What options do I have for lighting my still pictures with an external flash?

What options do I have for lighting my still pictures with an external flash?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: Why would I use the "image stabilizer" feature?; How do various image stabilizers differ?; What shutter speed range do I need for my digital camera? and more...

The built-in flash on our compact digital camera, very small light source, gives great red eye. If you switch to the SLR type camera, once again we have a small light source, gives great red eye. Remember the small light source, good to shoot 8 to 10 feet, no farther. To get rid of the red eye, the best way to eliminate the red eye is to turn off the small flash and add a big flash to the camera. The big flash to the camera, what it does: number one, it moves the flash farther away from the lens, and number two, gives you a larger light source. This light source is 8-10 times bigger than the built-in flash, giving less red eye and better pictures. So the bottom line, to get less red eye, big flash. I know, moms, you don't want to hear that. You don't want to carry a big flash anymore. But to get the pictures you want, that's the professional quality secret.