TTL Flash Or Manual Flash in the Studio | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

Getting the perfect exposure is one of the fundamentals of studio portrait photography, and when you are lighting with flash there are two ways to get it right. The first is the classic manual flash mode, in which you control the flash output and set the exposure. Then there’s TTL mode where the flash and the camera choose the light output for you.

In this photo session, Gavin Hoey starts with TTL or through the lens flash. As Gavin demonstrates, this semi-automatic flash system has come a long way in recent years and is perfectly able to get excellent exposure most of the time, just by pressing the camera shutter. But push your lighting style too far and TTL can come unstuck.

Luckily Gavin has some solutions. The first is the TCM (TTL convert to manual) button found on some Flashpoint and Godox transmitters. Then there is manual mode which takes a bit more setting up but ultimately gives you control.

Gavin shares his thoughts on when and why he switches from TTL flash to Manual flash and vice-versa. He backs this up with so fun, real-world portraits all taken in his small home studio.

Timestamps and Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:16 TTL camera and flash (transmitter) basics
2:45 3-minute TTL portrait challenge
4:52 Making TTL fail and how to fix TTL exposure
6:59 TCM (TTL to Manual) portrait session
7:42 TTL flash fail with multiple lights
8:44 Setting up multiple flashes in manual mode
11:17 Multi-flash manual set-up portrait session
11:56 Conclusions and Subscribe

SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:

__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama!

__________________________________
✘ PRODUCTS USED:

Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro

Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro

Flashpoint XPLOR 100 Pro

Flashpoint R2 Pro Transmitter

Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket

OM SYSTEM OM-1

OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II

Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.2

Tether Tools Pro 16' USB 2.0 Active Extension Cable

Sekonic L-858D-U Flash Meter

Glow EZ Lock Collapsible Silver Beauty Dish (25")

Glow HexaPop 24" II Octagonal Softbox

Manfrotto EzyFrame Vintage Background Kit, 6.5x7.5', Tobacco

#flashphotography #ttl #adorama

__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏

❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏

__________________________________
Follow Gavin Hoey on

Model: Chloe Kerley

__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[MCbby]

I see a new video from Gavin Hoey, I click on a new video from Gavin Hoey. Such a great teacher!

[denisduchesne]

I was a TTL user because I did not understand the flash... but one day, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and all the manual flash concepts became clear to me. Now, I am always using manual flash.

[chrisschindler]

Gavin thank you. First video I’ve seen anyone talk about TCM and how to use TTL as a starting point then convert to manual.

[JohnChubbSr]

While beginning to learn flash photography TTL has been useful while learning manual. At the same time learning to read a light meter was confusing. I've noticed great photographers will not use a light meter, only TTL. So, I'm learning TTL and using a light meter as well for the best of both worlds so to speak. This video shows why TTL and manual have a place to gain the correct exposure. Thank you, Gavin!

[saskelee]

6:42 i have been using these flashes for year and i never ever knew what the TCM button was used for until this moment. Thank you so

[deenugent]

I've learned this method from Gavin a few years back and I am still using the method today. It's always great to watch a Gavin refresher video! Thank you Gavin. 👍

[BirdsandMore]

Hi Gavin! Hi Chloe! My fave photography teacher and my favorite model. Another awesome video!

[ernieernie]

Gavin Hoey, unsung hero of home studio photography!
Manual flash user here ;)

[elfox]

Thank you explaining how TTL & TCM work! It’s great to find videos that teach to different levels of experience! 🙂

[ElevatedThreat]

Excellent video! Now THAT'S some information that can be used!! You are at your best in this tutorial. TTL vs Manual has been needed for a long time. We'll, speaking for myself, of course. Thank you for this video!

[dunnymonster]

Brilliant as always Gavin, likewise I use full manual flash where possible but almost always TTL for fast moving events.

The only thing I would add is TTL works really well when you are controlling your camera in full manual. I shoot full manual all the time anyway so I get good results but those who shoot semi or full auto will likely get poor results from TTL.

Asking the camera to not only calculate flash exposure automatically along with aperture and ISO ( in shutter priority ) or shutter and ISO ( in aperture priority ) is a recipe for disaster. Shooting full auto with TTL is worse still. I'd suggest anybody wanting to utilise TTL learn to control their camera settings manually first. If the camera has these settings fixed to start with its likely to make a better job of calculating the TTL flash exposure 🙂

[alexugljesic]

Another great one from you and Chloe! I never miss to watch your tutorials!

[Michel_Vanaken]

Manual in the studio, TTL outdoors (where I use only one strobe as a fill, 90% of the time).

[johnleighdesigns]

fab to see - if i had TTL on my budget speedlites i think i would use it only to get initial exposure and work from there - ive never had TTL and always work in manual hurrah!

[KJDPhotographySA]

Same for me More in Manual love the control, TTL when using a single light when testing, also when I teach students on the TCM functionality of the Trigger and off camera flash setups.

[agnesz]

Since I discovered Adorama and Gavin's videos, nothing seems impossible anymore. Everything is explained perfectly, straightforwardly. Even though English is not my native language, the videos are understandable. Watching them is wonderful, they contain a lot of knowledge. Thanks to Gavin and Adorama for the great job. Greetings from Poland!
P.S. TTL and manual ❤

[seanryan]

This is just what I needed to get started with my Godox V1.

[MariusVolden]

I gotta try to remember to start off with TTL and use TCM once in a while. Gavin Hoey is my favorite photographer <3

[juliocpanivino]

In every video of yours I always learn something new 😮 Gavin you are a masta ❤

[andrewelder]

I love TTL for speedlight settings in events, when conditions change frequently. Does a great job, usually with the worst photos straight out of camera still easily recoverable in post.