The best reflectors for photography in 2024: shine a light right where you need it

Let there be light. Photography is nothing without light but you can’t always get the kind of light you want, nor in the right places. Buying one of the best reflectors is a really convenient and cost-cutting way of adding a light source to your photos. Regardless of whether you're shooting just with natural light or using an artificial light source, you can use a reflector to bounce light and banish harsh, unwanted shadows. You can also use them to change the tone, color and brightness of an image. Easily portable, reflectors generally fold down small and are lightweight and easy to carry, making them entirely portable for taking on location as well as using at home or in a studio.

For harsh direct sunlight, or when natural light isn't quite cutting it and you don't have a light shaping tool to soften a flash, the perfect solution is to use a reflector. Every photographer should have one, for when you need more balanced lighting or you want to banish dark shadows. Reflectors come in a range of shapes, sizes and colors, giving plenty of choice.

To help you decide which reflector you'll need, I've created the following guide, explaining how different types and colors of reflector will affect your photos. As you'll see, some reflectors are sold as a 5-in-1 meaning you can unzip and switch around the color of the reflective panel depending on what you're shooting. These are great as you don't have to take multiple reflectors with you and it's really quick to change colors.

Ben Andrews

Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.

The Quick List

Best reflectors for photography in 2024

Best reflector overall

Lastolite (now owned by Manfrotto) is credited with developing the very first pop-up circular reflector, but Manfrotto’s TriFlip offers a different approach. Large-diameter round panels can be unwieldy to handle, but this panel’s triangular shape makes it more manageable, while still maintaining plenty of surface area. A single handle is all it takes to maintain a good grip, and the handle is nice and chunky.

This particular 8-in-1 kit is available in 45cm and 75cm sizes, with the latter being a more versatile size for portraiture. A larger 120cm Trigrip version is also available and is a better bet for full-length shots, but only comes in 2-in-1 variants.

With eight surface options, the TriFlip is ready to create almost any lighting look. The bare panel is a two-stop diffuser, but two reversible covers add seven surface options, including White, Silver, Softsilver (whiter silver), Gold, Sunlite (silvery gold), Sunfire (darker gold) and Black surfaces.

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Best budget reflector

The Godox reflectors might not have handles like Manfrotto’s handy triangular shape, but they'll still do the job and they're among the cheapest in this shortlist. The Godox 5-in-1 reflector disc includes a gold, silver, black, white and translucent options; if you prefer, you can opt for an alternative version with a softer gold side. 

Like all collapsible reflectors, this one springs out with ease and can be packed away into a carry case. It has a steel frame that makes it very sturdy and it packs down to just a third of its maximum size, making it convenient for traveling with. The lack of a handle shouldn't be too much of a concern – if anything, it just makes it less bulky to take on location. 

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Best premium reflector

Profoto has become synonymous with professional, high-end lighting. While it's pretty difficult to make a reflector stand out, Profoto has done its best. This collapsible reflector comes in two sizes: a large 120cm version, best for small groups, or a medium 80cm version, best for singular portraits. Often smaller reflectors are easier to manage – especially if you're shooting with no assistance on location – s they're lighter to hold and the wind won't catch them as easily. 

Although several color options are available, you can only buy them as double-sided reflectors, which means you'll have to buy multiple reflectors if you want to achieve different effects. Your options are Silver/White, Sunsilver (light gold)/White, Gold/White, Black/White, and a translucent diffuser. If you only buy one, we’d go for the Sunsilver/White option, as its pale gold side adds some warmth to your sitter without producing an unflatteringly yellow reflection, which can happen with a conventional gold surface.

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Best small reflector

Some photographers argue that collapsible reflectors are so simple that, for occasional hobbyist use, it’s difficult to justify splashing out on a premium product over a budget model. This 5-in-1 reflector from Selens is not only affordable, but it comes with reversible colored covers to shoot every scenario. 

At 60cm it’s relatively small compared to some reflectors, but that means you can just about hold it in one hand and shoot at the same time. If you need to shoot larger groups, it also comes in 80cm and 110cm versions. This small reflector folds down to just 38cm, so it’s great for traveling. 

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Best reflector for travel

While a standard pop-up reflector usually collapses down to around one third its open diameter, the HaloCompact packs into a carry case just 27 x 6.5 x 6.5cm and weighs a mere 335g, yet opens up to a very versatile 82cm diameter. The detachable fabric is available with silver/white reflector surfaces, or there’s a 2-stop diffuser version; the fabrics can be bought separately, so you only need to buy one frame. 

The remarkable space-saving design is thanks to Manfrotto’s RapidExoframe collapsible lightweight aluminum frame, which quickly slots together like a tent pole. The fabric then simply clips to the frame. The collapsible frame features a handle that incorporates a ¼” thread to attach the panel to a tripod head.

In reality, the 12 clips can be a little fiddly and stiff to attach, especially when tensioning the fabric with the last couple of clips. It gets easier with practice, but will never be as effortless as a conventional pop-up design. That said, most people will only open and collapse a reflector once during a shoot, so the extra set-up time is negligible, and no other medium-sized reflector we’ve seen packs down as small.

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Best reflector with a stand

If you need something not too demanding, that'll pack down well and get to your location without causing too much stress, the Neewer 5-in-1 fits the bill. It's a pretty no-fuss, no-frills reflector, but the Neewer name means you are getting value for money. You have five options for the quality of its surface area, allowing you to take control of your light in a number of different ways. For the photographer who just needs a reliable reflector that works, this is a solid choice.

The best part is that the Neewer 5-in-1 comes as a kit, so you also get a stand and a useful carrying bag for the reflector. The stand is a godsend if you are shooting without an assistant to hold the reflector in the right position, or if working in a small studio. 

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How to choose the best reflector

Reflectors are simply simple accessories on the whole, but there are still some points  of distinction you need to consider before you make your buying choice. Most reflectors use covers to offer a selection of different-colored surfaces – see below. You also need to choose the most appropriate size – 80cm is generally fine for portraits and headshots, but you’ll need 100cm or wider to distribute the light to suit small groups or full-length shots. Also consider whether an integrated handle would help you keep the reflector steady if you expect to be shooting without an assistant.

Six types of reflector…

1. White: A white reflector gives a soft natural look and is one of the most popular choices for reflecting light.
   
2. Silver: Silver reflectors are great when shooting in dull, grey conditions as it reflects more light. In bright sunlight, it'll be too harsh.
   
3. Gold: Go for gold when shooting at sunset to maintain a warm look. Use sparingly, as it’s easy to make your model look too bronzed.
   
4. Sunfire: a combination that combines strips of gold and silver reflector to give you a compromise between the two filter types.
   
5. Black: A black ‘reflector’ doesn’t reflect at all - it simply shields (or flags) light from your sitter to create a more dramatic, contrasty feel.
   
6. Diffuser: A multi-surface reflector will usually be based around a translucent diffuser panel - this is great for softening direct light. This diffuser can then converted into a reflector by adding a zip-on cover, with various surface colors available.