The Benefits of Buying a Cheap Flash for Portrait Photography

Hey everyone! If you’re learning about portrait photography, you might be thinking about getting some fancy equipment, but did you know that even a cheap flash, strobe, or continuous light can make a big difference in your photos? Let’s talk about the benefits of buying one of these lights when starting out in portrait photography.

1. Better Lighting

When you’re taking portraits, good lighting is super important. A cheap flash or continuous light can help you control the light and reduce harsh shadows on your subject’s face. This can make your photos look more professional and help your subject look their best.

2. Creativity

With a simple flash or continuous light, you can start experimenting with different lighting setups and effects. You can learn how to create cool shadows, add highlights, or even make your portraits look more dramatic. It’s a great way to unleash your creativity and improve your photos.

3. Affordable Learning

Photography equipment can get really expensive, but starting with a cheap flash or continuous light allows you to learn the basics of lighting without breaking the bank. You can practice and improve your skills without investing in expensive gear right away.

In my video, I go over a couple different affordable lighting options that add quality light to a scene. I still use these options today, as part of my professional work!

Some of the affordable lights I recommend come from Godox, Amaran and Hpusn. Check out the video for specific lights I call out from all of these brands.

4. Portability

A small flash or continuous light is easy to carry around, so you can take it with you when you’re shooting on location. This means you can always have better control over the lighting, no matter where you are.

In my video I discuss a scenario where I had to hike down a hill with my gear. In this case, it was way easier taking only one light with me. I can’t imagine taking more gear than was necessary in this case.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Getting a cheap flash, strobe, or continuous light can really help improve your portrait photography without spending a lot of money. It’s a great way to learn and enhance your skills while still keeping things simple and affordable.