At the start of a new year, I decided to add to the capability to my photography studio with a small studio reflector construction project. Why? To benefit clients with enhanced lighting for portraits.
The construction project was to build two 4′ x 8′ white reflectors. I really only needed one, but I thought I might as well build two while I was at it to add to the possibilities in the studio for clients.
In the studio, I typically use one main / key light. Depending on the background or desired look by the client, I might add 1-2 other supplemental lights placed at the rear. The main / key light is usually placed ~45 degrees from the subject which focuses the light on one side of the subject. A reflector or supplemental light is needed to light up the other side of the subject, depending on the desired look. This is where at least one of the new white reflectors will be used.
A future studio project might be to paint the back side of each reflector black for portrait situations in which light might be preferred to be taken away.