Whether you are focusing your camera lens on portraits, landscapes or any other type of photography, you no doubt agree that natural lighting helps to create some of the most beautiful results. The problem is, sometimes natural light isn't coming to the party, and you need to rely on artificial lighting if you want well-exposed photographs.
When some of us think of flash photography we think of direct flash, which often produces harsher results with deep shadows. However, there are certain techniques that can help us yield more natural-looking flash photography - one of those which we are discussing today is bounce flash. If you're new to flash photography in general, our beginner's guide to flash photography is a great place to start before diving deeper into bounce techniques.
What Is Bounce Flash Photography?
As is suggested in its name, bounce flash photography involves directing the stream of light from your flash unit off another surface before it hits your desired subject, so your subject is not being directly illuminated by the flash, but rather the light that has been bounced. Bouncing the flashes of light in this manner means we avoid some of the drawbacks of direct flash photography, such as heavy shadows and red eye effect.
See the Bounce Flash vs Direct Flash section below for the full comparison between the two techniques.
Where to Bounce Flash for Best Success
Now that you know the benefits of using bounce flash photography, how do you actually go about bouncing the flash? The most common ways to bounce flash are using a ceiling or a wall, making bounce flash particularly successful when photographing indoors. The angle of the light is important when using bounce flash, so trial and error is encouraged - generally you want to angle your flash to the wall or ceiling at an approximate angle of 45 degrees.
Can you enjoy the benefits of bounce flash when you are shooting outdoors, where there aren't any walls or ceilings to lean on? You definitely can, but it will require some improvisation on your part, and the use of separate flash accessories, such as a reflector. Simply position your reflector to shine the light on your subject, enlisting the help of an assistant, and adjust the head of your flash unit to bounce the light accordingly.
Bounce Flash Hints & Tips
Use a speedlight with a bounce head: To direct your flash at the necessary space that you are using for bouncing, it should be a flash gun with a swivelling head, which is otherwise known as a bounce head. This is particularly important if you are using your flash on-camera, as you can focus on composing your subject as necessary, with the freedom to know that you can adjust your flash-head accordingly. While some very basic flash heads simply tilt up for bouncing, more advanced flash units offer various levels of tilting, swivelling and turning.
Use your bounce flash off-camera: An off-camera flash gives you greater control over the direction of the light. You can position the flash to bounce light from different angles, creating more interesting and dynamic shadows that add depth and dimension to your images. Don't forget to use a sturdy tripod or light stand to keep your flash unit safe and secure while you work.
Use multiple flash units: Don't be afraid to get creative with your lighting. Whether you are relying on off-camera flashes, or a combination of on-camera and off-camera units, using multiple flash units allows you to tweak the lighting of your photograph so it matches your vision. If you are using multiple flashes, you need to use gear that talks to each other so you can trigger the flashes remotely. A flash with master capabilities can control other flash units - these other units are called slaves.
Use a bounce card: If you can't find a large bouncing surface to use, a flash card can be attached to your flash gun, helping you soften the spread of the light. This means you can harness this natural effect virtually anywhere.
Experiment with bounce flash settings: As with learning all new photography skills, setting your camera and flash settings for using bounce flash can take a bit of trial and error to master. Using TTL is simple and generally effective, but depending on the distance between you, your bounce surface, and your subject, you may want to consider manually adjusting the flash output. For more advanced flash control outdoors or in bright conditions, it's also worth understanding high speed sync and slow sync flash techniques. For example, if your room is large or ceilings are high, use flash compensation of +1 and test your results.
Bounce off neutral surfaces only: Always check that the surface you're bouncing off is neutral white or light grey - coloured surfaces will cast an unwanted colour tint across your subject.
Other Ways to Enhance the Natural Appeal of Your Flash Photography
As discussed, bounce flash is the best way to achieve natural-looking light from artificial sources, but beyond bounce flash, there are several other techniques worth exploring: If you're also weighing up whether flash is the right choice at all, our guide to flash vs. constant light for photography can help you decide.
- Reflectors can redirect and soften light, filling shadows and mimicking natural highlights.
- Diffusers are placed directly over the flash and they spread and soften the light output, eliminating harshness.
- Blending flash with ambient lighting is a very effective technique that is essential to master. By carefully balancing the flash power with the existing light, you can create a seamless, natural illumination that avoids the telltale signs of artificial lighting, resulting in more realistic and pleasing images.
You'll find bounce flash a fantastic tool for creating natural-looking portraits, giving you that soft, flattering light everyone loves. Browse our range of photography lighting and flash accessories at Ted's Cameras, and don't forget to follow Ted's blog for more flash photography insights.
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Bounce Flash vs Direct Flash: What's the Difference?
Understanding the difference between bounce flash vs direct flash is fundamental to improving your photography. Direct flash fires straight at your subject, creating harsh light, flat images, unflattering shadows, and the notorious red-eye effect. Bounce flash, by contrast, redirects that light off a ceiling, wall, or reflector before it reaches your subject. The result is a much larger, softer light source that wraps around your subject more naturally. Because the light travels a longer path and scatters across a broader surface area, bounce flash photography produces gentler gradients, more flattering skin tones, and three-dimensional depth that direct flash simply cannot achieve. For portrait, event, and indoor photographers especially, choosing bounce over direct flash is one of the most impactful technique upgrades available.
Bounce Flash Examples: Common Shooting Scenarios
Seeing bounce flash examples in real-world contexts helps you understand when and how to apply the technique effectively. At indoor events like weddings or birthday parties, pointing your speedlight upward toward a white ceiling diffuses light evenly across the room, eliminating harsh on-camera flash shadows. For portrait sessions in a studio or home environment, angling your flash toward a nearby white wall creates a soft, window-like light source ideal for flattering headshots. In tight spaces with coloured walls or ceilings, attaching a small bounce card to your flash head redirects light forward while still softening it. Each of these bounce flash photography scenarios demonstrates how adapting your flash angle to the environment consistently produces results that feel natural rather than artificial. Outdoors, where there's no ceiling or wall to work with, using a reflector card as a bounce surface produces subtle fill light that lifts shadows without looking artificial.
For more guidance on getting flattering results indoors, see our tips for great indoor portrait photography.