DIY - Build a large light reflector panel/light scrim

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Mike D90

Senior Member
I have an outdoor shoot coming up and I want to make sure I have my bases covered. I have one of those 42" 5-in-1 reflector discs but I think I might need something larger for this outdoor shoot.

I wanted a large light reflector panel but I have no intentions of spending a lot of money on one. So I made my own for under $15.00.

What you need:

- 4 each 6 foot long 1" x 3/4" wood strips ($.97 cents each)

- 6 foot long, 3 foot wide piece of white ripstop nylon cloth (I bought a twin sized mattress zip cover at a thrift store for $2.00)

- Corner joining hardware with screws (cabinet making hardware) (3.00 each pack of 4 pieces)

- Staple gun and staples or upholstery tacks


What do do:

Basically cut the wood strips in to two 6 foot pieces and two three foot pieces. You can mitre the corners at 45* if you want to make it like a photo frame.

Join the four corners and make a large rectangle frame 6' by 3' in size. Use the corner brackets for stability of the frame.

Stretch the fabric over one corner and wrap it around and staple to the back side of the strip. Do the same at the other corners.

Pull the fabric tight all the way around and wrap the edges around the strip and staple at the back. Make sure to pull out the wrinkles.


reflector_panel_1.jpg

reflector_panel_2.jpg
 
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FastGlass

Senior Member
And to think you could have bought one for $100 +. What were you thinking. I've watched a photographer up in Maine do a shoot for a magazine and the reflector they had was just a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" rigid foam board painted white. I love it when people throw together something so simple and does just as good a job.
 
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Krs_2007

Senior Member
Mike d90 said:
It fits perfectly in the bed of my Nissan truck. From the school parking lot, where I shot pics today, I carried it by hand along with my camera gear bag for about 1/8th mile.
Click to expand...

Almost said you must have a truck, i like it being framed so it prevents wrinkles.
 
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fotojack

Senior Member
You can also use it as a huge soft box, Mike, using the sun as the source light. At night, put one of those construction lights behind it as a source light.
You could put small hinges on those long 6' sections and fold it in half for transport, too....takes up less room, and easier to carry. Use "screen door hooks" to keep it open and stiff when in use.
 
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Mike D90

Senior Member
fotojack said:
You can also use it as a huge soft box, Mike, using the sun as the source light. At night, put one of those construction lights behind it as a source light.
You could put small hinges on those long 6' sections and fold it in half for transport, too....takes up less room, and easier to carry. Use "screen door hooks" to keep it open and stiff when in use.
Click to expand...

I had considered making it foldable for easier transport. I may do that now that I have time. I needed it quickly so I didn't mess with that at first.
 
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Butcher69

New member
I'm going out tomorrow to try taking some pix of my daughter and I'm planning to use the sun shade from my car as a reflector...obviously I'm a cheapskate - I'll let you know how it works.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
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carguy

Senior Member
Well done - thanks for sharing! Post the pics when you can.

"twin sized mattress zip cover at a thrift store for $2.00" - hope it doesn't smell like R Kelly's sheets.... :)

I like DIY stuff like this, haven't needed anything I can build cheaper so far.
Portability with something like this is very useful unless it's a studio use item.
 
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