The Off-Camera Flash Handbook: 32 Scenarios for Creating Beautiful Light and Stunning Photographs

I’ve been a photographer for 2.5 years and the one thing I’ve struggled with is flash photography. I almost hated my strobe and speedlights. However, that has completely changed thanks to this book. This book is amazing. I’m about halfway through it and I have laughed at so many of the Avengers, Twilight and etc references! She breaks down everything you’d need to know about flash photography! The one thing that this book really possesses that I really love, is that it breaks down everything you want and need to know with flash photography. Even her suggestions for gear is unbiased! The BEST thing about this book though is that she shows you the comparisons and differences OCF can do to an image by providing a SOOC or natural light image, next to one with flash. She shows you steps to take for various lighting situations and if you’re wanting to do wedding photography that is a MAJOR plus! Also bonus! When messaging her just to praise her book, she was great as well! She is beyond friendly, her work speaks for itself, and I will definitely buy and invest into anymore workshops or books she offers in the future. I now feel excited instead of nauseous or anxious using my off-camera flashes! But this book! You will seriously grow! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get out and shoot!

I love everything about this book. Suitable for beginner to intermediate lighting background. I consider myself to have intermediate experience with lighting (OCF) and I have already picked up new skills reading this book. If you like the look of images Vanessa creates, she teaches you (step by step) how to achieve those looks. Honestly, her style is what got me following her and now have an opportunity to learn how to achieve those looks. Since everybody is stuck at home, I can't really go out there yet to try these techniques out but for sure I plan to do so as soon as things get back to normal. Not only do you get step by step guide to achieving a particular look, you get actual behind the scene pictures showing light placements and explanation behind the decisions she takes to create the image. It's like having a personal tutor/mentor with you as you go out for a shoot. What's not to like about that?. I highly recommend this book. I don't always write reviews but I'm very impressed with the style of this book that I feel the need to put down a review that helps somebody else thinking about a good lighting book. Vanessa made it clear at the beginning of the book that it is NOT for somebody advanced in lighting. Even some of the topics I knew previously, it was nice to get slightly another perspective on other ways of achieving same goals. Go get your copy if you're on a journey to learn off camera lighting the easy way.

I love Vanessa Joy's teaching style from her tutorials on Youtube. So when she announced the book last year i preordered it right away. I am so excited its here. I read it from beginning to end in a couple days. The book is well written with information that is easy to process as well as diagrams for how she set up lights for each of the scenarios presented in the book. Behind the scene images are very helpful as well as the beautiful photographs used to illustrated each chapter. I use off camera flash regularly so i am comfortable with the process but knowing exactly how to get the look from each setup is why i purchased the book. It is useful for beginners and long time users! Paperback is a nice size (not too small) with good quality paper and cover. Thanks Vanessa Joy!

This book is geared mainly towards wedding/engagement portraits and not studio work. The author does use Canon products, but her instructions are for all camera brands. Just like any other photo “how to’s”, you may have to tweak settings to your environment and aesthetics. All in all, the book is helpful if you are interested in wedding or event photography.

I'm a semi-professional photographer who has shot mostly natural light for most of my gigs. I've struggled with flash for years and the learning curve has always intimidated me. I follow Vanessa Joy on instagram and after watching several tutorials of hers, was delighted to find this book. The Off-Camera Flash Handbook is the single best resource I've found for learning and demystifying the subject of flash photography. If you are looking for a place to start learning flash, here it is! You will be constantly referring back to it as you learn.

4/5 Rating I will be honest. I purchased every single class Vanessa Joy has put out. I love the grind that she's put in since the pandemic and working with Adorama. Her videos are super simple and easy to apply. Her posing video on her website is literally the best posing video I've purchased. I saw one Adorama video where she was in NYC and she was tasked with taking pics of strangers with V Flats. Every single person she stepped to she was able to communicate with them in their native language with femininity and grace. I never saw anything like it. This book is everything it was advertised. Vanessa goes step by step and describes the shot and lighting placements. My only issue is that there isn't behind the scenes shots for every lighting situation. If there was this book would get 5 stars from me. The behind the scenes shots is what makes this book shine. Pros Vanessa Joy lives it Good quality info Good quality images Cons It doesn't provide behind the scenes photos for every lighting set up. If it did I would give it 5 stars hands down

The format of this book makes a somewhat difficult subject much easier to learn. The overview sections pave the way to the lesson sections and then you can go at your own pace. The lessons are also very detailed and structured so they are easy to comprehend and also easy to put into practice. Like Vanessa says, it's not rocket science and I'm now a believer.

If you like very flat images without drama and contrast, go for it. 32 very similar scenarios. One tric pony Very brand directed..., Profoto and Canon.

This is a practical book with different lighting setups and looks to create. You learn by doing what is taught.

I have some experience with flash, but was looking for a new book to learn more from a different perspective. Rather than re-treading familiar ground, this book covers lots of tricks and techniques for combating on-location issues you can encounter by using off-camera flash. Lots of techniques I haven’t seen before collected together in separate chapters. If you’re a wedding photographer or event photographer this should be on your bookshelf.

One of the best YouTube channels on photography has to be Vanessa’s. This book is fun and explores ways to try different Off Camera Flash techniques. Sure you need some kit…remote trigger, flash gun…oh and a camera!!! Although arguably a bit Canon focused, only a completely twit would not be able to understand and convert to say a Nikon workflow such is the way the book has been written. Vanessa has made a truly fun and enjoyable book that actually make you want to go out there and try OCF. I love this book it’s great, and is a brilliant place to start exploring OCF…before you get out you Colour Meter for a Kelvin measurement or your light meter for an ambient light reading. Just read it, take the ideas and have a go. Thanks Vanessa !

Excellent book and really easy to follow. Practical scenarios to carry out yourself. Loved it 🙂🙂