How To Use V-Flats For Portraits

Many new photographers struggle with how to use V-Flats for portraits, when in reality they’re actually super simple to use, give professional results, and are way cheaper than strobes.

This guide will show you how to use V-Flats to shape the natural light you find around you, so you can sculpt your subject in better light.

Contents hide

Why You Should Use V-Flats And Where To Get Them

Ways to Use V-Flats For Portraits

Bounce Light With the White Side

Create Negative Fill Contrast With The Black Side

Use as a Flag for Light Control

Use as a Background

Key Takeaways

V-flats are professional grade light shaping tools that can be used to augment natural light or control studio strobes.
Main uses: Bounce light to soften shadows, create negative fill for contrast/drama, flag to block/spill light, and serve as quick black/white backgrounds.
Easy to acquire: Buy turn key v-flats online or make DIY v-flats with foam core and gaffers tape.
Alternatives: Collapsible backgrounds for portability, seamless paper for wider coverage in groups, polystyrene from a hardware store if you can’t find foam core in your area.

Why You Should Use V-Flats And Where To Get Them

V-flats are an essential tool for controlling light, especially when crafting portraits. Typically, they consist of two 4′ x 8′ foam core boards (black on one side and white on the other) and are taped together with gaffers tape. This tape acts like a hinge, allowing them to stand upright by themselves like an open book.

The reason V-flats are white on one side and black on the other is to provide versatility in controlling light and shadows. This simple, yet effective design allows you to add fill to shadows, make shadows deeper or even flag or redirect light from strobes or ambient light.

The easiest way to acquire V-flats is to order the foldable ones online. If you’re on a budget, you can build a DIY set by sourcing foam core boards from a local film supplier or polystyrene from the hardware store (more on that later).

Turn Key V-Flats

Adorama
B&H

Ways to Use V-Flats For Portraits

There are 4 main ways I use V-flats for portraits to modify the light on my subjects:

Bounce light: Use them as a way to fill shadows.
Subtract light: Use them to make shadows darker.
Flag: Use them to block or scrim the light.
Background: use them as an easy black or white background.

Bounce Light With the White Side

The white side of a V-flat is perfect for bouncing light, creating fill light to lift shadows. In my experience, this technique softens harsh shadows in portraits, ensuring a more flattering and evenly lit subject.

In the following photos, I used only V-flats and natural light. For the backdrop, I chose a black V-flat for a deep, uniform background. To the right and slightly behind my subject, another V-flat bounced natural light as a rim light, creating a subtle outline that separated her from the background and added dimension.

In front of her, another V-flat reflected natural light onto her face and body. This setup lifted shadows and softened the overall look, balancing light and shadow to highlight features naturally.

how to use V-Flats for fill light in portraits

Create Negative Fill Contrast With The Black Side

Conversely, the black side acts as negative fill, absorbing light to deepen shadows and enhance contrast. This is effective for adding drama or mood to portraits, especially in high-ambient-light locations. It’s also great for sculpting facial features or emphasizing texture.

For the following portrait, I used two black V-flats on either side of my subject to accentuate light falloff from my key light. By creating a tunnel effect, I achieved high-contrast shadows on a bright white background, adding depth and an edgy aesthetic.

Use as a Flag for Light Control

V-flats also serve as versatile flags, blocking or controlling light from strobes or ambient sources. This is crucial for preventing light spill or guiding light precisely in portraits. Using V-flats for portraits in this way enhances subject lighting and maintains consistent quality throughout the shoot.

For the following shot, I used natural window light but flagged the oversized window with two black V-flats to create a strip of light like a strip box. On the opposite side, a white V-flat bounced subtle rim light onto his back to accentuate muscles.

Use as a Background

V-flats can double as simple, effective backgrounds for portraits. Whether needing a pristine white or deep black backdrop, V-flats offer a quick solution without setting up seamless paper. This setup creates varied looks in tight spaces, providing a clean, uncluttered backdrop that keeps focus on the subject.