Reflectors from everyday items

A cake server can make your pictures better

A kitchenware store is an excellent source of "found" reflectors that don’t cost too much. For example, foil-covered cardboard cake servers are useful in reflecting bright, partially-diffused light onto small to medium-size objects.

Cake servers are among our favorites. They come in different sizes, which means you can usually find one that can fit into a small space. This means you can get it really close to a tiny subject, where it is most effective. The flat evenness of their stamped indentations causes the light to be sufficiently-diffused, but still bright.

COOKIE SHEETS & TIN FOIL

A bright aluminum cookie sheet is useful when you don't need as much reflectance.

Tin foil or aluminum foil, on the other hand, is highly-reflective. Its light can be harsh, since it is almost mirror-like in its brightness. This characteristic can be handy for some applications. Crumpled foil, stretched over cardboard, gives a more-diffused reflection.

THERE'S ALSO THE AUTO SHOP, LINEN CLOSET & HARDWARE STORE

Don’t overlook the auto store, either, for found reflectors. Car sun shades that have a silvery reflective side work well.

Your own linen closet will provide you with a white bed sheet or table cloth that will reflect soft light onto your subject. The hardware store and building supply outlets are other good locations to seek out inexpensive reflectors. One of our favorites is white styrofoam.

A large sheet (3-feet by 4-feet) of brushed aluminum is an ideal reflector for performer's headshots in black and white or color. Place it flat on a table top and have your subject seated and leaning over the table so the main light illuminates the subject's face while the brushed aluminum provides just enough reflectance to fill in shadow areas beneath the chin and nose.

A word of caution - A sheet of aluminum that is cut to the size you specify will have sharp edges, like a knife blade, that should be covered to protect against cuts. Electrical tape will do the job.

THEY'RE EVERYWHERE

Inexpensive reflectors are all around - the sail of a sailboat, a white beach towel, white poster board - just keep your eyes and imagination open and you will discover many inexpensive or free "found" objects that can double as a light reflector.

Lyle E. Doberstein, for example, sent in the following tip:
"A nice light-weight, compact reflector which I find very handy in the field is an emergency space blanket, which can be picked up at many stores across the country for real cheap. They are made of an aluminium-impregnated polyester which gives them some strength.

Drape it over a makeshift frame of sticks, or whatever nature provides, and ta-da, you have a great reflector. I cut mine in half to make it a little more manageable. Crinkle it up to diffuse the light better. With it in your camera bag, you are also prepared in the event you have to spend a night in the outdoors."

A space blanket has a silvery side, which of course is the side Lyle suggests you use, and a colored side, which could also reflect light, although not as well.

A colored reflector will transfer some of its color to your subject. If the color is gold or silver, that could be beneficial for skin tones, but if it's red or purple, be prepared for an odd-looking picture.

The scene on the right shows two different types of reflectors being used at the same time.

The photographer is obviously shooting facial close-up images.

The commercial reflector provides a very bright reflected light with some diffusion. The model is holding an inexpensive piece of bright white art board (available at any dollar store) to direct some of the light onto her face.

The photographer's assistant is also holding art board, and is standing by for instructions from the photographer. He may use it to provide additional illumination, to wave air towards the model to make it look as though a breeze was moving her hair, or even to block the sunlight and provide shade where needed.