St. Olaf Equipment Tutorials

Features

• One 42" disk is included; great for 3/4 length portraits and medium still life set-ups
• 5-in-1 with 5 different colors to choose from -- silver, gold, white, silver/gold mix, and translucent

Different Color Uses

• White
  • Provides a soft, neutral reflection in order to fill in shadows without introducing any color shift
  • Best for general, natural-looking light, and when you want subtle fill without changing the tone of the light
• Silver
  • Gives a bright, high-contrast reflection that creates a sharper, more focused light
  • Best for highlighting details and increasing the contrast and intensity of the light
  • Great for strong highlights or when you need a more intense, reflective effect
• Gold
  • Adds a warm, golden reflection, mimicking the look of sunlight during golden hour
  • Best for creating a warm, flattering glow, especially when you want to add warmth or enhance sunset-like lighting
• Silver/Gold Mix
  • Offers a combination of bright, cool light and warm, flattering light
  • Ideal for creating a natural, balanced effect in portraits, product shots, or outdoor shoots
• Translucent (Diffuser)
  • Softens and diffuses harsh light by placing it between the light source and your subject
  • Best for reducing harsh shadows or when you're working with direct sunlight or other intense lighting that needs softening

How to Use

• Set-Up
  • Unzip the storage bag and take the disc out, then unfold the disc until it's fully open
• Changing the Color
  • Unzip the zipper on the rim of the disc and either take the inside disc out for use, or turn the cover inside out and insert the disc inside the cover making sure too zip it again
• Positioning the Reflector Disc
  • Place the reflector disc opposite of the light source, ideally at an angle, so it bounces the light onto the subject
  • Hold the disc at a distance that allows the light to fill in shadows or highlight certain areas of the subject's face, body, or scene
• Adjusting the Angle
  • The angle of the reflector is key to controlling how much light is bounced onto the subject
  • Experiment with different angles to achieve the desired effect

Helpful Tips

• The closer the reflector is to the subject, the softer the light fill will be; moving it farther away will make the light harsher
• Reflector discs can also act as diffusers when they held at the right angle which softens the light rather than just reflecting it
• If you're working with a large set or subject, consider using multiple reflectors for more control over the light and shadows
• Be mindful of the angles to avoid creating unwanted glare in the camera or directly into the subject's eyes

Collapsing the Disc

• Hold the reflector disc with both hands on opposite sides
• Position the disc vertically in front of you and gently push the edges toward each other, bending the disc into a smaller shape
• Once you've brought the edges together, twist the disk in a figure-eight motion
• Keep twisting until the disc is fully collapsed and then put it in the provided carrier and zip it closed