Sometimes using a reflector can make or break a photo. For example, if you only have one light source that you're using, whether it's a strobe or a window, you'll probably end up with a pretty contrasty photo with bright highlights and dark shadows. While this look can be a good thing, it's not always what you want. By using something to reflect a bit of light back into those shadows you'll get a photo that's much easier to look at and much kinder to your subject.
So what is a reflector? A reflector is anything that reflects light. Sounds pretty obvious, eh? All too often, though, us photographers get caught up in the gizmos and gadgets of photography and just think of a reflector as something made by Lastolite or California Sun Bounce that costs a lot of money. Those companies make reflectors in all shapes, sizes and colors, but those aren't your only options for reflecting light.
One of the cheapest reflectors you can get is a piece of paper. Yes, a plain white piece of copy paper. While it's not necessarily big enough to use in a portrait session, it can work wonders for product or macro work. Just fold it into a tent, set it next to your product and you've got a nice source of reflected light!
If you're shooting something bigger, like a person, you can use large pieces of foamboard, styrofoam or even a bunch of pieces of paper taped together! All of these items can be pretty tough to use in the wind, but in a studio they work just fine.
You'll notice that everything I've mentioned so far is usually white. When you're reflecting light, a white surface will give you a nice, soft light that doesn't affect the color of the light you're using. If you happen to use green paper as a reflector, it will still reflect light onto your subject, but it won't reflect as much as white paper will and it will turn the reflected light green, which will turn your subject green. You can use something that's silver, but it will cast a harsher light than white will. I would avoid using a mirror. Even though mirrors are about as reflective as you can get, they are not generally recommended for use as a reflector unless you need a very harsh and direct light.
Now, how about the size of your reflector? When you reflect light, you're essentially creating a new light source. As with any light source, the smaller it is the harder the light it creates and the larger it is the softer the light it creates. Keep this in mind when you're choosing your reflector.
The distance you hold your reflector from your subject also matters. Because light falls off exponentially as a light source gets farther from a subject, and reflected light is already weaker than the light source, you'll have to get your reflector pretty close to your subject to see a difference.
In the photos below, the light source did not move for any of the photos and the camera settings did not change. The only changes I made were in the use of a reflector and how far away I held it.
In this image, I didn't use a reflector at all. Notice how dark the left side of the face is.
In this image, I used a half-sheet of white paper and held it the same distance from the left side of the face as the light source on the right side of the face.
In this image, I used a half-sheet of white paper and held it half the distance from the left side of the face (closer to the face) as the light source on the right side of the face. Notice how much more fill-light there is.
In this image, I used a large 2x4' piece of styrofoam and held it the same distance from the left side of the face as the light source on the right side of the face. Notice how much more the light wraps around the face compared to the smaller piece of paper that was held at the same distance.
In this image, I used a piece of black paper and held it the same distance from the left side of the face as the light source on the right side of the face. Notice how there is even less reflected light than when there is no reflector. Black "reflectors" just suck up the light.
In the real world, sometimes you have to improvise. In the photo that leads off this article, you'll notice that it looks like there are highlights on the model's face. There are, but not from any direct light. This shot was taken right around 2pm on a sunny Denver day, but we were standing in the shade of a bridge. If you look at the reflections in her eyes, you can see the large sidewalk that was right in front of her just reflecting all that wonderful sunlight into her shady face. Without that reflected light, this photo would be pretty flat. As long as you keep your eyes (and your options) open, you never know what kind of reflectors you'll find!
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