Post processing flash photos

[Sister]

I don't have good lighting inside my home, so I am forced to use flash when trying to capture pics of my kids. I despise the way flash photos look...what are some good tips for erasing the tell-tale signs of a flash photo in post production. I'm talking "deer in the headlights" eyes and whatnot.

[Rufus]

Hello Sister.

Whilst red--eye removal tools etc, within photo-shop / paint-shop etc, do a very good job, what you really need is to bounce, or diffuse the flash.
If the flash is built into the camera, then I'm sorry to say that you have an almost insurmountable problem. If not, then please let us know what equipment you are using.

Regards,

R.

[Darkside316]

Getting any more natural light in your photos will help... just opening curtains or buying a couple of extra cheap lamps. Experiment!

[Deborah Brown]

I do a lot of pet photos indoors and I use the difuser, like Rufus suggested, and it takes care of the red eye.

[Darkside316]

With my SLR I have no red eye problems. I did however get a Canon S70 as a back up camera and no matter what I do I get red eye indoors. It's terribly frustrating.

[Rufus]

Mind ewe, using an SLR / DSLR doest always mean no red-eye!!

[Sister]

I'm using a fuji finepix z1. I can adjust the flash settings, but I have poor lighting in most of the rooms in my house.

[Rufus]

Hmm, that is a big problem. The effect you dislike so much occurs because the light is projected from the same direction exactly, that you are looking from.
The result, as you say, is flat, poorly detailed, hard-shadowed, red-eyed pictures.
I'm really sorry, but I dont know what to suggest. It's one reason folks dont like compact style cameras....
Sorry.
Sorry + 1

[Rufus]

Ps, Sister..... Did you see this http://www.thephotostation.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24300
which I posted some time back?

[cwbsr]

My panasonic has an onboard flash, but also has a hotshoe. I am wondering which flash would be good to purchase.

[Rufus]

First, check what "trigger voltage" it can stand.
Trigger voltage is the voltage across the centre and outer pins when the flash is charged.
Different cameras tolerate different voltages, so be careful!!

[Sister]

Ah, interesting stuff. Thanks so much for the suggestions, I'll have to look into this further. :)