Natural light or Flash???

I have been shooting weddings and portraits for about 5 years now. I have shot tons of beach weddings, church weddings....
I use natural light probably 80% of the time. I am curious to know what do you prefer Natural or Flash???

Natural most of the time.

Natural light every time if it was possible but of course it isnt.

I use both but prefer Natural Light when possible.

I was a natural light "purist" for many years until I finally figured out that the real problem was that I had never really learned to use flash well. What changed my mind was coming across a wealth of articles by photographer Neil van Niekerk on using flash in conjunction with natural light. He is a master at using flash in a way that complements natural light and produces photos that do not look like flash photos at all. The above link is the starting page of a series of articles that have a lot to teach about flash use. Now I use flash a great deal for portraits and functions, producing way better images than I ever had before discovering this resource.

Regards,
Chris

I usually take advantage of both with weddings and portraits. Sometimes available light looks perfect, or I don't want to use a flash. Most of the time I'm adding flash to the light I find.

Natural... but, like Chris stated, only because I haven't learned how to use flash well and because I don't have quality lighting equipment.. for product images I use tungsten lighting but am considering changing to CFL..

Good question...natural all the way

I carry two cxameras: a D3 for natural light exposures, and a D200 with an SB800 flash and Gary Fong Spehere for flash when necessary. Outddors, under trees withj a bright sun seems to make flash ther better choice, unless you get close enought to be in the shadow yourself. Even then the dappled light can make post processing a nightmare without fill flash to allow capturing the sun lit highlights.

Really depends, if I don't need a flash then natural light all the way. Now if I need a little extra just because or for artistic feel, then flash I go

cod wrote: I was a natural light "purist" for many years until I finally figured out that the real problem was that I had never really learned to use flash well. What changed my mind was coming across a wealth of articles by photographer Neil van Niekerk on using flash in conjunction with natural light. He is a master at using flash in a way that complements natural light and produces photos that do not look like flash photos at all. The above link is the starting page of a series of articles that have a lot to teach about flash use. Now I use flash a great deal for portraits and functions, producing way better images than I ever had before discovering this resource.

Regards,
Chris

I use natural light, because i'm not as good at strobes as I wish I was...going to take a look into this. Thanks.

Natural light is my first choice however when needs dictate then fill flash is your friend.

Scotty wrote:

cod wrote: I was a natural light "purist" for many years until I finally figured out that the real problem was that I had never really learned to use flash well. What changed my mind was coming across a wealth of articles by photographer Neil van Niekerk on using flash in conjunction with natural light. He is a master at using flash in a way that complements natural light and produces photos that do not look like flash photos at all. The above link is the starting page of a series of articles that have a lot to teach about flash use. Now I use flash a great deal for portraits and functions, producing way better images than I ever had before discovering this resource.

Regards,
Chris

I use natural light, because i'm not as good at strobes as I wish I was...going to take a look into this. Thanks.

Ditto.

As cod alluded to above (and I'll be more blunt saying).

A lot of people who say they "prefer natural light" usually don't know how to use flash/artificial light properly.

Probably sticking their Gary Fong products on top of their flashes and bouncing the light all over the place (waste) and not thinking about direction and softness.

Light is our paint. Learn to use it.


If I offended... here's the smiley face to make it all better--->

P.S. I'll use the light most suitable for the job sometimes it's fine to use natural lighting... sometimes it's even better. But I'll use artificial as much as I can when I'm doing something serious. More control.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: As cod alluded to above (and I'll be more blunt saying).

A lot of people who say they "prefer natural light" usually don't know how to use flash/artificial light properly.

Probably sticking their Gary Fong products on top of their flashes and bouncing the light all over the place (waste) and not thinking about direction and softness.

Light is our paint. Learn to use it.


If I offended... here's the smiley face to make it all better--->

P.S. I'll use the light most suitable for the job sometimes it's fine to use natural lighting... sometimes it's even better. But I'll use artificial as much as I can when I'm doing something serious. More control.

Why on earth would anyone be offended by you Adrian, I agree with everything you have just said, darn it that was hard to say