Last week my newsletter readers got information about various methods and tools for softer flash lighting. Let me share some of them here.

The first, and easiest, thing you can do is to use Bounce flash. Obviously, your popup or built in flash won’t do this. You’ll need and external flash with tilt and swivel ability. Bounce the light off a ceiling or side wall and let your camera’s auto system regulate the flash output. Just stay fairly close to the wall or ceiling. Twenty foot high ceilings don’t work!

Popup flashes on Digital SLRs can be softened by the Soft Screen from Lumiquest. This 4×4 inch panel works fairly well at reducing harsh shadows.

For your external flash check out all the products from Lumiquest and Stofen. The Lumiquest bounce cards and softboxes are inexpensive and quite effective. The Stofen Omnibounce has been a favorite tool of photojournalists for many years.

Try one of these products and you’re certain to see much more pleasing results in your flash photos.