Using reflectors for outdoor senior photos?

[lazuras_dc]

Hey Guys, I have a buddy who is letting me use his multidisc photoflex for some senior photos I'm doing. Never used them before, do you guys have any advice as far as which to select? Or does it just depend on the ambient light and whats going on that day and what you're going for such as warm or soft, etc?

Also any advise on distance and position? Are you basically just trying to eliminate shadowing on the individual? Do you recommend use of fill flash too?

Thanks !

[danchez]

lots of factors on this one... the closer the reflector the softer the light, same thing with size, the bigger the softer, pretty much like any light source. Now as far as which one to select, are you referring to color or size. I prefer using the gold side of my reflector, love the soft warm glow it adds to images. The use of fill flash is totally up to you, but if you position your reflector properly, fill flash shouldn't be an issue. Go out and play with it before you shoot your seniors though. I always learn best when I actually get out there and do it. Good luck and have fun.

[brad]

Be careful to not get lazy and hold the reflector low... unless the flashlight under the chin effect is what you are looking for... you can create what I call "spooky light" that way.

Spot meter, spot meter, spot meter. You can create some great stuff with just a reflector and the right placement...

This was shot with the subject standing in the shade of the house behind her (front door is open, with all the lights off inside). Only the top of her head is being illuminated by the sun behind her... a silver/gold reflector is being held in the sunlight, bouncing it directly back on her. Spot metered to not blow out the white shirt... on an Auto setting like Av, the shirt would be gray and the rest overexposed...

[Bella Pop]

For me (personally) I am a natural light shooter. Sometimes I will use a reflector to bounce back the light. More often I will try to use other things as reflectors... like walls or concrete. You can even wear a white shirt yourself (I have yet to do this) to bounce back some light. The less light left in the sky, the less light you'll have to bounce back naturally - obviously - then you hit that time of day when the subject can be facing the light.

In this shot the sun was still fairly high up but was behind the red wall. The wall then cast a shadow where we put our subject. The light spilled over the wall, then bounced off the concrete and back on the subject. We did not use a reflector at all, just took advantage of that natural light spilling over and bouncing back. hope this helps!