Every in-home lifestyle newborn photographer starts out announcing that they are natural light photographers…and being proud of it. Perhaps that was just me? But, it’s true! Most of the lifestyle newborn photography courses for beginners run through a workflow that relies on window light. You learn to walk through a home and select the best spaces based on the available natural light. You’re taught to hug the windows and ensure you’re at a 45 degree angle for that gorgeously lit look.

A few years of clients and homes under your belt and you feel super confident in your skills and ability. That is, until you encounter one of “those homes”. The homes that make you sweat when you think back to them. These are the homes where you were pushing your ISO to the absolute maximum to make wonky layouts, dimly lit nurseries, and unexpectedly dark days work. While our AI noise reduction software in Lightroom has come a long way towards making high ISO images work….it still doesn’t make for “pretty” light.

This is where off-camera flash (OCF) comes in. Picture it as your magic wand, able to be drawn from your camera bag at any moment. Having OCF in your toolkit will truly transform your workflow and give you the confidence to walk into ANY space in ANY weather and absolutely nail it.

Let’s talk about WHY off-camera flash is so important for in-home newborn photographers.

If the thought of trying to fumble through using artificial light in your next newborn session gives you anxiety, you’re not alone. Flash was not intuitive for me to learn until I approached it in a way that made sense for my brain. I was letting myself get super hung up on the mechanics of connecting my flash and trigger causing complete overwhelm. When I realized that I could actually think of my flash in the same way I think about a window (or the sun) and mimic that soft light that I loved…it was a turning point.

I. Consistency in Any Lighting Situation

When you rely solely on natural light and available windows in client’s homes, you are really at the mercy of a random home’s layout and the weather gods. Some homes make it easy….white walls, copious windows, and furniture laid out in just the right way. But then some homes make it really freaking hard. Dark paint, tiny nurseries with a small window, city apartments with buildings blocking the light, garden level conversions…I have seen it all!

Before I learned to use off-camera flash to supplement the available natural light, I had to tell my clients that we could “take a few” in less optimally lit rooms. I warned them that these might not come out well and that we’d have to focus most of our session in whatever room was best lit. I will never forget the moment I realized I couldn’t use a client’s beautifully designed nursery. That was the day I set my mind to mastering flash. Read about that story here!

II. Faster, More Efficient Sessions with Off-Camera Flash

I can vividly remember in the early years, having to recruit my client’s to help me shift their furniture. We slid cribs in front of windows, turned couches, and slid heavy glider armchairs. This is absolutely a must if you have a dimly/poorly lit space and you are relying on windows. I also spent *so much* time during newborn sessions with a toddler big sibling, convincing said active toddler to come back to the light! It can be somewhat simple to hug the windows when you have two adults and a non-mobile newborn. Throw a 2 year old in there, and it’s a whole different story! Imagine if you didn’t have to do any of this! Learning off-camera-flash means that you can amplify and enhance that dim window light to cover the entire room. When mom and dad are snuggling baby by the window…toddler can be jumping on the bed! Revolutionary.

III. Less Editing Time

I can vividly remember the editing process after some of these terribly lit homes. Muddy skin tones and grainy images galore. I would be pulling my hair out, tweaking until there was nothing more I could do. As I mentioned above, AI noise reduction has come a long way in the last couple years, but that doesn’t fix a poorly lit image. While it will smooth and reduce grain, it does nothing for muddy tones. When you can use off-camera flash to create the dynamically lit look of a wall full of windows, your editing process is a dream.

Okay I’m Sold: How do I get Started with Off-Camera Flash?

The initial investment for an off-camera flash can feel a little overwhelming. The good news is that you can probably get everything you need for less than the cost of a professional lens! You’ll need a simple set up:

• A speedlite with wireless capabilities
• a softbox or shoot through umbrella
• a wireless trigger that can talk to your flash
• a flash stand

Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about trying to find these four items? Lucky for you, I have a whole class dedicated to teaching beginners about off-camera flash!

Final Thoughts

Mastering off-camera flash doesn’t mean abandoning natural light—it means giving yourself the flexibility to create beautiful images in any situation. It eliminates stress, speeds up your workflow, and allows you to deliver consistent galleries to your clients regardless of the lighting or weather situation.

So if you’ve been hesitant to try off-camera flash, take the leap! Your future self (and your clients) will thank you.