Adorama | Why I NEVER use a Gold Reflector | Inside Fashion and Beauty Photography with Lindsay Adler @Adorama | Uploaded July 2024 | Updated October 2024, 5 days ago.
Many bounce reflector kits come with silver, white, and sometimes GOLD! Through years and years of portrait and fashion photography, I find that I (almost) never use a gold reflector.
Why NEVER? I feel that a gold reflector creates unflattering (and weird) results on the skin.
In the studio if I use a gold reflector as a bounce fill, this creates in inconsistent skin tones and colors in the frame. Half of the face is ‘correct white balance’ and the other half is far too warm and golden.
On location, using a gold reflector in the middle of the day makes the subject look super warm but they do not match the color of their environment.
If I never use a gold reflector, what are the alternatives if you want warmer skin tones? First, I’d suggest warming up your white balance overall for warmer yet consistent skin color. Second, if you want to use a reflector try a reflector that mixes silver (or white) and gold.
You can find these reflectors under a few different names:
- Silver-Gold Mix
- Zebra Reflector
- Soft Gold
- Sunlight (less saturated gold)
These give you a slight warming effect without an overpowering yellow/orange hue to the skin. Also consider using the mix as a reflected rim for a warmer separation to suggest warmer environmental light while keeping the skin tone ‘correct’.
When looking to buy a 3-in-1 or 5-in-1 reflector, go ahead and skip the gold in favor of a more subtle option! I’ve included suggestions below.
Lindsay Adler is a Fashion and Beauty Photographer, Educator, and Author based in New York City. Her editorials have appeared in Bullett Magazine, Zink Magazine, and Fault. She has contributed to photo publications Professional Photographer, Rangefinder Magazine, and Popular Photography.
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✘ RECOMMENDED GEAR:
Reflectors (Ones I LIKE):
8-in-1 Manfrotto Easy to hold, tons of options, a bit pricer. Skip gold, and go with Sunlite (and maybe sunfire). There are other options of this style, but I prefer the build quality. adorama.com/lstgtfk.html
6-in-1 32" reflector: Skip the gold, use sunlight
adorama.com/we61k30.html
5-in-1 42" reflector: It says gold, but if you look closely it is actually a zebra mix adorama.com/glcr4251.html
32" wave gold: This one is super affordable but only has a white and silver-gold mix. If I had a choice I'd go with something that has silver, white, and the silver-gold mix. adorama.com/glcr32wgw.html
Camera and Lenses:
Canon R5
adorama.rfvk.net/JxzdE
Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8
adorama.rfvk.net/Wq11zG
Studio Lighting:
Profoto D3
adorama.rfvk.net/XYVVR4
Profoto Beauty Dish
adorama.rfvk.net/NJNOV
Other:
Savage Universal Fashion Gray
adorama.rfvk.net/9ZeX3
#fashionphotography #lindsayadler #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok tiktok.com/@adoramanyc
➥ Facebook facebook.com/adorama
➥ Instagram instagram.com/adorama
➥ Twitter twitter.com/adorama
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop adorama.com
➥ Blog adorama.com/alc
➥ Adorama Events youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents
__________________________________
Model: Molie Onyongo
@moliesha95
Makeup: Elisa Flowers
@elisaflowersmakeup
Edit: Samuel Bouret
@samuelbouret
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
Many bounce reflector kits come with silver, white, and sometimes GOLD! Through years and years of portrait and fashion photography, I find that I (almost) never use a gold reflector.
Why NEVER? I feel that a gold reflector creates unflattering (and weird) results on the skin.
In the studio if I use a gold reflector as a bounce fill, this creates in inconsistent skin tones and colors in the frame. Half of the face is ‘correct white balance’ and the other half is far too warm and golden.
On location, using a gold reflector in the middle of the day makes the subject look super warm but they do not match the color of their environment.
If I never use a gold reflector, what are the alternatives if you want warmer skin tones? First, I’d suggest warming up your white balance overall for warmer yet consistent skin color. Second, if you want to use a reflector try a reflector that mixes silver (or white) and gold.
You can find these reflectors under a few different names:
- Silver-Gold Mix
- Zebra Reflector
- Soft Gold
- Sunlight (less saturated gold)
These give you a slight warming effect without an overpowering yellow/orange hue to the skin. Also consider using the mix as a reflected rim for a warmer separation to suggest warmer environmental light while keeping the skin tone ‘correct’.
When looking to buy a 3-in-1 or 5-in-1 reflector, go ahead and skip the gold in favor of a more subtle option! I’ve included suggestions below.
Lindsay Adler is a Fashion and Beauty Photographer, Educator, and Author based in New York City. Her editorials have appeared in Bullett Magazine, Zink Magazine, and Fault. She has contributed to photo publications Professional Photographer, Rangefinder Magazine, and Popular Photography.
SUBSCRIBE AND BE PART OF THE ADORAMA FAMILY:
➥ youtube.com/user/adoramaTV
__________________________________
Be the first to shop our great deals and sales by signing up for emails from Adorama!
adorama.com/MyAccount/Login
__________________________________
✘ RECOMMENDED GEAR:
Reflectors (Ones I LIKE):
8-in-1 Manfrotto Easy to hold, tons of options, a bit pricer. Skip gold, and go with Sunlite (and maybe sunfire). There are other options of this style, but I prefer the build quality. adorama.com/lstgtfk.html
6-in-1 32" reflector: Skip the gold, use sunlight
adorama.com/we61k30.html
5-in-1 42" reflector: It says gold, but if you look closely it is actually a zebra mix adorama.com/glcr4251.html
32" wave gold: This one is super affordable but only has a white and silver-gold mix. If I had a choice I'd go with something that has silver, white, and the silver-gold mix. adorama.com/glcr32wgw.html
Camera and Lenses:
Canon R5
adorama.rfvk.net/JxzdE
Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8
adorama.rfvk.net/Wq11zG
Studio Lighting:
Profoto D3
adorama.rfvk.net/XYVVR4
Profoto Beauty Dish
adorama.rfvk.net/NJNOV
Other:
Savage Universal Fashion Gray
adorama.rfvk.net/9ZeX3
#fashionphotography #lindsayadler #adorama
__________________________________
❐ LET'S GET SOCIAL ❏
➥ TikTok tiktok.com/@adoramanyc
➥ Facebook facebook.com/adorama
➥ Instagram instagram.com/adorama
➥ Twitter twitter.com/adorama
❐ MORE ADORAMA ❏
➥ Shop adorama.com
➥ Blog adorama.com/alc
➥ Adorama Events youtube.com/@AdoramaEvents
__________________________________
Model: Molie Onyongo
@moliesha95
Makeup: Elisa Flowers
@elisaflowersmakeup
Edit: Samuel Bouret
@samuelbouret
__________________________________
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!
