Tim Kamppinen is at the top of the Flash Masters 2023 leaderboard. He has been since almost the beginning. With 8 Gold awards and 22 Silver awards, he is the most decorated member in Flash Masters history and in this stream: one of our very first member-focused streams, we finally get to find out how he does it.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tim has been shooting weddings since 2009 and has developed a deeply considered approach to flash that balances technical precision with genuine creative flair. His images are instantly recognisable: cool blue tones; dramatic gel setups; creative composites and in this stream he shares the thinking behind them in wonderfully honest detail.

This is also a special stream for another reason: it is the first time we have turned the spotlight on a Flash Masters member rather than an ambassador. And Tim could not have been a more perfect person to go first.

Brilliant images, brilliant conversation, and a very impressive moustache. 🎉

The top 5 things you will learn by watching this stream:

1. How Tim creates his dramatic multi-light gel setups at receptions. Tim walks through the specific setup behind his Gold Award-winning image - four flashes, gels behind the couple pointed at the wall, and grid-lit faces and explains every decision in clear and practical detail.
2. Why hard light can look soft if the angle is right. Tim shares one of his most useful technical insights: how angling the subject's face correctly into a hard light source can create the appearance of soft, flattering light without a softbox:  a technique that saves time and simplifies setups.
3. How to create something visually striking from a completely blank wall. Tim talks through his philosophy of creative problem-solving in nondescript venues and why the images he is most proud of are often the ones created with nothing obvious to work with.
4. How to approach compositing for awards without crossing into digital art. Tim shares his approach to multi-exposure compositing, creating images that are technically complex but feel organic and real and discusses where he draws the line between photography and post-production manipulation.
5. Why consistency matters more than occasional brilliance in award photography. Tim reflects on what it takes to enter and win across so many consecutive rounds and shares the mindset of constant self-critique and incremental improvement that keeps him at the top of the leaderboard.

Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timkamppinenphoto

Tim’s website: https://www.timkphotography.com/