Flash Masters Members Spotlight
Paul Flannigan Photography
Where in the world are you based? Where is the most exciting location you have shot at?
I'm based in Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. I shot a wedding in Poppi which is around 40km from Florence, Italy
When did you set up your photography business and what genres of photography do you shoot?
The business officially set up in 2015. My main income comes from weddings, but I also shoot quite a bit of commercial photography for beauty salons, gyms and hotels.
What would you say has been your most memorable photography job and why?
I shot a wedding in April 2022 at a venue around 50 minutes away from my house. This wedding was a wedding I was really looking forward to as the couple were such a great laugh and both absolutely gorgeous, so I knew it was going to be a good day.
I arrived at the venue, grabbed my cameras out my bag and realised I'd forgotten my on-camera flashes. I panicked. I called friends to see if they could get to my house to pick up the flashes and then drop them off for me but no one was available. I thought to myself "just get on with it and see what happens"
It turned out to be the best wedding I've ever shot. The weather was absolutely perfect, the couple were perfect and their friends and family were also perfect.
This wedding then got featured in a national magazine. The florist, venue and dress maker use these images for their advertising on Wedding Open Days and also the venue now have an album that feature this gallery to show their potential couples.
Just from guests alone at that wedding I've now shot 8 weddings with another 2 coming next year.
What is your all time favourite photograph you have taken and why?
I am obsessed with New York and have been on numerous occasions over the last 10 years. I have taken a photo from atop the Rockefeller Centre on my Honeymoon of the New York cityscape in the snow
Reveal one thing you keep in your camera bag that people may not expect to be there. Why is it there?
It's actually not in my bag, but always on me. It's a small, credit card sized plastic case that contains scissors, nail files, tweezers the lot. I also keep hair clips on my shirts. All of these get used at every single wedding without fail. It gets me on side with parents and bridesmaids instantly.
What is the biggest reason you like using off camera flash?
The creativity. It's trying to be different when maybe the conditions aren't going for you. I use off-camera flash for dancing shots and I feel this is one of my strongest parts. I love getting in low and shooting up at guests when they're pointing at the skies going wild. I want to make them look like rockstars!
What is the best part/biggest benefit of being a Flash Masters member?
The community. Seeing other peoples work strives me to be better. Posting images and getting feedback is something I absolutely love. We all help each other in this group.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone starting out on their flash photography journey, what would it be?
The best advice I ever got was from another Flash Masters member in Dru Dodd. Once he told me this my work instantly changed.
Don't be scared of using high ISO when using flash. When I started using flash I thought your ISO would have to be low as you're pumping in so much light. But when you start using high IOS's then that flash becomes less important and can just be that kiss of light you need!
Thank you so much Paul for joining us in the Flash Masters community! We are so proud to have you as a member and are loving supporting you on your photography journey! If you would like to see more of Paul's work you can do so on his Flash Masters Profile.