With natural light photography a photographer is able to capture "the moment" when it happens without breaking up the spontaneity. There are certain advantages of using flash. One of them being stopping motion as it happens. So I always carry two cameras on the wedding day. One with flash and one without flash.
By seeing the natural light you get photos like this. A little more contrasty but much more natural.
You have to see and predict your tones while you are looking through the camera lens. Not only do you have to be aware of what your subject is doing but also how that subject will interact in the whole scene.
The above image works because of walls lighter tones compared to the brides face. The background frames the bride and the natural light shines nicely on her face.
Flash would have comletely ruined the below moment. A flash that is not bounced or off to the side tends to flatten out an image. On an outdoor moment like this there is nowhere to bounce a flash. Instead, by using the existing light, moving to a correct position to use the light as if it were an off camera flash. The moment is preserved by allowing the natural light to shape the scene.
A great example of when flash is needed is to stop action and give the photo a little pop. One great advantage to flash is how it gives a photo the catchlight in the eyes. A photographer should not use direct flash pointing at a subject but should turn the flash head so the light bounces off of a wall or ceiling. This will diffuse the light and softly caress the photo with light around the subject.
I am a huge advocate of a Bride and Groom understanding at least the fundamentals regarding photography. This way they can make an informed decision about the style of photography they want during the wedding day. Some photographers use only natural light. Other photographers only use flash. Some, like me use both, showing a scene in both a flash and natural light situation at the same time.
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