Why Use a Reflector?
A reflector is a simple but powerful tool that bounces light onto your subject. It's primarily used to:
* Fill in Shadows: Reduces harsh shadows, creating a more balanced and flattering light.
* Add Catchlights: Creates small, bright reflections in the subject's eyes, making them look more alive.
* Shape the Light: Gives you control over the direction and intensity of light.
* Provide a Key Light (Sometimes): If you have strong sunlight or flash, it can act as your main light source.
Part 1: Building a DIY Reflector
There are several ways to build a reflector. We'll focus on a simple, inexpensive, and highly effective method using foam board.
Materials:
* Foam Board:
* Size: 20x30 inches or 30x40 inches are common sizes. Bigger is often better, but can be harder to handle by yourself. Start with 20x30 to begin with.
* Color: The most important thing is to buy foam board in at least 2 different colors. Usually this will involve a white foam core board and then a silver or gold. You can also buy black foam core board, or paint one side black.
* White: Provides a soft, natural fill light.
* Silver: Bounces a brighter, more specular (harder) light. Good for adding punch or sparkle.
* Gold: Adds warmth to the light, creating a golden hour glow. Good for adding warmth to an image.
* Black: Used as a "negative fill" to *absorb* light and increase contrast, defining shapes.
* Optional Materials:
* Aluminum Foil: Can be crumpled and smoothed onto foam board for a DIY silver surface (not as smooth/even as purpose made silver board, but much cheaper)
* Spray Adhesive: If you want to permanently attach foil or fabric to the foam board.
* Clamps/Tape: To hold the reflector in place.
* Stand or Holder: (Optional, but highly recommended) A light stand with a reflector holder can be a big help, especially when working alone. You can also use a music stand in a pinch.
* Scissors or Utility Knife: For trimming.
* Ruler/Straight Edge: To ensure straight cuts if you're modifying the board.
* Sandpaper (Optional): To smooth any rough edges after cutting.
Construction Steps:
1. Choose Your Surface: Decide what kind of surface you want. You can use the foam board directly (white), or create a silver or gold surface by applying foil or fabric.
2. Optional: Create a Silver or Gold Surface (if using foil or fabric):
* Foil: Carefully crumple a sheet of aluminum foil, then gently smooth it out (don't flatten it completely). This creates a textured silver surface that diffuses the light slightly more than a perfectly smooth foil surface. Spray the foam board with adhesive, then carefully apply the foil, smoothing out any major wrinkles as you go.
* Gold Fabric: Stretch the fabric tightly over the foam board and secure it with spray adhesive or staples.
3. Cut (if needed): If you want a smaller reflector, or a different shape, use a ruler and utility knife to carefully cut the foam board to your desired size.
4. Smooth Edges (Optional): If you cut the foam board, use sandpaper to smooth any rough edges.
That's it! You've built your DIY reflector!
Part 2: Using Your Reflector for Portraits
Understanding Light Direction:
Before we get into specific techniques, it's crucial to understand how light direction affects your portraits.
* Key Light: The main light source. It creates the primary shadows and highlights.
* Fill Light: Used to soften shadows created by the key light. The reflector acts as the fill light.
* Backlight (Rim Light): Light coming from behind the subject, separating them from the background.
General Reflector Placement:
* Angle: The angle of the reflector is critical. Experiment to see what provides the best fill.
* Distance: Closer usually means brighter fill, but can also be more obvious. Farther away provides a subtler fill.
* Position:
* Below the Subject: Can fill shadows under the chin and eyes. Be cautious, as it can sometimes create unflattering "monster lighting" if too strong.
* To the Side of the Subject: The most common and versatile placement.
* Above the Subject: Less common, but can be useful to bounce light down into the subject's face if the key light is very high.
Reflector Techniques for Common Lighting Scenarios:
1. Open Shade: The most common and ideal scenario for using a reflector.
* Problem: Even, but often flat, light. Can lack dimension and catchlights.
* Solution: Position the subject in open shade (e.g., under a tree, in the shadow of a building). Place the reflector opposite the direction of the key light (the open sky). Experiment with the angle and distance of the reflector to fill in the shadows on your subject's face and add catchlights.
2. Direct Sunlight: Can create harsh shadows and squinting.
* Problem: Strong, unflattering shadows.
* Solution: Try to find a place for your subject where they're backlit, and the direct light is behind them. Use the reflector to bounce the light back onto your subject's face. This will reduce the shadows created by the backlight, but still give the subject a nice rim light around their hair.
3. Overcast Days: Similar to open shade, but the light is even more diffused.
* Problem: Very soft light, but can lack contrast and be a bit dull.
* Solution: Use a silver reflector to add a little more punch and contrast to the image. Position it as you would in open shade, but be mindful of the increased brightness.
4. Indoor Portraits (using window light):
* Problem: Light is coming from one direction creating shadows on one side of the face.
* Solution: Position the reflector on the opposite side of the face from the window. Use a white reflector for a soft fill light or a silver reflector for a stronger effect.
5. Using Black Foam Board to Remove Light:
* Problem: Too much light bouncing into your subject. Could be too much window light, or light bouncing off the walls and floor.
* Solution: Place the black foam core board just out of shot, so that it blocks some of the light from reflecting into the subject. This can create a more dramatic or moody effect.
Tips for Using a Reflector Effectively:
* Practice: Experiment with different reflector positions, angles, and surfaces to see what works best for different subjects and lighting conditions.
* Observe the Light: Pay attention to how the light is falling on your subject and how the reflector is affecting it.
* Subtlety: The best reflector work is often invisible. You want to fill in shadows naturally, not create an obvious "reflected light" look.
* Communication: If you have an assistant holding the reflector, communicate clearly about adjustments. "A little higher... a little to the left... more light on the eyes..."
* Watch the Eyes: The catchlights are a great indicator of the reflector's effectiveness.
* Consider the Background: Be aware of how the light from the reflector might be affecting the background. You might need to adjust your composition to avoid unwanted highlights.
* Edit Carefully: In post-processing, you might want to fine-tune the highlights and shadows to further enhance the effect of the reflector.
Troubleshooting:
* Too Much Light: If the reflector is creating too much light, move it farther away, angle it away from the subject slightly, or switch to a white reflector.
* Not Enough Light: Move the reflector closer, angle it more directly at the subject, or use a silver reflector.
* Unnatural Look: Adjust the angle and distance of the reflector to create a more natural-looking fill. Make sure the catchlights are in a pleasing position in the eyes.
In conclusion, building and using a DIY reflector is an easy and affordable way to dramatically improve your portrait photography. Experiment with different materials and techniques to find what works best for your style and needs.