Knowing how far you can push the limits of your flash will allow you to take better inside and night time photos. I think every camera on the market today comes with a built in flash. Learning how to maximize the use of your flash will improve the quality of your photos.
Check your camera manual. If you can’t find the manual I would suggest keeping your subject between 2-6 feet from the camera when using your flash. When your subject is closer than 2 feet you risk the chance of washing out your subject. Remember cameras typically try to balance light. The flash will over power a subject that is too close. A bright flash on a close subject will also make your backgrounds darker as the camera tries to balance all the lighting information it is receiving.
A standard flash will not reach to much more than 10 feet. When you are sitting in the fifteenth row at your child’s dance recital the light from your flash is not going to reach your precious ballerina. You might be better off turning off your flash and allowing your camera balance the light on its own. Take a few practice photos before stage performances begin to determine the best use of your flash or if it is best not to use your flash.
Need a more powerful flash? Most SLR (single lens reflex) cameras have a flash hot shoe mount on the top of the camera to add a high powered flash. By adding an after market flash you can extend your flash range to 60 feet or more. This style of flash can also be angled to bounce light off the ceiling onto your subject reducing the harsh effect of a direct flash.
Using your flash will drain your battery quicker. And having a close to dead battery will reduce the effectiveness of your flash. If the battery is not strong it will not be able to use the full strength of the flash.