Supplementing natural light with flash

Sometimes when working with natural light, you can’t always get the most flattering image, especially when it comes to food photography. That’s where using a supplemental speedlight can help dramatically.

Set the scene

I set my scene up on a table near the back door of my studio but found hand-held there simply wasn’t enough light to get great exposure. I added a silver reflector, but still not quite enough.

I could have put my camera on a tripod, which is a great option but is problematic for capturing various different angles. So I grabbed my Godox AD200Pro and a strip box to supplement my natural light. I stuck with a fairly basic diagonal composition, but then shot from various angles.

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Adding your flash

I used my speedlight as a side light to add some fill to my image and remove the harsh shadows. I used a Godox X1 trigger on my Sony a7R III to control my settings and fire the speedlight.

My camera was set to f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/125s, and my speedlight was set to 1/32 power.

It’s important that your flash does not overpower your natural light, you need to balance it out. I used a light meter to get my readings. There are still shadows, but now they are fairly soft and are not overpowering my image.

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Want to learn more about capturing natural and artificial lighting? Why not check out one of my self-paced online classes, like Blossoms & Buds, Capturing Light or Table & Plate? I have so many classes available, you are sure to find something that suits your interest.