Shira Bez - Hi Melissa - Appreciate this article! Quick question: I would think that a shutter speed of 1/15th would be too slow for handheld shooting? Wouldn't that induce undesirable blur? Thanks in advance! Shira

Jeannie - Thank you Melissa! I've always been a manual flash shooter but that can be tricky when you are moving around. Do you set both your on camera and off camera flash to ETTL? Thanks!

Jocelyn - Melissa, thank you so much for this VERY simple and sweet article. Getting to read your email felt like a conversation and thank you so much for that warm touch!

Amanda - Hi Melissa- I just wanted to say thank you for this post and your post on OCF. Another photog shared with me and it was very helpfuL! Thanks!

halleigh hill - The Lumedyne HV Tinycycler has been Discontinued ! I have been saving up for a month since finding your very helpful blog post. Any other suggested to power the 600ex-rt ???

Jenine Marnocha - Thank You! I am your first paragraph, page 1. Your explanations are well thought-out&stated, and I highly appreciate your ability to connect important, useful info that I can apply RIGHT NOW! Thank you again, can't wait to dive into this new word and you're helping me with the first step. Yay! : )

Mark Martinez - Wonderful post Melissa!

Christina Dely - Love this post! So simple, yet some helpful!!!

Brian Walter - Thanks so much for this!! This is the area I need the most help in!

Galen - That's one of the best explanations I've seen on this topic. I now know that I've been shooting with my shutter too high (and been compensating with a higher iso). Thanks for the info.

Gina - Love this! I will visit often, as I find your work and tutorials informative and beautiful!

Angie - Thank you for sharing this info-it is greatly appreciated:)

amber - i'm curious to know what your aperture "sweet spot" is.

Katie Turner - Thank you! You have answered some very specific questions I had about flash. I actually read your week 2 post first and was thrilled with the answers I got that I went back and read this one.

Kristin Hardwick - Thank you for this series! I am a total flash scaredy cat and need to get past that. I will be following this series closely!

Aby Rouhi - Hi Melissa,I do not know how to thanks you for all information you give me .I can say thank you and when is you next workshop sign me in.

Danielle Aquiline Photography - Thanks for these tips! We all love that you're so transparent, Melissa! It's very generous. When it comes to the Fong Lightsphere, do you really notice that much of a difference? I got one to use with my 580EX, but I found that it diffused too much light and--other than making my images slightly darker--didn't really do much of anything. Am I using it wrong?

Debbie - I, too, thank you for these posts. Appreciate it so much. Just in this part one, what do you have your white balance set at and ISO? Thank you.

Holly- Shutter Candy Photography - As everybody has said, and what I have said before, YOU READ MY MIND!!!!! You have such a knack for knowing what everybody is needing at that moment and delivering it in such an understandable way! I cant wait for your next post!

Joanna - Thanks for this post - am so looking foward to all the flash info! I'll admit black tuxes dancing in the dark is not easy!

Kristin - Thanks for writing this.

Lori Calhoun - I love reading your blog, but I'm doubley (that's spanglish for double) excited for this installment!

Kim Kester - I wish I would have found your blog a long time ago. Just getting started with multiple off camera flashes, how cool of you to share how to take amazing photos. Thank you for your time, sincerely, Kim

Karen (Mikols) Bonar - Improving my reception lighting has been a big goal for me this year! I still struggle with how to have both my flash + pocket wizard on the camera at the same time and get it all to work. I have spent hours banging my head against the wall over this issue!!! Any/all help is appreciated! :) Thanks!

Cheryl - Wow! Thank you! Amazing! Flash feels intimidating and it gets shoved deep, deep into my camera bag most of the time. This helps so much. Thank you!

Stephanie - Thanks, Melissa! This is so cool that you share their experiences. I am pleased to read your blog. Always a lot of interesting and useful information and great photos

Tiffany McKee - Thank YOU. Thank You. Thank You. I AM one of those photographers who LOVES natural light and very scared of flash, studio lights, etc. I've been wanting to learn about them but always ran, you make it soooo simple. I can't thank you enough for what you do for us photographers!! Keep it up girl. I can't wait for the next post or to make it to one of your sessions!! You need to write a book. Photography Made Simple!!! Just love your work!

Chelsea - I have a Canon 430EX II flash - will this be sufficient to follow along with you and learn flash? =) I think you read my mind in running away from flash scared, but I'd love to learn!

Denise Rath - You're great at knowing what other photographers are struggling with! Thanks for posting this. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Chelsea - Thanks so much for posting this! Most tutorials on flash make me want to run away, and that's what I've done! This totally makes sense, I'm so looking forward to the next post!

Julie - Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! I can't wait to find out more!

Mike Rousseau - MJ, can you please let us know next week what power level you put the Off Camera Flash on? Where do you start? How do guage to add more power? Thanks!!

Valentina - Melissa, you have the gift of making anything sound so simple. Can't wait for the rest!

lindsey - you are amaaaazing! thank you so much for this post! please keem em coming! :)

chesley - So glad you're doing this!! I have read and re-read your previous posts so I'm so ecstatic to read these!

Adrienne - Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! This is the clearest explanation of using flash at receptions that I've ever read. So looking forward to future posts!

Kayce Smith - Thank you SOO much!! I have been scouring the internet lately for more tips on using flash...I so want to master it!! I can't wait to read more! Perfect timing. :)

Cindy - This made more sense than anything I've ever read about flash. Thank you SOOO much for breaking it down this way. Can't wait for the next installment!!!! You're the best!

Alisha - Thank you for doing this! I am in need of some flash tips so I can get better reception photos. You're right, I never show mine off!

Ellie Cutler - OH MY GOSH.... THANK YOU! This made soooo much more sense to me than anything else I've read. Flash terrifies me and I seriously HATE shooting receptions 'cause of it. I'm so excited to read the rest of your posts!

Joanne - Wow just today I complained again to a FB friend that I felt incompetant with my flash. I did slow my shutter speed down while assisting at my last wedding. It was a Fab wedding on the Moshulu..but my subjects coming into the reception being announced were blurry. I'm still trying to figure it out lol. Thanks SO much for sharing with us MJ!!

Sara Lin - Forwarding this to Dave...he'd love to start honing his "flash" skills

nadya - great timing on this i so need to get this flash thing fast and easily lol. Your previous post have really helped as well! I woudl love to hear settings on using flash as a fill on sunny days. I always over expose so im not too sure how it works as a fill even when i dial down the power it still over exposes so that would be a great thing to read about!! thanks!

Melissa Jean - Slow shutter speed. Doh! I've always known it was possible but never known why I SHOULD be doing it. Can't wait to try this out at my wedding on Friday. You are seriously amazing at everything you share. I'm going to have to do a workshop with you one of these days.

Faria Munmun - I just bought my first flash. I love to the natural light but know I will need a flash for weddings. I will try these tips now to practice. Thanks a lot. I am one of those photographers that feels intimidated by flash.

Susan - THANK YOU! I just got the Speedlite 580 EX and I'm going to use this advice and start practicing. Can't wait for the next lesson!

Myra Kushon - Oh my goodness! I am so so excited about this series!!! I am sooo intimated by flash! Can't wait to meet you on Sunday! I already started having dreams about the workshop...haha!

Gail - How did you know this is EXACTLY what I needed to read right now? I just love how you explain flash, MJ. I'm where I'm at with it BECAUSE of you and your workshop, but still way too underconfident. I want to get better this year and posts like this go a long way in helping!

denise karis - I'm scared out of my mind about flash - Thanks for posting - I hope I come down from this fear - I'm thinking itll be like anything else - something I just have to power through and learn. :)

Lance B. - Great starting point. Can't wait for the next part in the series!!!

Desiree - You're right, I am one of those photographers who is very comfortable with most situations, except receptions. I have my first reception/ dance to photograph this summer, and I think I'd rather have a tooth pulled. I've already learned so much from you, like how to use a histogram, and how to expose for the highlights. These things alone have made my photography better. Can't wait for the next lesson!!

Rambling Rose - This is fantastic, thank you so much! I am really looking forward to the updates in the coming weeks :)