One of the scariest steps for new photographers is taking on the electronic flash.
That’s not unwarranted either. It takes a bit of effort to master the electronic.
You’ll often hear the advice, “You need to go off-camera with your flash.”
Listen to that advice. Here’s why:
You will find your electronic flash easier to master when it isn’t mounted to your camera.
That’s right – easier.
Why? Having a harsh direct light source mounted directly above the lens is a recipe for disaster when properly lighting a subject. Sure, you will get a picture. But it won’t look that good.
To get your flash off the camera, you need a little device called a ‘wireless electronic flash trigger.’
Yes, it’s a fancy name. However, they are super easy to use. Once you have one and understand how it works, you are well on your way to mastering light like a pro.
And that’s no bull. You’ve got to get that flash off of the camera.
Tobie Schalkwyk started with off-camera flash just like you will, one step at a time. He’s already learned all the mistakes so that you won’t have to.
In this guide, Tobie covers…
- Why you need a wireless electronic flash trigger
- The three types of wireless flash triggers
- The pros and cons of each type of flash trigger
- His opinion on which method works best based upon his experience
- Why you may want to invest in an external flash trigger even if your camera has that option built into its features
- A discussion of cost versus features
- The difference between transmitters, receivers, and transceivers
- Some troubleshooting tips from Tobie’s experience
- A review of practical applications

Off-camera flash –
It’s time to take this next step!
Cover Photo Credit: Tobie Schalkwyk