scenicsabound

PrettyCranium - first question - what camera body do you have? If it supports CLS the first thing is to get your flash off your camera. then you can use reflectors and diffusors to control and soften the light. And these do not need to cost you anything. Pieces of white foam-core and thin white cloth will work fine. I use the foam-core a lot with flash for macros. One piece can be used to bounce the flash off of and onto the subject, another piece can be used on the other side of the subject to provide 'fill lighting' by reflecting the light onto the shadowed side of the subject. Think of macro lighting just like portrait lighting and you will get great results.

Thank you, now need to sort out a name for myself, like I said im very new to all this, looking forward to learning, thank you again.

Clare - your watermark should have your 'real' name within the copyright - something like  'Copyright Clare Smith'. I would question if a watermarked copyright message of 'Copyright ThruClaresLens' would have much weight unless 'ThruClaresLens' was a registered company. Something to keep in mind.

I only shoot occasional events however I do use my flashes extensively for fill lighting/effect lighting and I have found the Energizer Nimh rechargables to be very effective. They hold a charge well, have lots of current (2300mah) and have lasted much better than any other brand I have used to date. I bought 3 sets (12 batts) almost 2 years ago and rotate them through my flashes - still working strong. I primarily use a Nikon SB-910 and I have a Metz 50AF-1 as secondary - boths flashes work great with them. 

I use the Nikon CLS system for a lot of my work. When I do need RF capabilities I use the Cactus V5. They are inexpensive and actually work very well (but are not TTL or CLS compatible of course). Having flashes with good manual adjustments come in very handy (Like the Nikon SB-910)

The Metz 50AF-1 has always worked well for me, however I have recently added the Nikon SB-910 to my arsenal and it it head & shoulders above the Metz. Looks for SB-600, SB-700 or SB-800 in the used market - all are very good flashes. Just make sure the flash you buy is compatible with the Nikon iTTL system which your camera uses. Older Nikon flashes will not support this.

You mention doing portraits so whatever flash you buy make sure it has full tilt and swivel capabilities. This is very important as it will allow you to easily 'bounce' your flash off ceilings and walls, producing a much better image and better control of shadows.