During a 7 a.m. headshot session, my speedlight slid off the cold shoe, pinged off a silver reflector, and belly-flopped into the client’s coffee right as I said “one, two, three.” Whoever posted about the lens cap saga, I felt that — what’s your best mid-shoot pratfall that still somehow produced a keeper?
My speedlight did a swan dive during a product shoot and the splash made a surprisingly perfect rim light — client thought it was intentional. Since then I loop a 6-inch paracord tether from the flash to the stand and use a locking cold shoe, which has saved me when the “one, two, three” jitters hit. If you hate cords, a $10 locking shoe alone is a solid safety net.