The most popular way to make eyes pop, in portraiture,  is by the use of Photoshop or some other editing software in post process.  However, there is a very easy way to do this while taking the picture. Use your flash!

I love natural light, but sometimes there just isn’t enough available (long winter be gone!)   So, I have learned to embrace the use of my flash.   Before I got my Canon Speedlite 580EX II, an external flash for my Canon Rebel XTi, I learned how to use my flash as fill.  I found this great article about the use of flash over at Dan Heller Photography. Once I understood a bit about how the flash can be used as fill as opposed to a direct light source, I started to feel comfortable with it.  I urge you to do the same.

Here’s a picture that I took of my son, Mikey, without using any flash:

And here’s the image using flash as fill:

Not only did it make his eyes pop out, it also made his skin look creamier.

Flash is not your enemy if it is used properly.  I will explore and share more articles with you about the use of flash.  Until then, Happy Popping!