I am a rookie photographer trying to get some good shots with my canon T3i.
I am using a 24-105mm lens, out of Auto mode and trying the TV/A mode for taking pictures. To get good pictures I see that I always have to use my in built flash which 90% of the times gives me bad shadows. How can I avoid that. I am in the market to buy to a good external flash (suggestions welcome), but in the meantime how can fix this issue?

Thanks

Start here:: http://strobist.blogspot.com.au/2006/03/lighting-101.html

Then read everything else on the site for starters.

easiest way is to just bounce the flash

The difficulty lies in the nature of the beast: small built-in flash, close to the lens. Bouncing an external flash and/or getting the light source off-camera completely is a step in the right direction.

But in the meantime----try putting a small piece of tissue over the flash (yeah, I like Kleenex brand on my GF-1 P&S ) It softens the shadows and makes for a temporary larger light source.

And, there's always natural light----just gotta be aware of ambient light quality and direction of light.

I remember when I tried to mess around with my T2i built in flash a while back, including a tissue over the flash which did help. I found the best and easiest thing that helped me when I had a ceiling to bounce off of was using a white business car held slanted in front of the built in flash. You can cut the bottom of the business card just enough to let it sit snuggly. If you have no ceiling try the tissue.

sashcash wrote: I am a rookie photographer trying to get some good shots with my canon T3i. ...To get good pictures I see that I always have to use my in built flash which 90% of the times gives me bad shadows. How can I avoid that.

Using a higher ISO setting, slower shutter speeds, and other parameter adjustments that will increase the amount of recorded ambient light and decrease the amount of flash will help, by lowering the flash-to-ambient contrast. That's not the same as soft light, but it is often perceived as being softer, and -- soft or hard -- often yields a more-pleasing look.

kdphotography wrote: ...try putting a small piece of tissue over the flash (yeah, I like Kleenex brand on my GF-1 P&S ) It softens the shadows and makes for a temporary larger light source.

But don't put the tissue right up agaisnt the flash; that won't enlarge the source, it will only spread its angle of coverage more, which has no softening effect at the subject plane. Place it away from the flash a bit.

Or...

There are various devices you can get to improve the look of built-in flash until you get an external flash. Here are some ideas in addition to those others mentioned:

http://robertscamera.com/photo/flashes/flash-modifiers/pop-up-flash-modifiers/soft-screen.html

http://www.garyfongestore.com/flash-accessories/puffer-pop-up-flash-diffuser.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/photography/hands-reviews/lightscoop-dslr-flash-modifiers

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/popup/

Don't expect miracles from any of these devices, but if you like to experiment they can be fun and most of them are pretty inexpensive.