10 Best Reflectors for Photography in 2024

The best reflectors for photography give you more control over light, the most important element in photos. But getting the perfect lighting isn’t easy.

That’s why light reflectors are so useful for photographers. Whether you’re shooting food, product, or portrait photography, a reflector can be a game-changer.

The NEEWER 43-inch (110 cm) 5-in-1 circular reflector is the best light reflector for photographers. It’s a versatile piece of equipment with five different reflective surfaces. It’s lightweight, easy to transport, and great value for money.

What Are the Best Reflectors for Photography?

The best reflectors for photography should help you achieve the perfect lighting for your photos. Every photographer needs a reflector, and the NEEWER 43-inch (110 cm) reflector is our top option.

A reflector can be used in photography studios or on location. It redirects artificial light or manipulates and enhances natural light. Light reflectors are popular with portrait photographers. They are also essential equipment for food, product, fine-art, and fashion photographers.

Light reflectors come in different shapes and sizes, so you have many choices. But this can make finding the best light reflector difficult.

Think about what you’re shooting. And consider your photoshoot location. You have to think about how much light you have to manipulate. We’ll discuss this in more detail and provide tips in the FAQ section at the end.

First, the table below briefly lists the best reflectors for photography. Then, keep scrolling to see all our reflector recommendations in more detail.

10 Best Light Reflectors for Photography

These are the best reflectors for photography. We’ve included different shapes and sizes. And there’s a reflector for every budget. Every photographer needs a light reflector. Our list will help you find the best photography light reflector.

The Neewer 5-in-1 circular light reflector is the best in the business. With five reflective surfaces, it’s a versatile piece of equipment.

It’s lightweight and easy to use. It also folds down and has a carry case, making it a portable option. That means you can use it in the studio or on location.

You get white, black, gold, silver, and translucent surfaces in one reflector. You can redirect and manipulate light and use the surfaces to change the quality of the light. So, this 5-in-1 reflector gives you excellent creative control.

When expanded, the reflector’s circumference is 43 inches (110 cm). The large surface reflects plenty of light, letting you work with natural light. You don’t need artificial lighting.

If you do use studio light, you only need to use one. The reflector is powerful enough to redirect light from another direction.

It’s a handy size to work with. You can use it handheld, or an assistant can easily handle it while you take photos. It weighs next to nothing so you can use it for long periods without fatigue. You can also use it with a tripod and reflector holder or a light stand with a clamp.

It expands to 15 inches (35 cm) and folds down to 15 inches (35 cm). When folded down, it fits into its handy carry case, which has a handle for attaching to your camera bag. It’s useful and portable, and the price is excellent. You won’t regret buying the Neewer 5-in-1 reflector.

If you shoot on location, the Lastolite Halo is the best reflector for photography. Its stow-away dimensions are 2.7 x 2.7 x 11 inches (7 x 7 x 28 cm), making it easy to take anywhere.

When expanded, it has a large surface area, which makes it a powerful light reflector for location shooting. Its 32.2-inch (82 cm) circumference is a big area for reflecting light. So you get more luminosity and brighter shots.

Its large size also means it can be used for full-length body shots. Its reflecting power makes it ideal for environmental portraits or fashion photos.

It has two reflective surfaces—white and silver. The white side gives you light like the original light used. The silver surface gives the light more dazzle. It’s colder and more metallic but can make your images pop.

The aluminum ring is collapsible. So the reflective nylon surface can be folded away. Plus, the reflector comes with a handy carry case.

The whole set is compact and easy to carry. So, it fits nicely in your camera backpack. The Halo reflector is the most portable light reflector for photography on our list.

The Selens 5-in-1 triangle reflector provides terrific lighting control. Its triangular shape and useful handle at one end make it easy to control reflected light.

The reflector is lightweight, so it can be used for long periods. Its big surface area provides excellent illumination, and it folds down to a portable size.

As a 5-in-1 reflector set, you get white, black, gold, silver, and translucent surfaces. So, you have fantastic creative options. They bring diverse lighting effects to your photos.

The handle at one end also gives you more physical control. Since it weighs so little, you can hold it in one hand. But when expanded, it has a large surface area, so you have excellent illumination.

You can bring more light into your images without using a camera flash. (Read our articles on Canon, Nikon, and Sony flashes.)

This Selens reflector is also portable. It folds away and fits into the handy carry case. And when folded away, it measures only 11.8 x 11.8 inches (30 x 30 cm).

It’s great for portraits in the studio or wedding photography on location. And the price is also excellent.

Meking’s 3-in-1 folding photography reflector is the best light reflector for tabletop photography. Its design is super simple, yet it’s incredibly effective.

It’s lightweight and portable. It’s free-standing in vertical or horizontal orientation. And it’s affordable for any photographer. Plus, you get three reflective surfaces to work with—white, black, and silver.

The white gives you a bright fill light. The black side reduces reflective light and glare and highlights contours. The silver side is extra reflective, giving you sharp light.

This 3-in-1 folding reflector by Meking is free-standing, so you don’t need a separate stand. You can use it in vertical or horizontal orientation. This versatility gives you different lighting angles and allows for more shot variety.

This reflector weighs next to nothing. And it folds down to fit in any camera bag. You can even take it with you in a messenger bag.

Along with a good food photography tripod, this reflector can revolutionize your product or food photos. So it’s a must-have item if you work in those industries— and it costs very little!

This smaller Neewer 5-in-1 light reflector is like the option in our number one position. You get the same five reflective surfaces to work with. But this photo reflector is smaller and easier to manage.

When expanded, the total circumference is 12 inches (30 cm). It’s significantly smaller than the previous Neewer reflector. But it still provides good lighting options.

You can still use it in the photography studio, but its smaller size makes it even better for location shooting. It’s perfect for macro photography and a great tool for lighting small products and individual plates of food.

It folds into the carry case, making it easy to transport. It fits into most messenger bags or sling bags. Plus, it’s lightweight—it won’t weigh you down.

Finally, it’s an absolute bargain at its current price. This Neewer 12-inch (30 cm) 5-in-1 light reflector is perfect for photographers wanting a small handheld reflector.

The FUDESY Clamshell is the best curved reflector for photography. Its massive surface area provides excellent illumination. And the curved surface ensures even lighting from many angles.

It’s one reflector that can replace many flat reflectors. So, it’s an ideal curved reflector for your photography studio.

It provides a wider light spread than flat reflectors, which means the light is reflected at different angles. Thus, it gives you better lighting all around your subject. It has four reflective surfaces—white, black, silver, and gold—providing excellent lighting control.

This curved reflector is a large piece of equipment, so it’s best to have a stand or a tripod to hold it. (Read our article on the best heavy-duty tripods.) Its large size makes it difficult to work with on location.

But the FUDESY curved reflector does fold down and fits into a useful carry case. So you can easily take it with you from shoot to shoot.

The BDDFOTO 5-in-1 is the best reflector if you want a rectangular one. It gives you a large surface area with powerful reflective qualities.

You get five reflective surfaces. And it’s a portable option that folds down to a much smaller size. It’s another bargain photographers can’t afford to miss.

With five reflective surfaces, it’s ideal for creative photographers. You can change the mood of your images in seconds. (Check our Creative Photography Cookbook and Creative Portrait Concepts e-books for tips.)

Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to use. It folds down and fits into the 12.2-inch (31 cm) case. So it’s popular with location shooters like wedding photographers.

This 5-in-1 reflector by BDDFOTO offers excellent value. It’s a simple piece of equipment that provides a lot of illumination and creative options. The price tag is small for this level of lighting control.

The SmallRig 43-inch photo reflector offers incredible lighting control. It’s another 5-in-1 set. You get varied reflective surfaces that give you even more lighting control.

One of the unique selling points of this reflector is its handles. You have one handle on either side of the ring, giving you excellent control. It allows you to get the perfect lighting for every shot. 

It’s also lightweight—you won’t feel fatigued during long photoshoots. But this medium-sized reflector ring bounces plenty of light your way.

The 43-inch photography reflector by SmallRig folds down to a convenient size. It has a carry case, making it easy to transport when traveling to shoots. It’s a bit pricier than other reflectors on this list. But the build quality justifies the higher price.

The Soonpho folding light reflector is perfect for product and food photography. It’s a free-standing light reflector that can be used vertically or horizontally.

It has four reflective surfaces you can use. It’s small and lightweight. And it’s an absolute bargain. There’s no reason not to have one in your gear bag. You get white, black, silver, and gold surfaces. And each color gives you a different lighting effect in your photography.

It measures 17 x 12 inches (43.2 x 30.5 cm), ideal for tabletop photography. This size is perfect for shooting focused products or food photography.

This Soonpho light reflector couldn’t be more simple. But it will transform your photo results. It’s a small price to pay for more professional results.

The Selens photography reflector is another 5-in-1 reflector for photography. It offers white, black, gold, silver, and translucent surfaces and folds into its carry case.

The difference here is that this reflector comes with a tripod stand. You can use the light reflector handheld. And it even has two handles on either side of the ring. But the tripod gives you even more stability.

This hands-free option also means you can work without an assistant. The tripod’s maximum height is 6.6 ft (2 m), which gives you plenty of positioning options. It folds down to 27.5 inches (70 cm).

This photography reflector also folds down into the carry case. This feature takes the size down to 14 inches (36 cm). But with the stand, it isn’t the most portable reflector option.

But you can still take it from photoshoot to photoshoot. The Selens photography reflector set is the best if you want a stand included.

FAQs About the Best Reflectors for Photography

The best reflectors for photographers revolutionize the way you work. But finding the best reflector isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions.

What Types of Photographers Use Reflectors?

Light reflectors are a common tool in photography. They allow you to manipulate light, which is useful for many kinds of photographers. They use them most frequently in portraits. Their ability to help achieve even lighting on the subject is ideal for shooting portraits.

Reflectors are also essential equipment for fashion photography. They are used in the studio or on location to illuminate the models and clothes.

Food and product photography are two more disciplines that use light reflectors. These reflectors give you more control over your lighting and can be used to manipulate natural or artificial light.

How Do You Use Light Reflectors?

Light reflectors reflect light onto your subject. They can also balance light in a portrait, giving it an even shine and removing hard shadows on the face.

You can place a reflector off to the side of your subject’s face. You can position it below to give the subject more lift. Or you can place it above to give an overhead lighting effect.

You can also use reflectors on or beside a tabletop when shooting food or products. Again, you use the reflectors to remove unwanted shadows.

You can get even lighting right across the shot without extra lighting. Tabletop reflectors are perfect for this type of photography. Using a tripod or stand, you can also position a larger reflector next to the table.

Read our guide about using a photography reflector for perfect lighting.

Why Use Different Reflective Surfaces?

Each reflector surface produces a different quality of light. That’s why multi-surface reflectors give you so much creative control.

A white surface reflects the same light, so similar light bounces back if you use white artificial light. If you use it with natural light, you get a natural tone. A black side, by contrast, reduces light, highlights contrasts, and accentuates contours.

A silver surface gives you a cold, almost metallic reflection. A gold reflector gives you a warm, yellowish glow. A translucent option reflects very little light, giving you a more subtle lighting effect.

Selecting the right surface is about understanding the atmosphere you want to create. Do you want a bright or harsh atmosphere? Do you want soft illumination? Or do you want a hearth-like warmth?

What Size Reflector Do I Need?

The reflector size you need depends on what and where you’re shooting. What type of photography are you going to shoot?

You only need a small reflector for tightly cropped portraits. But it’s best to have a large reflector for shooting wider environmental shots.

Snapping small products requires only a small reflector. Bigger products, like cars, need larger reflectors. Where you’re shooting is also important. You want large light reflectors if you’re working in a studio. And you can even have reflectors on stands.

You might also incorporate them into your photography backdrops. But if you shoot on location, you need something more portable. Smaller reflectors are more portable, and foldable ones can even fit in your camera bag.

Conclusion: The Best Reflector for Photography

After you start using a light reflector, you won’t know how you ever worked without one. Reflectors redefine the parameters of your photography and bring new life into your work. That’s why finding the best light reflector for photography is so important.

The Neewer 5-in-1 circular light reflector is the best reflector for photographers. With five reflective surfaces, it gives you fantastic creative control. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and portable. And the price is more than reasonable. It’s a must-have for creative photographers.