A flash device for a photographic camera is arranged either to inhibit a flashing action or to shift the control mode of the camera from flash photography to daylight photography in cases where an object to be photographed is located outside of the adequately operatable range of distance. A pre-flashing action is performed to detect a distance to the object when a main capacitor is charged to a given level before the capacitor is amply charged for flash photography. Then flash photographing is performed at an aperture value determined on the basis of the detected distance when the distance is within the adequately operatable distance range. In the case where the detected distance is outside of the adequately operatable distance range, the main capacitor is further charged for an increased flashing power. After that, a distance to the object is again detected by a second pre-flashing action before the flash photographing is carried out at an aperture value determined on the basis of the distance detected by the second pre-flashing action. The flash photographing arrangement thus permits seizing a shutter chance in flash photographing an object located at relatively short distance without waiting until the main capacitor is amply charged.