They transform flat lighting from your main light source and add a little drama to the scene. Photography reflectors are essential tools to manage any available light source and impact your subject and exposure. These don’t fold down and are best for studio settings where you don’t have to move them around. Much like a pop-up tent or sun shelter, the reflector frame allows you to fold down the reflector into a smaller shape that fits in a pouch.Īs a result, these are ideal for travel and storage for photographers on the move.īoards and bounce boards are stiffer and made from durable cards or core-board. Most reflectors feature a soft reflective coated material held in shape by a flexible frame. Triangular reflectors are great for photographers capturing headshots. Their triangular shape makes it easier to hold one-handed and point the reflector directly at the subject.
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Their elongated height allows for light to be directed to the full body of a model. Rectangular – Rectangular reflectors typically come in larger sizes and are ideal for full-body portraits and group shots.They come in various sizes and typically fold down into a compact form for storage and transport. Round – The most common reflector shape is round.The most common size is 42,” and it’s recommended for ease of use and coverage of most subjects. However, if you’re always on the go and have to travel with your kit in a bag, a small 30″ reflector would suit. If you shoot full-body outdoor portraits or groups shots, then a larger 50″ photography reflector is ideal. So what size photography reflector is best? Reflectors come in all different shapes and sizes – choosing the right one depends on your shooting style and how much light is available. The sheets work much like a photography backdrop as they attach to a backdrop stand or frame. Sheets – Many photographers and videographers will often use a reflector sheet to direct a lot of light.Board reflectors are also known as flats, planes, and bounce boards. Board – Board reflectors are flat, stiff boards that bound the light towards a subject.Rather than reflect light, you shoot a flash through the diffuser to soften the light. Diffuser – The diffuser reflector is also known as translucent and is usually a milky white material.These are typically made from a soft and flexible material. Reflector – The most common type of photography reflector is, of course, one that reflects light from the sun or artificial light sources.Other combination reflectors feature slip-on covers to replace the reflective surface with silver, gold, black, and white. There may be gold on one side and silver on the other. Combination – A combination reflector will typically feature at least two different reflector colors.The translucent material is ideal for firing a flash or speedlight through and creating a soft light. Translucent – The translucent reflector doesn’t actually reflect light – however, many reflector kits include one.That way, the warm and cool light is directed to the subject. Zebra – A zebra reflector features stripes of two colors, such as gold and silver.A silver reflector is used outdoors to direct sunlight onto a subject. Silver – A silver reflector is a common choice as it reflects the light towards a subject without overly changing the temperature of the light.Gold can be used indoors or outdoors to cast a golden light on a subject. Gold – A gold reflector is a common choice for portrait photographers that want to add a sun-kissed look to photos.Black – Why would a photographer use a black reflector? The truth is that black surfaces are ideal for portrait photography to cut down highlights and cast more shadows on areas of the image.A white reflector bounces a good amount of light without causing excessive contrast in your photos. White – When people ask, “What is the best light reflector?”, I generally answer that it all depends on your style of photography – but for all-around use, a white reflector is best.
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Let’s take a look at the common colors so you know how to choose the best one for you. If you walk into a camera store or shop online, it’ll become evident that there are different colors of photography reflector available. Colourįor those new to using these, it raises the question: what colors are good reflectors? Here are the 5 key things you need to consider when choosing a photography reflector.