The humble 5 in 1 reflector is the low cost gadget that every photographer should have. It’s cheap, it’s foldable and easy to use… except almost no one uses the black side correctly. It’s the most misunderstood surface of the whole kit, but once you know how to use it, it becomes a powerful way to shape light, block spill, deepen shadows and create dramatic portraits without expensive gear. In this tutorial photographer Gavin Hoey walks you through three practical lighting techniques that will help you learn to love the dark side of the 5-in-1. 1. Block bounced light light: Bright white studio walls contaminate the shadows on your portraits but as Gavin dramatically demonstrates, simply placing the black side of a reflector beside your subject instantly adds contrast and depth. 2. Create a clean, directional “beam of light”: By stacking two reflectors between the flash and the model, Gavin carves out a narrow slice of light with crisp shadow edges. Perfect for dynamic portraits in the corner of a small home studio. 3. Make an “eclipse” background in camera: Using a round 5-in-1 reflector, Gavin creates a dramatic solar eclipse style halo behind Chloe and finishes it off with a red glowing gel. Whether you're learning studio lighting for the first time or refining your portrait workflow, this is a simple, affordable way to add professional light control to your home studio. Timestamps and Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:31 Gear in this video 1:04 How to block bounced light 2:06 Blocked vs bounced light 2:37 Making shadows with a black 5in1 4:03 Beam of light from two 5-in-1 reflectors 4:49 Creative use of a round 5in1 reflector 6:15 Solar Eclipse style portrait session 6:53 Conclusions and Subscribe SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY: ➥ __________________________________ Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama! 🔷 Save 5% Every Day† or Special Financing* On purchases of $199+ with the Adorama Edge Credit Card. Learn More: __________________________________ ✘ GEAR USED: Glow 5-in-1 Collapsible Circular Reflector with Handles (42") Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro II Flashpoint XPLOR 100 Pro Flashpoint R2 Pro Transmitter Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket Flashpoint AK-R1 Accessory Kit Glow EZ Lock 12x36" Quick Strip Softbox Flashpoint 10’ C-Stand and Grip Arm Sekonic L-308 Flash Meter OM SYSTEM OM-1 OM SYSTEM 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II #lightingtutorial #studiolighting #adorama __________________________________ ❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏ ➥ TikTok @adoramanyc ➥ Facebook ➥ Instagram ➥ X ➥ Discord ❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏ ➥ Shop ➥ Blog ➥ Adorama Events @AdoramaEvents __________________________________ Follow Gavin Hoey on Model: Chloe Kerley __________________________________ THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!