Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Believe it or not, there's a lot I can do with an on-camera flash photography that doesn't give the direct flash trendy vibe for portrait photography.
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WEBSITES:
For Photographers: breatheyourpassion.com
For Clients: vanessajoy.com
SOCIAL:
Instagram: Instagram.com/vanessajoy
Tiktok: vm.tiktok.com/7cqGn8
Facebook: Facebook.com/VJoyPhoto
Twitter: twitter.com/vanessa__joy
GEAR USED:
CANON EOS R5: bit.ly/3OACknK
Canon RF 28-70mm 2.0 L: bit.ly/3OhBOef
Profoto A10: bit.ly/4cyf6bM
Glow 5-in-1 42” Reflector: bit.ly/3ZOMF1N
Profoto A1 gels: bit.ly/4qnelWy
Today we’re talking about bounce flash. Believe it or not, there's a lot I can do with an on-camera flash that has a rotating head. We're also bringing in a reflector and some gels. You’re not going to believe how much we can accomplish with this equipment.
Mastering Bounce Flash: The easiest way for me to get fill light is to turn my flash around and point it at a 45-degree angle up and back. Now, my light source is going to become the whole entire wall. A large light source means really soft, nice light, which makes the model look porcelain flawless. It creates beautiful, clean, easy light.
To create light that’s a little bit more angular, I step it up a notch. Instead of going right behind me, I bounce off one wall or the other. I’m still shooting in manual mode. This technique creates more defined jawline and accentuates the textures on what the model is wearing, giving the photos more depth.
Using the Reflector for Negative Fill: I bring in my reflector, the Adorama Glow 5 in 1 42 inch reflector. I love this thing, but I’m going to use the most underutilized part: the black side. This is called negative fill, or taking away the fill light. Light naturally bounces off the wall and back to the model, so I put the negative fill right close to the model to block any reflections coming in, making the result much more dramatic,.
Adding Gels and Studio Definition: I promised we would pop on some gels, so I'm using Peacock Blue,. I start by opening up my exposure to get more directional natural light while aiming for just a subtleness of blue. I point the blue light more towards the wall to fill in the shadow the model is casting. Later, I switch the setup, put the model in a corner, and bounce the flash right off the wall using the blue as the main light to achieve a fully blue look.
Finally, I take off the blue light and use the reflector to shape the model's face. When my assistant holds the reflector right behind me, pointing down and back, we get much more defined shadows underneath her jawline,. It makes it look like I have a studio light, even though I'm just using bounce flash.
I hope this was interesting and inspiring for you, showing ways you can work with an on-camera flash by bouncing it all over walls, using gels, and using a reflector, even as negative fill.
#vanessajoy
Believe it or not, there's a lot I can do with an on-camera flash photography that doesn't give the direct flash trendy vibe for portrait photography.
✅ Get your free trial + 10% off here: HTTP://SQUARESPACE.COM/VANESSAJOY | USE CODE VANESSAJOY FOR 10% OFF
Looking to grow your photography business? Learn how here: breatheyourpassion.com/mastermind-application-form?source=youtube
✨✨Want more photography education? Get 30 days FREE here: vanessajoy.samcart.com/products/photo-insiders-30
💻 My Lightroom Presets: presets.breatheyourpassion.com
--
WEBSITES:
For Photographers: breatheyourpassion.com
For Clients: vanessajoy.com
SOCIAL:
Instagram: Instagram.com/vanessajoy
Tiktok: vm.tiktok.com/7cqGn8
Facebook: Facebook.com/VJoyPhoto
Twitter: twitter.com/vanessa__joy
GEAR USED:
CANON EOS R5: bit.ly/3OACknK
Canon RF 28-70mm 2.0 L: bit.ly/3OhBOef
Profoto A10: bit.ly/4cyf6bM
Glow 5-in-1 42” Reflector: bit.ly/3ZOMF1N
Profoto A1 gels: bit.ly/4qnelWy
Today we’re talking about bounce flash. Believe it or not, there's a lot I can do with an on-camera flash that has a rotating head. We're also bringing in a reflector and some gels. You’re not going to believe how much we can accomplish with this equipment.
Mastering Bounce Flash: The easiest way for me to get fill light is to turn my flash around and point it at a 45-degree angle up and back. Now, my light source is going to become the whole entire wall. A large light source means really soft, nice light, which makes the model look porcelain flawless. It creates beautiful, clean, easy light.
To create light that’s a little bit more angular, I step it up a notch. Instead of going right behind me, I bounce off one wall or the other. I’m still shooting in manual mode. This technique creates more defined jawline and accentuates the textures on what the model is wearing, giving the photos more depth.
Using the Reflector for Negative Fill: I bring in my reflector, the Adorama Glow 5 in 1 42 inch reflector. I love this thing, but I’m going to use the most underutilized part: the black side. This is called negative fill, or taking away the fill light. Light naturally bounces off the wall and back to the model, so I put the negative fill right close to the model to block any reflections coming in, making the result much more dramatic,.
Adding Gels and Studio Definition: I promised we would pop on some gels, so I'm using Peacock Blue,. I start by opening up my exposure to get more directional natural light while aiming for just a subtleness of blue. I point the blue light more towards the wall to fill in the shadow the model is casting. Later, I switch the setup, put the model in a corner, and bounce the flash right off the wall using the blue as the main light to achieve a fully blue look.
Finally, I take off the blue light and use the reflector to shape the model's face. When my assistant holds the reflector right behind me, pointing down and back, we get much more defined shadows underneath her jawline,. It makes it look like I have a studio light, even though I'm just using bounce flash.
I hope this was interesting and inspiring for you, showing ways you can work with an on-camera flash by bouncing it all over walls, using gels, and using a reflector, even as negative fill.
#vanessajoy
