Reflectors are common lighting modifiers that are easy to use for a range of photographic styles and subjects. Reflectors are an inexpensive way to adjust the color, intensity, location, and overall appearance of your lighting source.
Collapsible Reflectors for Fast Lighting Modification
The primary job of any reflector is to reflect or bounce the available light so you can fill in shadows created by directional light like flashes or sunlight. Most reflectors are made of thin yet durable fabric stretched around a metal or plastic frame.
Collapsible reflectors are ultra-portable because you can fold them down into a compact size when not in use.
Reflector Shapes
Reflectors come in a few different shapes to suit your needs. Circular reflectors are the most common, but triangular, oval, and rectangular reflectors are also popular for many subjects.
Curved reflectors work well in studio settings when you want to reduce shadows under a subject’s eyes, chin, and nose. Just position a curved reflector below your subject's face with a lighting stand and you’ll soften the edges of facial shadows.
Common Colors for Portable Reflectors
Silver and gold are the two most common reflector colors. Many reflectors feature one gold side and one silver side so you can switch between warm light and cool light as needed.
5-in-1 reflectors offer five different effects: silver reflector, gold reflector, white reflector, translucent white diffuser, and black-light blocker. Most collapsible reflectors with more than two effects have reversible and removable sheaths around a diffuser panel core.
Reflector Size
Reflectors come in a range of sizes from 12-inch varieties for tabletop use to five-foot varieties for photographing larger subjects like automobiles and family portraits.
It’s relatively easy to handhold a small collapsible reflector, but very large reflectors require a lighting stand (or two) with clamps to keep them in position. As you shop for reflectors, pay attention to if they include handles and if the manufacturer recommends a certain type of reflector mount.
Reflector Kits
Purchasing a reflector kit with multiple color surfaces, a lighting stand, and a reflector mount is a good way to save money while ensuring you have everything you need to use your reflectors correctly.
Collapsible Reflectors for Professional Use
If you’re a busy photographer and you tend to be hard on gear, it’s a good idea to invest in professional-grade accessories. Industry-trusted brands like Manfrotto, Photoflex, Glow, FlexFill, and Westcott produce high-quality, reliable collapsible reflectors.
