Improving your portraits doesn’t always mean investing in expensive gear. Sometimes, a simple tool like a reflector can make a world of difference. Reflectors are versatile, cost-effective, and easy to use.
Coming to you from Ed Verosky, this practical video explains how reflectors can elevate your portrait lighting in both natural and studio settings. A reflector is a tool that bounces light back onto your subject, softening shadows and balancing your exposure. They come in various shapes and finishes, like silver, gold, white, and black, each creating unique effects. For example, silver reflectors enhance brightness, while gold adds warmth to skin tones. Verosky highlights that you don’t even need a specialized reflector; everyday items like foam boards or light-colored walls can work just as well.
In outdoor portraits, reflectors are especially useful for managing shadows and brightening your subject’s face. Verosky describes a common scenario where a subject is backlit by the sun, leaving their face in shadow. By angling a reflector to bounce natural light onto their face, you can brighten shadows without overexposing the background. He also cautions against reflecting direct sunlight, as it can create harsh, unflattering results and make your subject squint. Instead, soft, indirect light yields more pleasing outcomes.
Verosky explains how reflectors perform in studio or controlled lighting setups. In natural light scenarios, reflectors allow you to fine-tune shadows and highlights. Continuous lights make adjustments straightforward, as you can see the effect in real-time. Using flash, however, requires test shots to find the perfect angle and distance. Once set, reflectors offer consistent results without needing a second light. For solo shooters, reflector stands can help position and stabilize the reflector.
In a classic one-light portrait setup, reflectors replace a second light source to fill in shadows. Verosky illustrates this by comparing shots with and without a reflector. Without it, shadows dominate one side of the subject's face. With the reflector in place, shadows soften, and the lighting appears more balanced. Adjusting the reflector’s distance lets you control the intensity of the fill light, giving you more creative flexibility.
Reflectors also allow you to maximize the efficiency of your existing gear. If you have two lights, one can act as your key light while the reflector takes the role of a fill light. This frees up the second light for other uses, such as creating rim light or enhancing the background. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Verosky.
