Although your events may be done using ambient light, there are situations where the lighting situation might not be ideal to turn out good pictures. That is why use of an external flash plays an important role in assuring great shots.

Automatic flash is a great device for solving everyday lighting problems, but unless used with care it can produce problems of its own in digital flash photography.

1. Indoor shoots
While many opt for a casual outdoor events, there are some others who would prefer to have their events indoors, such as in a hotel, clubhouse and home. While shooting indoors, it is impossible to expect to shoot using ambient light. The use of an external flash here would ensure that your subjects are correctly exposed. So use external camera flashes.

2. Outdoor shoots
During outdoor shoots, when faced with a strong backlight, the camera's exposure settings will automatically underexpose the subject to compensate for the bright background. Using a flash will illuminate the subject, hence preventing them from being underexposed.

With a little creativity, it is possible to achieve some special effects just with the use of the flash settings. For instance, slow sync mode can be used to blur the background of a picture but still keep the subject sharply focused. This effect can be achieved by moving the camera very slightly after the flash has fired.

Good Luck!