Why V-Flats Are So Useful for Photography

Lights and modifiers for them can quickly add up in cost, but one of the most useful lighting tools a studio can have is surprisingly cheap and low-tech. This excellent video tutorial will show you why v-flats are so useful and how to incorporate them into your own work. 

Coming to you from Gavin Hoey with Adorama TV, this great video tutorial will show you why v-flats are so great for studio work. V-flats are quite simple compared to most photography tools, as they are simply free-standing pieces of foam or something similar with white on one side and black on the other side. Photographers use the white side as a large reflector that creates a soft light source, while the black side is used to add shadows and contrast to sculpt features or add more depth. In addition, they can easily fill in as a dark or light background. Of course, with such a large footprint and such a light weight that makes them easily blown away, v-flats are best left in the studio, but when used there, they are quite a boon, as they are affordable, easy to maneuver, and highly versatile. Check out the video above to see how they can benefit your work. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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2 Comments

Time for me to head to Home Depot to pick up materials to make my own V flats, thanks for the video.

A veteran sports & fitness photog I assisted turned me on to portable V-flats. Cut a single 4'x8'x3/8" sheet of foamcore in half in both directions to make four 2'x4' sections. Tape two sections together along a long edge to make one 4'x4' V-flat. Then use clamps to stack one 4x4 on top of the other. I made two sets and even chopped down a cardboard refrigerator box to make a box in which to transport the kit. Fits in a taxi trunk. Use 'em as flags, to light backgrounds, or even for key and accent lights. SO versatile.