Portraits in natural light with reflectors

11 years 10 months ago #236207 by Archie
If you are going to be taking portraits in natural lighting only with no flash, what are the essential reflectors you would have on you? I don't have any and going to buy.

Thanks!


,
11 years 10 months ago #236247 by KCook
A just got my first reflector, a 5-in-1 folding kit. Lots of fun to play with, a few early thoughts:

Silver packs a lot more punch, and is a whole lot more directional than white. Tricky enough that I'd like an assistant to wrangle the silver reflector. But should be very effective when the shot is wide and needs the reflector to be some distance away.

White is a whole lot easier to live with. For closeups I can hold the white reflector in one hand while still operating the camera with the other hand. Much lower "output" than silver, so needs to be fairly close to the subject or really LARGE.

This 5-in-1 kit included a translucent scrim, which is not exactly a reflector. But I still find good uses for it, at least for closeup work.

White reflectors can easily be cooked up on a DIY basis with ordinary foamboard, bought from a crafts store. But for location shooting a folding (cloth) reflector is handier for me.

Fun topic to Google -

www.photographytalk.com/photography-arti...oor-bridal-portraits

digital-photography-school.com/reflectio...le-light-photography

blog.microstockgroup.com/reflecting-light/

jazphotographyblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/...ernately-titled.html

neilvn.com/tangents/2010/02/23/simple-on-location-lighting/

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

,
11 years 10 months ago #237000 by Ziggy


Photo Comments
,
11 years 10 months ago #237020 by KCook
I will bet that these 5-in-1 jobs all come out of the same shop, then are sold under different names. Mine is the 22" size. Perfect for what I got it for, cramped aircraft interiors. But I can see where a bigger one would be much better for full length portraits. I think you get a lot of bang-for-the-buck with these, regardless of size.

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

,
11 years 10 months ago #237036 by John37
I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:

"The most endangered species? The honest man!"
,
11 years 10 months ago #237197 by SJM

John37 wrote: I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:


Didn't Ritz just file for BK?

Country guy living in the big Apple!
Photo Comments
,
11 years 10 months ago #237265 by John37

SJM wrote:

John37 wrote: I have the 5-in-1 from Ritz Camera. It came with a heavy duty stand, which has been really useful. It really helps when I'm shooting in mid-day sun. It was a little pricy at $110. But people don't like me very much, so I have to resort to a stand instead of a friend to hold it for me! :lol:


Didn't Ritz just file for BK?


Chapter 11 if I remember correctly. This would be there 2nd time. Good riddens to them! :dry:

"The most endangered species? The honest man!"
,

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Latest Reviews

The Olympus Pen E-P7 is an affordable micro four thirds mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities, a 20.3MP sensor, and 121 focus points, making it a solid entry-level camera for beginners.

May 13, 2024

The Panasonic G9 II is a 25.2-megapixel micro four thirds camera with numerous features that make it punch out of its weight class, like 779 AF points, 5.8K video, and weather sealing.

May 10, 2024

The Fujifilm XT5 is a 40MP mirrorless camera capable of 6.2K video at 30p. With those specs, it’s an ideal choice for photographers needing a camera to pull double duty for imaging and video.

Apr 25, 2024

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024

Latest Articles

The Olympus Pen E-P7 is an affordable micro four thirds mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities, a 20.3MP sensor, and 121 focus points, making it a solid entry-level camera for beginners.

May 13, 2024

Starting a photography business is one thing; sustaining your business over a long period of time is another. Use the tips in this professional photography guide to build something with longevity!

May 13, 2024

The Panasonic G9 II is a 25.2-megapixel micro four thirds camera with numerous features that make it punch out of its weight class, like 779 AF points, 5.8K video, and weather sealing.

May 10, 2024

Cinematic photography is an interesting genre that combines photographic and videographic skills along with effective storytelling techniques. The result? Highly impactful images!

May 09, 2024

Newborn photography requires skill, the right gear, and a lot of patience. This beginner’s guide discusses critical topics that will help you be more prepared for before, during, and after the shoot.

May 08, 2024

To fill the frame means to expand the footprint of the subject in your shot. Get in close, zoom in, crop the image, or use other techniques to bring the subject to the forefront.

May 06, 2024

With these simple yet effective beginner photography tips, you can avoid some of the common mistakes beginners make and get improved results with your images.

May 06, 2024

Urban photography is a genre showcasing features in urban settings. You can photograph people, architecture, mass transit, and many other subjects. Learn how to do so in this guide!

Apr 30, 2024