 1/200sec) and we change the flash power. here, one guy is using F1.2 in hss 1/8000 and the other one 1/160sec F10 for dramatic effect

  24. @tiffanyorlane2444 Avatar
    @tiffanyorlane2444

    You do always fantastic vidéo. Love them all 💋👍

  25. @JeahnLaffitte Avatar
    @JeahnLaffitte

    These guys are so fun! Great teaching and fun sesh