(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best lighting reflectors

> Do you have any advice about how to get the skin tones and eye whites right in the camera before going to the darkroom?

There's only so much you can do; if the lighting in the setting is warm/orange (and our eyes compensate for color temp amazingly well, it takes some time to be able to "see" it) - you can put a cooling filter on the lens, but it also takes some experience to know which filter is best -and then you need a range of filters with you, and you need the time to put them on and off. If you brought your own lights, chances are you have a much better idea of how the colors will render.

But if you're not, say, shooting for a clothing catalog where the product colors need to be as close as reality as possible, sometimes getting the feel of the setting beats color perfection; and a negative is only a starting point. It's not useful at all until it's converted to a positive, and the conversion involves decisions (whether by a darkroom worker, a scanner tech, or the scanner's automated software) - so it's "still analog" if you select those areas and tweak the color. Before computers, you'd mask off certain parts during print exposure and adjust density and colors using the enlarger, nowdays it can be done on the computer.

But for simple portraits in natural light, things like a silver or white reflector to get more light just on the face (there are popup reflectors that have white and silver sides, in several sizes can give a little snap to the image, but you need an assistant or a stand). A flash unit on low power (and often off-camera on a stand) can selectively fill in shadows (it's called fill-flash), but it will also have its own color temperature that may be very different from the setting, where a reflector will be the same tone as the room.

u/solidsimpson - in bright sunlight, scrims and reflectors are your friends. You can use the scrim to soften harsh overhead sunlight and the reflectors for fill, as seen here and here.

A couple of Alzo Easy Frame Diffusers and Reflectors might be a relatively inexpensive solution to this problem, as seen in this product video.

You'll have to control your framing and focal length to keep the scrim and reflector out of the shot.

Hope this is helpful and good luck with your interview!

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Anyone got any recommendations for a beauty dish (or any similar attachments to soften my flash) I can buy? Currently I take my flash out with a 32" softbox and when I'm taking the photos out on the beach, more often than not any wind makes it topple, even with the use of a sandbag. This setup is quite cumbersome, and while I love the results, I want to know if there's any other modifiers that produce a similar effect, but at a smaller size?

Would one of these do the trick?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PhotoSEL-FRS558-Standard-Reflector-Diameter/dp/B0082CM3TE/ref=pd_sim_421_35?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X9ZQ9Q489SAK8WCB3QHG

I already own one of these so I'm assuming they'd work together:

https://i.imgur.com/ZirEXoJ.png

Here's an example photo, I love the softness you get with the soft box, so if it's possible to replicate that on a smaller scale I'd love to know

https://i.imgur.com/dz6fEcp.jpg

I saw some puppy stuff on your list, here is some things I added for my dog (not sure on sizing for my dog with these or what dog you have but they are cool)

Bow Tie

Necktie

A little over but it's an adorable Pink Elephant

For you:
Camera Necklace

Little bit more but they are reflectors for photography.

Leave in Conditioner

You might enjoy this book I found it amusing.

I stole some of your items for my list! Some of them were already mutual lol.

Happy Cake day!

1. Cupcake Liners!
   
   2.Emma Watson is British and so is Simon Pegg
   
   3.The picture of Dorian Grey.
   
   4.How about some colorful Straws?
   
   5.Hummingbirds are Birds, birds are animals and Hummingbirds feed on flower's nectar!
   
   6.Purple Holga!
   
   7.The Game of Life
   
   8.Claire's is my guilty pleasure:(
   
   9.Tool for Cool decorations!
   
   
2. Happy Hippo, ugh BEST ever. If you haven't tried them I urge you to!
   
   11.I need to organize those lipsticks!
   
   12.Photography
   
   13.GPS luggage tags
   
   14.To get that natural look
   
   15.Let's save on packaging and just get them all together
   
   16.I don't like bugs
   
   17.She's too funny
   
   18.Can Draw all three with these
   
   19.Wear them while gardening
   
   20.No Bookstores in my little town
   
   
   And you're getting these!
   
   rthanks for the fun contest!
   

You can buy LED lights if you aren't interested in strobes, but you never know.. maybe you'll really take off! Before I got my strobes, I used these from Promaster for lighting smaller areas and they worked like a charm (keep in mind they can get a little hot - don't cook the baby!). But if you're interested in something a little more professional:

The strobe

I personally use a single AlienBee B800. You may be able to photograph newborns with a B400 (a bit more affordable, but pumps out a little less light) version since it won't require you to light many large areas.

The modifier

Then you'll need a modifier to put on it so you can spread that light around the set cleanly. I prefer to go with Fotodiox products, as they are cheap and affective. I own the Fotodiox 36" Octabox.

Then of course, you'll need decent light stand to put them on.

Depending on how you position your strobe, you may also want to get a little reflector disc so that you can bounce light into areas that are too shadowy in your shot. You can also just do this with a regular ol' white foamcore board.

Excellent image!
Do you have a reflector/diffuser? I find they are useful for adding a bit of natural light under the head.

Something like this:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro-Photographic-Light-Reflector-Collapsible/dp/B000RGPUKM

A good collapsible reflector dish ALWAYS comes in handy. I have this one, and I wish I got one even bigger!

Neewer 5-in-1 Oval 80X120cm/31"x47" Professional Collapsible Multi-Disc Light Reflector with Translucent, Silver, Black, Gold, White surface https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNV6MMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VzUhAbVAG59R2

Also, a good speed light and a Gary Fong diffuser help a ton.

Sounds fun! Keep your body, it's fine until you know you need to replace it for specific reasons; and a lens will be the the most obvious image quality upgrade, not a body. Gear is an expensive wormhole to chase, so upgrade only when you're sure you are limited in some way.

A 50 1.8 is affordable and helpful. A $30 flash and a reflector or two can go a long way for cheap. Do you have anything besides a kit lens now? What's your budget looking like?

Hi!
I would like to set up a home studio to take pictures for my family. Are those kits from Amazon (example link below) decent enough or should I invest in better equipments? Thank you!
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00LK42KJ4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1

This will work great. I recommend having an assistant to help hold it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNV226K/

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It looks like your exposure could use some work. Reflectors would help with that. They are pretty cheap, or you could easily make one by taping foil to a piece of cardboard. A white board reflects a decent amount of light, too, and they are only a few bucks at Walmart.

If you're shooting on-the-fly, and don't have one of the above with you (or someone/something to hold it in position), you can always use your flash for a fill light. Otherwise, just expose for your subject, regardless of whether or not it overexposes your background.

https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Studio-Holder-Attachment-Reflector/dp/B016XQZZR2 is the exact one I use, they are sold under a dozen different names and come from china, I like this style a lot better than the other style ones, and with it all being metal, I am sure it will last dang near forever...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phot-R-22-Inch-Universal-Reflector-Honeycomb/dp/B01AGMM8GU/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=beauty%2Bdish%2Bbowens&qid=1571720863&sprefix=beauty%2Bdish&sr=8-8&th=1&psc=1

You have choices of didn't sizes (though apparently this size is a good choice for portraits and not too small), whiter of silver surface inside (white hours a softer light), honeycomb grid (get one with one) and diffuser stock (get one).

Have fun!

I would recommend a softbox lighting kit and reflector/diffuser to go along with your camera purchase as well! Lighting will make a huge difference in even your phone camera photos.

I'm going to shoot a few senior portraits and have never done any "pro" portraiture. I plan on shooting outdoors with natural light and a reflector. There are way more reflector choices than I was anticipating, so I have a couple of questions:

1. Size: I've read that 40" reflectors are good for half-body portraits. Does that mean that if I decide to take a whole body shot, it will look unnatural or unevenly lit?
   
   
2. Color: I've read in different places that white, gold, or "soft gold" (silver/gold combo) is the best for portraits due to skin tones. Any opinions? Or is this something that I can adjust using WB in light room so I shouldn't worry about it too much?
   
   
3. Stand: How necessary is a stand? Can I just prop up the reflector on a rock or my camera bag, or will that make the light direction bad?
   
   I'm contemplating this Wescott 5-in-1 kit, which seems to have the best quality for the price, but doesn't have the soft gold surface. Also looked at Impact which is slightly more and has the silver/gold surface, but only one review, and a cheaper Interfit kit.

A 12 inch pop up diffuser and a stake holder.

https://www.amazon.com/Collapsible-Reflectors-Photography-Portable-Reflector/dp/B0728H9YK5/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527168975&sr=8-4-fkmr0&keywords=transparent+diffuser+photo+12+inch

https://www.amazon.com/Wimberley-PP-400-Ground-Plamp/dp/B01FOIZ86I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527169170&sr=8-4&keywords=plamp+stake

The Plamp stake holds the diffuser over the flower giving you soft light on the flower, even on sunny days.

Hey guys,

What uses does a lighting setlike this have ? and is it worth it ? I am already planning to buy a backdrop and have 2 wireless flashes.

Need to do some product photography and take some portraits and head shots of family and friends.

We keep one of these in every camera bag. Comes in handy whenever you need a reflector or to white balance.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005M09B4E/

I would say a reflector.

Etekcity 24" (60cm) 5-in-1 Portable Multi-disc Collapsible Photography Photo Reflector https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIHSZCC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_rxGBwbTECZ8MS