This post was updated on October 18, 2017 with my latest recommendations.
Most photographers are interested in learning flash photography, but often shy away when they see how much a name-brand speedlight flash costs. Up to $500 for just one flash is a lot!
Fortunately, I’ve been on a mission for the last few years to find the best quality flash photography gear for photographers on a budget. I have extensively used the gear for over a year now, and I’m confident that these are the very best products for the very cheapest price.
I have spent several THOUSANDS of dollars purchasing and testing different flash photography products to come up with this list, so I hope it saves you from buying junk.
I promise that if you are just willing to TRY flash photography, it will dramatically improve the quality of your photos. I’ve always said that knowing how to work with light is what makes you a photographer–anyone can use a camera.
Have questions about flash photography in general? Check out Jim’s super handy guide to flash photography.
I have been using and recommending the YN-560 flash for many years. Â It's only $70 and compatible with almost all camera systems (including Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Fuji, and most Sony cameras). Â It's dead simple to use, triggers reliably, and is very durable. I know that sounds like I'm advertising for them, but I'm not.
They don't sponsor, endorse, or pay to advertise on Improve Photography and I don't even know anyone at the company. Â They just make great gear at a cheap price so I recommend them.
I've probably owned two dozen YN560s over the last few years and haven't been disappointed yet. Â Get one!
Beginner Flash Photography Kit – About $140 including the flash
YN-560 IV flash – This is the flash that I have recommended for years.  It's reliable and one QUARTER the price of comparable Canon and Nikon flashes.  It can be used by simply putting it on top of the hotshoe of your camera, or you can take it off camera and trigger it wirelessly with the trigger below. Buy it on Amazon.
YN-560 TX trigger – This trigger is cool.  You can get a Yongnuo trigger for a little less than this, but this one allows you to control the brightness of the flash even when the flash is not connected to the camera.  That's handy when you're out shooting.  Simply put this trigger on the camera, take the flash and put it on a light stand wherever you want, and the flash will fire right as you click the shutter.  Beautiful! Buy it on Amazon.
White umbrella – I recommend a white shoot-through umbrella as your first flash modifier. Â The purpose of it is to soften the light of the flash to create more beautiful lighting on the person you're photographing.
You may be tempted to get a softbox instead, but I think that's a mistake for your first modifier.  An umbrella is easier to use because it spreads the light more, and is therefore more forgiving of having the flash in slightly the wrong spot. Buy it on Amazon.
Flash Bracket – The flash bracket simply fits on top of the light stand and allows you to connect your YN560.  It also has a hole in the center so you can put your umbrella on it as well. Buy it on Amazon.
Light Stand – The light stand is simply a tripod for your flash.  I like the little Cowboy Studio light stands because they are lightweight and easy to move around.  Buy it on Amazon.
NOTE: Once you have all your gear, you'll have a LOT to learn. Â Don't be intimidated! Â Learning to control the lighting in your photos is THE BEST way to improve your photography after you've already learned the basics of photography. Â I have two resources to help you learn.
First is my blog post series on the basics of flash photography. Â If you're more of a visual learner, you should really take a look at my “Jim Harmer's Lighting in a Flash” video tutorial. Â It's really reasonably priced, and it's the very highest quality video tutorial I've produced. Â I think you'd love it, and I use EXACTLY this same gear in the tutorial.
Pro Flash Photography Kit – About $575 including three flashes
Three YN-560 IV flash Units – Now that you're getting a bit more serious about your flash photography, I highly recommend bumping it up to three speedlights.  You'll find a lot of situations where you can create gorgeous and creative lighting by using more than one flash. Buy it on Amazon.
YN-560 TX trigger – Same trigger as in the beginner kit.  This thing works like a charm! Buy it on Amazon.
Glow ParaPop 38″ Softbox – This softbox is AWESOME! Â I've been messing with the cheap $50 softboxes on Amazon for years and I finally decided to bite the bullet and get a good one after Nick recommended it to me. Â It's awesome. Â Buy it. Â Check the current price of the Glow Parapop on Amazon.
White umbrella – I like having two umbrellas because if I'm doing a three-point lighting setup, I most often use umbrellas on the back lights. Buy it on Amazon.
Two Flash Brackets – Since we're bumping up the budget on this kit, I'd prefer to see you get a more beefy flash bracket with more control and which is stronger.  This is the bracket I use on all of my shoots. Buy it on Amazon.
Three Light Stands – The light stand is simply a tripod for your flash.  You can buy really nice Impact light stands for more money that are much more solid, but honestly I prefer the little cheap Cowboy Studio light stands because they are lightweight and easy to move around.  Buy it on Amazon.
5-in-1 Reflector – Some photographers use reflectors more than others, but all photographers use them. Â They are handy for bouncing light, blocking the light of the sun during a mid-day shoot, flagging off lights, etc. Â This one is great because it's gigantic and is an oval shape which works better for full-body portraits. Â But it on Amazon.
Rogue Flashbender – I like the flashbender for on-camera flash photography. Â I would never recommend it for softening an off-camera flash, but when I'm photographing a wedding reception or just need some simple light for an on-camera flash, then I use the flashbender. Â Buy it on Amazon.
Rogue Flash Gels – Gels are thin pieces of transluscent plastic that go on top of the flash head and allow you to color the light. Â I use them on about half of the flash photography shoots I do. Â Buy a kit on Amazon.
Studio Photography Kit – $3,999
Okay, fine. I’m not a money launderer, but since photography is my full-time career… I like to have the best possible tools to work with. I still use YN-560 flashes and simple speedlight setups for ALL of my shoots, some photographers prefer to work with studio strobes if you're in a studio.  I no longer use studio strobes, but this is the kit that I've used and recommend.
There are other brands of lights that offer affiliate programs to bloggers so I’d get a portion of the sale if you buy them, but the brand I recommend here doesn’t have a program like that.
I recommend the Paul C. Buff gear anyway because it is better quality and a better price than comparable brands like the Elinchrom 500 BXRI.
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Hi guys,
I was looking for a cheap flash set up and found your video “Understand Flash Photography in 10 Minutes or Less” on YouTube. I was wondering if this same gear would work on my Olympus EM-5, as I noticed most of the products you’ve listed here say recommended for Canon, Nikon or Sony. I’m relatively new at flash photography and on a pretty tight budget, so I really can’t afford to buy gear that isn’t going to work. I also live in a very small town, so finding a place where I can try this stuff out is next to impossible. Hope you can help. Thanks in advance of a reply. Cheers. Wayne.
They will work I’m using two of the EM5’s with Phoyttix Transmitters and receivers.
I am a big believer in Yungnuo Products s never had an issue and I’ve dropped them a handful of times.
It’s time to revisit these recommended Flash Kits and add in the Yongnuo YN-560-TX transmitter. What an incredible new piece of equipment!
Marc, would I still purchase the recommended transceivers as well? I checked out the transmitter you suggested and its seems like is something I would want/need (I don’t want to have to manually change each flash setting during the reception). Thanks!
Hi Jim,
What is your opinion of the portable battery powered strobes by Flashpoint (Adorama)? The 320 w/sec light seems powerful enough. I’m just concerned that smaller platform might not have light modifier option like larger softboxes/octoboxes.
Specifically, I’m looking at the Flashpoint Streaklight Creative Collection.
Thanks, Tom
Hi, just wanted to say that I bought the Yongnuo YN-560 III which works great, I will buy one more, as well as remote triggers. I wrote about how I tried your flash photography on my blog, and linked to this great recommendations-page on my blog http://personablog.com/?p=2409
I want to say thanks for the great tip! /Tomas
hello, i want to buy the trigger/transceiver with the stand/umbrella for my nikon SB700 but I’m not sure if the beginner kit works for that flash or if you recommend other one, i work for nikon 610 but just now I’m using flash and is very harsh when the flash is on the camera. thanks for your feedback.
Lissy
For the recommended flashes, what do you think of the YONGNUO TTL Speedlite YN-565EX? It seems to work with the Nikon iTTL or the Canon eTTL. TIA.
Anybody know wha lt those rechargeable batteries are that Jim recommends for speed lights ? I can’t remember.
I don’t know what he recommends, but I have used Sanyo Eneloop batteries for a few years and have never been let down. They hold their charge better than any battery I’ve ever used. You can shoot wicked fast with them too.
Hi, in your off camera flash tutorial you use a yn560II with RF-603 radio transceivers. I bought this configuration and can’t get the flash to fire. I’ve double checked your recommended gear which states transceivers are compatible with YN560III.. so will it work with YN560II as well? Its hard to find a tutorial for YN560II and transceiver.
Thanks, great podcast and site!
K
Yongnuo RF-603, will these triggers work with a T2i?
At the risk of sounding really stupid…I need help. I have a Nikon D5100 camera and a YN560-III flash. I had no idea that my camera is non TTL and does not have a sync terminal. I am totally lost on what I need to use my flash with this camera. I found a lot of listings for Nikon AS-15 adapter, however everything I read says it is not for high voltage flash. Can you guide me in the right direction so I can use my flash? I need to know what adapters, cables etc. I need?
thanks for any help you can give me. i am totally new to flash photography.
di
Hi, Just discovered these podcasts and website and very impressed. I have stopped listening to the one hour plus long advertisements that some of the others have tended to turn into and find I.P. extremely informative, so hopefully I can get some help with this question.
With pocketwizards you can shoot in high speed sync mode or hypersync mode (with compatible flash). My understanding is with hypersync you don’t lose flash power like you do with HSS so I’m trying to work out how much power you typically lose to determine if its more economical to buy compatible brand name flash(es) to shoot hypersync or buy a higher number of cheaper flashes to make up for the power loss of HSS? Or am I wrong in how this works? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
In the hobbyist flsah kit, why are spme items priced twice ?
The Hobbyist kit is listed for 2 lights, so everything else doubles assuming you’d need the same equipment for the second flash.
Hi.. I’m interested in getting one of the yungnuo ITTL’s for my Nikon
I’ve seen it on their website but honestly a bit confusing
There’s one specific that supports high speed sync don’t know the model off hand…would like to know if this model has a built in receiver like the 560lll and can it be set to manual?
Thanks in advance..Lenny
I’m interested in getting the RF-603 and the YN-560 III, but I can’t figure out if these will work with my Nikon D750. Jim, I know you have shot with the D750. Can you confirm that these work with that camera?
Thanks,
Roger
Interesting that there is no mention of a light meter. for manual flash that is kind of important.
No, not really. I have used manual flash without light meters for years and still don’t like using meters. In fact, of all the professional photographers I’ve worked with, only ONE of them regularly uses a light meter.
Thanks so much for doing these reviews! Very helpful! 🙂
Cause you’ll want two.
Any issues with the 60″ Octabox and the Einstein’s fingers not being able to grip the Octabox? Read a couple reviews on Amazon. Some say this was an issue, others don’t mention it. I would love to hear from the guys at Improve Photography (first hand experience). Thanks!!
Hi. I have a sony a58 camera and I was wondering what sony adaptor should I purchase to use with the Yongnuo YN-560 I I I Flash and Yongnuo RF 603 triggers? I purchased the flash and triggers and the Sony ADPAMA shoe adapter and it won’t slide into my cameras hotshoe. Would the Sony ADPMAA shoe adapter work? I can get the Yongnuo flash to work on my camera but not off camera with these triggers. I really want to use this with the triggers so I can buy an umbrella/softbox etc. Thanks in Advance for any advice. 🙂