How to Photograph Reflective Objects

Turn off your camera's built-in flash. This flash can create highlights that reflect back into the lens because it cannot be angled or altered.

Place the object near a source of natural light, such as outside or near a window. This diffuse light will help to reduce glare.

Mount a hot-shoe flash onto your camera by sliding the protector cap forward out of your camera's hot-shoe mount and then sliding the metal contacts of the flash into the mount. Lock the flash in place and turn the flash on. To diffuse the light, put a diffuser cap over the flash head and aim the flash away from the object--towards the ceiling, a nearby wall or in the opposite direction of the item. This will create a diffuse, soft light without glare.

Place a large white reflector or a white card next to the item, allowing the light to reflect back onto the object. This reduces the amount of light needed to create a good exposure.

Meter your subject using your in-camera light meter or an external light meter. If you are using your camera's light meter, point the lens at several different areas of the photograph and set the camera using the average of these settings. If you are using an external light meter, set the light meter to take an incident meter reading and meter the light falling onto the subject by placing the meter next to the subject. Make sure your light meter is not reading off any highlights or hot spots in the image, as this can cause your photo to be overexposed. Once the subject is metered, set the camera to the appropriate shutter speed and aperture.

Set your camera's aperture to the widest aperture setting possible. This will allow more natural light and reduce the need for flash.

Take the photograph and check for reflections.