Creative photographers know that lighting has a significant impact on their work. Lighting effects created with reflectors help develop the right mood, reduce glare, minimize harshness, and diffuse light. You can use butterfly and panel reflectors in many ways; in some instances, to create sharp shadows, and sometimes to soften light for dreamy portraiture.

Advantages of Professional Butterfly Reflector Kits

Although it is relatively easy to experiment with and make homemade reflectors, they're difficult to support and they can become unwieldy or lack refinement. On the other hand, professional kits, such as kits with Impact reflector panels, are lightweight, strong, and simple to erect. It's easy to fasten fabric to the frames, and there are different types of fabrics readily available. These also offer designs where the fabric stays taut. Kits are simple to assemble and take down, they come with bags, and remain compact when not in use. They have attachment points for fastening to stands and tripods, and their angles are adjustable.

Collapsible vs. Rigid Reflectors

When choosing butterfly and panel reflector frames, consider your filming requirements and how you intend to use these accessories. Lightweight, collapsible reflectors require less effort to erect, and they're easier to handle and transport. Rigid frames are more stable and can support greater weights; however, their weight makes them harder to move around. Rigid frames are more suitable for larger reflectors when it's necessary to light an area or group of people, whereas collapsible frames are more ideal for small scenes and individuals. Other types of reflectors include rigid reflector boards mounted on frames, and freestanding hinged boards.

Butterfly and Panel Fabrics

Fabrics can serve as reflectors, light diffusers, and light blockers. Reflective fabrics with glossy finishes reflect light uniformly, while matte surfaces disperse light. White photography light reflectors use light gold colors and have a warming effect, and silver reflectors brighten up the subjects and increase shadows. Translucent fabrics diffuse light, while black blocks light. Most butterfly and panel reflector fabrics are two-sided, with one color on one side and another on the reverse. Wind-killer screens minimize wind noises that cause microphone sound distortion, and they reduce the effect of wind on a model's hair and clothing, as well as the effect on gimbal-mounted cameras.

Reflector Kit Accessories

You can position reflectors and panels using light stands, mounting hardware kits, and other accessories. Specific examples include flash bracket holders for butterfly reflectors, support arms for elevated reflectors, and safety straps.