What it does
White = neutral soft fill; silver = brighter specular fill; gold = warm fill. Size matters: larger reflector = softer returned light.
Modifiers
Reflector
Reflectors bounce existing light (sun, window, flash spill) back into shadows — no extra power draw.
See it in a real setup
Best example in this library
Beach Silver Reflector Fashion
Back sun plus a large silver reflector creates bright commercial fashion light without bringing a strobe.
Open setup board →
What it looks like
Common ways to use this tool
Pick a usage path, then open the linked setup board to see placement, variations, and on-set notes.
Open the shadow side
Window White Bounce Portrait
White returned into the shadow cheek lifts the ratio without adding a second direction — the light still comes from one place.
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Bounce as the key
Golden Sun Reflector Portrait
With the sun behind the subject the panel is the only thing lighting the face: the reflector is the key and the sun is the rim.
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How to use this tool
When to use it
Window portraits, sun rims, budget fill, location kits, golden hour bounce.
What to look for in the photo
Second catchlight on shadow-side eye; lifted shadow cheek; silver can add hot specular dot on cheek.
Placement basics
Opposite key source, below chin for eye sparkle or beside cheek for fill ratio. Assistant angle matters — flare if aimed wrong.
Distance & power
Closer = stronger fill (approaching 1:1); farther = subtle. Sun + silver close can exceed key brightness — watch squint.
Common mistake
Silver reflector too close on noon sun — burnt cheek specular. Fix: white or pull back distance.
Pro tip
Shoot “no reflector” frame every window lesson — proves bounce value.
Practice on set
- Window key only.
- Add white reflector; aim for 2:1 ratio on face.
- Try silver for punch variant; compare skin specular.
Pairs well with
Window / sun
Window light and sun are the original large soft sources — free, directional, and highly dependent on time of day, sky, and what you place opposite the shadow side.
Scrim / diffusion
Scrims are diffusion frames — silk, 1/2 stop, 1/4 — placed between sun and subject to enlarge the source.
Foam board
Foam board is the budget flag/bounce — white for fill, black for reflection control on products and faces.
Related setups
Strongest matches for this tool — 8 of 29 shown. Browse all in the library →
Natural Light
Window Backlit Reflector Portrait
Subject backlit by a bright window with a white reflector controlling how much fill reaches the face — from silhouette to soft glow.
1 lights
map12
Events
Speedlight Bounce Reflector Fill Event
The lesson is the fill tool: a bounced speedlight establishes direction while a reflector or bounce card opposite the key opens the shadow side at weddings and receptions.
1 lights
map12
Control
Black Flag Portrait Control
A soft portrait key paired with a close black flag to absorb spill and deepen the shadow side without changing the key light.
1 lights
map123
Beauty
Clamshell Beauty
One round beauty dish above the lens, silver reflector below — classic clamshell with a single strobe.
1 lights
map12
Natural Light
Handheld Scrim Sun Portrait
An assistant holds a portable scrim or diffusion frame between hard sun and the subject for soft outdoor portrait light without a studio kit.
1 lights
map12
Commercial
Large Scrim Food Table Daylight
A large scrim turns hard window daylight into a broad, directional food-table source, while a white bounce opens the plate and a black card opposite restores appetizing texture and depth.
1 lights
map123
Hard Sun
Mirror Bounce Sun Fashion
A small mirror or shiny board turns direct sun into a hard, movable beam for urban editorial portraits.
1 lights
map123
Daylight
Overhead Scrim Daylight Portrait
A daylight portrait using an overhead scrim to diffuse hard sun, then reflector or negative fill to tune the face.
1 lights
map123