The 9 Best Light Reflectors
This wiki has been updated 27 times since it was first published in July of 2018. You could hope that the lighting conditions for your photo or video shoot will be optimal or you could make certain by investing in a high-quality light reflector. These accessories can perform wonders, from softening skin tones to adding color tints for stunning effects. We’ve selected various models and kits suitable for everyone from budding shutterbugs to seasoned professionals. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Westcott 1032 Kit
2. LimoStudio Swivel Set
3. Fotodiox 5x7 Collapsible
Editor's Notes
June 16, 2020:
After a close examination of the selections on our previous list, I decided to get rid of a few that I felt really didn't fit in. While something like the Emart Umbrella Kit or the Emart Studio Kit would come with umbrellas that reflected their included lights, they were more total kits than anything else, and we already have a photographic lighting list, so it was important to me to be sure this ranking was populated with a wide variety of reflectors only. To that end, we also removed the Life of Photo Lightdow White Balance, which is really intended for calibrating a camera's exposure more than anything else. Can it reflect light? Sure, but so can a shaving mirror — that doesn't mean it belongs here.
In their places we introduced things like the Westcott Eyelighter 2, a smartly designed piece of curved material that is intended to sit beneath a model in a beauty lighting setup and cast really flattering fill up at them. You don't have to limit yourself to that, though. There are probably a handful of other instances when that kind of curve could come in handy, especially if you're working with video and you want to try something a little daring.
We also added a reliable 6-in-1 collapsible in the Westcott 1032 Kit, which adds an unusual hue to the standard white, black, gold, silver combination. The company calls it sunlight, and I can say it warms up a fill light in the direction of gold without becoming too yellow for use in most brightly lit outdoor environments.
Special Honors
The Light Bridge CLR This innovative product asks gaffers to reimagine their traditional lighting setups by placing their sources on the ground and pointing them up at the panels that come in any of their exciting kits. The reflective power of each is honed to replicate the effects of specific diffusion intensities and light colors, allowing you to use just two implements for your key where you otherwise might need several. thelightbridge.com
Matthew Expendable Matthboards This offering comes from one of the most widely used companies in the film and photography industries. Its soft side features a honeycomb pattern that helps break up the light bouncing off of it to add an extra degree of scatter, while the hard side creates sourcier results. It measures 40 x 40 inches and comes in either silver or gold. msegrip.com
4. Westcott Eyelighter 2
5. Neewer Photo Flat
6. Neewer 43-Inch Collapsible
7. CowboyStudio Professional Parabolic Umbrella
8. Cowboy Studio 32-Inch
9. Konseen 7-In-1
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).