How to use reflector skillfully in taking pictures

The reflector is an auxiliary lighting tool for taking pictures. How to skillfully use the reflector in taking pictures? Let's have a look!

Class shape of reflector

In my photographic equipment, I often use four types of reflectors-white, silver, gold and black. I occasionally use a soft screen or a "gauze screen", but I always insist on using a reflector during the illustration shooting of this article. Let me briefly introduce the different types of reflectors I use.

White reflector:

The light reflected by the white reflector is very fine. Because its reflective performance is not very strong, the effect is soft and natural. I found that when I need to add a little light, I often use this kind of reflector to fill in the details in the shadow. This often happens when using window lighting. I just want more details in the shaded part.

Silver reflector:

Because the silver reflector is bright and smooth as a mirror. It can produce brighter light. I found that the silver reflector is my most commonly used reflector, because it is very suitable for my shooting style. I like to "highlight" the eyes of the subject. The effect of this reflector is easily reflected in the eyes of the subject, thus producing a big and bright eye light. I use this reflector outdoors in cloudy weather, and the light mainly comes from above the subject's head. I almost put it directly under the subject's face, so that it is just out of the camera's field of vision and reflects the light from the top to the subject's face. Under cloudy light conditions, the white reflector does not have such a strong effect. Sometimes I use a silver reflector when I use the window for lighting. At this time, the shadow on the mentioned person looks very dark, and I hope it can be bright. But handle it carefully and don't get too full of light. Or excessive lighting will spoil the effect of windows.

Golden mirror:

I use a golden reflector to fill the light during the day. Like a silver reflector, it reflects light like a smooth mirror, but it produces warmer colors than a cold-tuned silver reflector. Although I often use silver reflector as auxiliary light, I often use gold reflector as main light. I have photographed portraits in bright sunlight many times, reflecting the light from the side and a slightly higher position to the face of the subject. Using this reflector has two functions: first, I can get directional light that can shine on the subject's face, and also increase my exposure to the subject's face by one block; Second, it can reduce the exposure difference from the background to the foreground, so that the background will not be seriously overexposed. A few years ago, I took a portrait of my daughter with a golden reflector. I asked her to pose in the shade. At that time, the light was very dim, so I let my wife stand in the sun and hold a golden reflector to reflect the light on my daughter's face as the main light. The effect looks beautiful. In both cases, use gold or silver mirrors carefully. Because the light is very bright, most subjects squint. Tell your assistant where to reflect the light, but don't let the reflector shake before you are ready to shoot. Be quick when you shoot.

Black mirror:

This kind of reflector is different because it is not technically a reflector. It is a "dimmer board". Other reflectors are used according to the method of adding lights, in order to add lights to the scene. The black reflector is used to reduce the amount of light by dimming. Why use a black reflector? For various reasons, we often have to shoot with annoying overhead lights. The face photographed by this kind of light often produces "raccoon eyes". By putting a black reflector on your subject's head, you can reduce the light at the top. At this time, the light comes from under the black reflector, just like under a big tree or a porch, so you can guide the direction of the light. By using another black reflector at the other end. You can create a "funnel" light on the subject. When there is a window on the other side of the room, the light will become dim, so the black reflector is also suitable for window light. If you want to eliminate this intense light competition, you might as well use a black reflector (or hood).

The size of the reflector. Different sizes of reflectors have different effects. The smaller the reflector size, the worse the effect. Not only that, when using the light-increasing reflector, it must be regarded as a light source. This means that the bigger the light source, the closer it is to the subject, and the softer the light. Small reflectors and lamps become point light sources, which will produce hard and clear shadows. As for the light blocking effect of the small black reflector on the portrait. It doesn't have much effect, in most cases it's just because it's too small.

The brightness of the reflector. The brightness of products from different manufacturers varies greatly. I like the most expressive effect obtained by using gold and silver reflectors. So I checked the reflector very carefully.

I have also seen a hybrid reflector that combines silver and gold. I think. Its purpose is to get the maximum reflection, and at the same time, it will not produce too much cold light because you use the silver reflector, or warm light may cause strange color cast in the shadow when you use the gold reflector. I haven't tried this kind of hybrid reflector, but I am very satisfied with the effect of the reflector I have used.

Please look at the illustrations in this article. They show you that reflectors are a very useful tool. With a little practice, they can produce obviously different effects in your portrait photography.

This set of photos shows how to use a reflector to play auxiliary light. The subject is my friend, the famous photographer Chris Betrami. This photo was taken in his room with the window open. The light from one window comes from the left, and the other window is higher, just behind the main body, projecting a small amount of side light to the shadow from the back.