Wedding photographer: Fill Flash. Why are so many photographers scared of flash?

Many photographers are scared of flash, and it is certainly true that less is more and practice makes perfect. If on camera flash is for anything, it is for daylight.

I was once in Jessops for a reason long since forgotten and there was a man stood at the counter buying an SLR. This was back in the days of film, essentially pre-digital but no matter.

So this guy had decided which camera he wanted and was ready to pay for it when the store assistant asked him if he wanted a flash gun for it?

I can't emember the customers exact words but "no thanks, I never take photographs at night" is close enough.

You know in feature films where a defining moment is reached and it all suddenly goes slow motion and the hero acts out in his mind what he wants to do but then it cuts back to real life and he does something more mundane? Well I had one of those moments. In my mind I grabbed this hapless chap by the collar and said "what are you talking about man, if on camera flash is for anything, it is for daylight !".

Of course I did no such thing. Well maybe I raised an eyebrow or something and speculated if ignorance really was what it's cracked up to be.

Needless to say for reportage wedding photography I use on camera fill flash. It is either that or a large reflector in the brides face and what with being a natural reportage photography type where stealth is my middle name, the reflector route is just not an option.

How do I get it right every time? I get a lot of practice.