Cheap Shots-Mini-reflector stands
Half the battle in studio shots is getting the light where you want it.
Do you really want to buy a speedlight for every surface you need to illuminate?
‘course not.
Well, if you have a stationary store in your neighborhood, the solution is right down the street….
Metal bookends!
These come in a few different sizes and are robust enough to stand on their own, making them easy to position off-camera to add fill-light to a table-top shoot.
They’re also much smaller than a photo-reflector making it easy to get into spaces where a reflector (or reflector and stand) would be difficult to place if not impossible.
Simply take some white paper (I use bristol-board because it’s stiffer than bond-paper) and cut it to the desired size, then take a small magnet to hold the paper-reflector to the metal bookend.
Here’s 2 full (8 1/2 x 11) sheets of bristol-board that is taped around the perimeter leaving a pocket that can be slipped over the bookend.
Here’s one of the larger bookends holding up a full-sheet of black foamcore, held in place with a magnet. This can be used to absorb light, or as a black background.
Simple, cheap and reuseable!
Neat.







Responses and Conversations
Great lighting hack, Jim! I’m totally using this idea. Thanks!
Comment by Stephanie Simpson on December 18th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
You’re welcome, Stephanie. I’m looking forward to seeing your shots using the mini-stands!
Comment by JimmyD on December 19th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
[...] Cheap and Easy small reflectors for table top shots! [...]
Comment by slightly out of focus - » Cheap shots revisited on April 14th, 2008 at 12:20 pm