TTL with Multiple Flashes? | Ask David Bergman

Today's question from Amer D. is, "When using multiple flashes in the same optical group, does E-TTL fire them all at the same power? What if some of those flashes are larger or more powerful while others are smaller like the Canon 600EX and the 430EX? The camera has no clue which way the flashes are pointed, so how does it know what to do?"

00:00 Intro
01:15 What is TTL?
03:39 TTL with one flash
05:05 Canon ST-E3-RT version 2 TTL power
05:38 Face priority flash metering
06:59 Multiple flashes in one TTL group
10:44 TTL ratios
12:50 TTL with different flashes
13:31 Individual group TTL control
12:54 How do I shoot?
16:03 Outro

As Luke Combs' tour photographer since 2019, David Bergman has documented the historic rise of the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year both on stage and off. But that's only the latest in Bergman's own storied 30+ year career. He spent nearly a decade traveling the world with Bon Jovi and has toured with other artists including Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, and Gloria Estefan. As a sports photographer, he covered numerous Olympics, Super Bowls, and World Series games, and has 13 Sports Illustrated covers to his credit. He's also photographed eight US Presidents, the Queen of England, and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. However, his proudest accomplishment is his work as a photo educator, where he has given back to the industry that has treated him so kindly. Through his unique "Shoot From the Pit" live concert workshops, Bergman has taught hundreds of aspiring music photographers in a real-world setting. His work as a Canon Explorer of Light, Adorama YouTube host, and public speaker has also helped photographers around the world advance their photography skills.

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:

Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT Shoe Mount Flash

Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter, Version 2

Westcott Rapid Box Switch Octa-M

Westcott 40-Degree Egg Crate Grid for Octa-M

Westcott Bruce Dorn Triple Threat Bracket

Flashpoint Shoe Mount Triple Bracket with Swivel Umbrella Holder

Flashpoint Shoe Mount Triple Bracket

Manfrotto Quad Bracket for Ezybox

Glow S-type Bowens Mount Bracket for Speedlites and Flash

✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head

CLAR Illumi Max 500 High Power 5600K LED Light

Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48")

Prograde Digital 512GB SDXC UHS-II V90 Memory Card

All Prograde cards and readers

#flashphotography #photographylighting #adorama

__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏

❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏

__________________________________
Get more information about David's #shootfromthepit live concert photography workshops at

One-on-One consultations with David:

Follow David on Instagram:

__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[thomasagabaonyango]

So glad that I am at the point in my photography when a video like this makes perfect sense. I’ll never use the 600’s but it’s still nice to know how things work generally. Very informative! Thank you Sir.

[felixrodriguez]

So the object is to know how one wants the light the subject in different setting indoors or outdoors plus what the background is like to the subject when on then gun and run with a moving subject it best to know the area one is shooting . great coverage David

[nccBB]

David - I really liked this video. What a great help! Do you have or could you do a video on portraits with a Canon and Speedlites in manual mode?

[safari]

one of the best questions and best answers.

[Impostertot]

A detailed and well thought out answer to a difficult question. Thank you.

[patricknehls]

Great video David, very well explained. Thank you.

[RealHouseMouse]

Purchased a pair of Yongnuo 568EX3 with 2 triggers and a remote (all second hand) about a year ago, but I have not quite learned how focused them properly

[Augnos]

I was literally looking for a video like this a few days ago

[michalkubecek]

I like the video, it's a clear and well presented, I just have one comment. I wonder why people still keep repeating that the camera sets the exposure by averaging over the whole scene, even if they often have to admit that they had to change its settings to make it actually behave like that. 15 years ago, my first DSLR (Canon 400D) was already using evaluative metering by default and I suspect that even the Olympus C-4000 compact camera I bought in 2003 might have. After watching this tutorial, I checked the E-TTL settings of my current camera (which I'm pretty sure I haven't changed) and... no surprise, it's evaluative with face priority. Sure, it's not perfect and I understand that many people, in particular those working mostly in a controlled environment, prefer manual exposure; but I don't think it's necessary to make automatic exposure look dumber than it actually is.

[Sportserjeff]

Good information, mostly I use speedlites for run and gun shooting. Btw you should name your mannequin I vote for Bounce flash Betty! Lol

[fiskpad]

Great video as always David. I do have a question though. I have the ST-E3-RT and several Canon lights. The problem I have never been able to resolve is the link between the ST-E3-RT and light drops after a few minutes and the only way to re establish the link is to turn both units off and then on again. I have turned off the “sleep” function on both but the problem persists. This happens with both a version 1 and a version 2 ST-E3-RT to the point it is unreliable at events. Others on YouTube have also experienced this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[photo]

I'm a 20 year professional, and this was a brain strain for me! 🤯 moral of story, don't use TTL for multiple flashes 😂😂

[charlesfisher]

Wouldn't just using a flash meter be a whole lot easier