Learning HSS Photography, One Golden Hour at a Time!


Lately, I’ve been diving into high-speed sync flash photography, and it’s been both challenging and exciting. It’s one of those techniques that looks simple once you see the final image, but behind the scenes it’s a lot of testing, adjusting, and figuring out what works.


For anyone unfamiliar, high-speed sync lets you use flash at fast shutter speeds. It’s great for shooting in bright light, like golden hour, when the natural light is soft but still strong. You can keep that beautiful, glowy background while lighting your subject evenly. It sounds easy enough until you’re standing there trying to balance everything, flash power, aperture, and ambient exposure, without blowing anything out.


Last night I decided to practice right outside my front door. Nothing fancy, just a few steps into the yard. The light was warm and clean, the kind that makes everything feel alive. Tierney agreed to let me photograph her (after some convincing), and we spent a few minutes experimenting with the setup.


I used my off-camera flash, dialed in my settings, and started shooting. Once I found the balance between the flash and the natural light, it clicked, literally and creatively. There’s something so satisfying about watching the technical side come together and seeing the photo look exactly how you envisioned it.


I’ve been photographing Tierney since she was tiny, and it always amazes me to see her in front of my camera now. She’s growing up, and there’s a new kind of confidence that shows through in the images. Photographing her feels different these days, more like collaborating than just capturing.


Looking through the photos later, I felt proud, not just of her, but of the progress I’m making too. Learning something new can be frustrating at times, but it’s also energizing. It reminds me why I love photography in the first place.


It’s easy to think you need a perfect location or an elaborate setup to create something meaningful. But sometimes all you need is the right light, a willing subject, and a fresh perspective, even if it’s just right outside your front door.

Full body portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Close-up portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Close-up portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Close-up portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Close-up portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Full body portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.
Close-up portrait with crisp flash lighting and soft golden background captured using high-speed sync technique.

Photographer’s Notes


Lighting: Golden hour natural light with off-camera flash using high-speed sync

Setup: Flash positioned slightly to camera right with a Manny Ortiz Beauty Dish

Camera Settings: 1/2000sec | f/2.2 | ISO 100

Gear: Nikon D850 with 50mm f/1.4 lens, Wescott FJ400|| flash, & the Manny Ortiz 36" Beauty Dish.

Location: My front yard, because sometimes that’s all you need.