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Setting Up Reflectors for Natural Light Photography

Natural light can be used to enhance photographs taken outdoors. However, it can also create unwanted shadows on the subject. A reflector will bounce natural light onto a subject to prevent and remove shadows and dark spots. Reflectors are available in all shapes, sizes and colors, including silver, gold, diffusion, white and combination panels. Fold-up reflectors that are small enough to be folded up and placed in a camera bag are available.

Things You'll Need

Light reflector panels

Instructions

- 1
  Shoot the photograph with the sun behind you. This way, the sun will fall onto the subject instead of creating a silhouette of it.
- 2
  Place a reflector in front of the subject tilted up at a 45-degree angle. This works best when placing the subject underneath a tree or within a shadow.
- 3
  Hang a reflector on either the left, right or both sides of you -- the photographer -- between you and the subject. The reflector should be on a slight angle so it bounces the sunlight up toward the subject. Have an assistant hold the reflector about waist high if you do not have a stand to put it on.
- 4
  Have the subject hold the reflector near his torso. This technique works great when shooting head shots outside.

Photography