An example of cheap off-camera flash, as I described this morning in a forum post elsewhere:

Very simple and inexpensive wireless flash setup that works:

Take any two cheap flashes. I use a Pentax AF-280T and a Vivitar 283HV, but the brands are not very important. What you need is  one flash that has an old-fashioned “auto” setting and a way to be controlled by an optical slave, such as a Wein Peanut (about $15). It’s nice if the second flash has tilt/swivel, but not vital.

Set the slaved Vivitar to auto 5.6 (or whatever f/stop works for your photo). Place it wherever you want it to illuminate your scene. Put the 280T on the camera hotshoe. Swivel the 280T so it’s facing away from the subject, if you don’t want its light involved in the photo. (You can also simply use an index card and tape to reduce its power, or a manual setting if it has one.)

Set the camera to 1/180 and 5.6 (or f/stop of your choice, above).

Test.

Fire away.

The old auto flashes are very nearly as accurate in their exposure as TTL of any flavor. And they are much cheaper. You can get 283s for $50 or less.

Been using this for years. It’s very nearly as good as the wireless Canon system I also have, and hundreds of dollars cheaper.