How to Control Reflections

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Reflections can be one of the most annoying things to ruin a perfectly good photo. They're very hard to deal with in Photoshop and that’s what makes them a real problem when they occur.

Reflections are the result of multiple causes. It’s one thing to deal with a water surface or shiny chrome and glass outdoors, and another when you get reflections while shooting a model indoors, in studio conditions.

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The thing about reflections is that they are completely related to the size and position of the light source. If you want to take a picture of koi fish in water, you're pretty much at the mercy of the sun unless you have a circular polarizer with you. But if you shoot a model with a pair of sunglasses in the comfort of your studio, it’s going to be different, yet shockingly similar. It all depends on what kind of light modifier you use and where you put the flash. Lenses and glass in general are a nightmare when it comes to reflections.

I have a good friend who’s been photographing products for different glass manufacturers for many years and I have a lot of respect for him because I’ve tried doing his work and it’s crazy hard. Glass is very tricky and it doesn't matter if it’s a pair of shades or an expensive wine glass. The most important thing is finding the best position for your light source. That’s what’s going to make the difference and it usually comes after a lot of testing. You're still going to get some reflections even if you position your light source in the best place, but they're going to be a lot more manageable later on in post-processing.

Here is photographer Gavin Hoey with a demonstration of control over reflections in studio conditions in a video by AdoramaTV.

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