Using a reflector

I'll be back, just taken in what was said.
School's calling.

Mike

Mike,

That paints the picture!  I was hoping that it would have been as simple as telling you that you should have used a white reflector instead of silver or gold but you got that part right.

All this means is that, in this case, the reflector over powered your available light on her face and acted as your main.  That won't work if the reflector is placed below the face.  As an option, with an assitant or stand to hold the reflector, you could have moved the reflector into a better position and allowed to become your main light.  Or, by placing in yet another location, it could have acted as fill.

Unfortunatly, it just dosen't work where it was!

Ed

Thanks for posting the original image Mike. It supports what I mentioned about the reflector source being too small. As a result it hasn't accomplished its mission as a reflector as there is still way too much shadow and bags. A white reflector wouldn't help here - only make it worse. Wehn I use reflectors under the face I like to keep them no lower than the lap of the person when they are sitting down - and directly under them on a good reflective angle depending on the main light source. Many times I will have it only a foot or two away from the bottom of the subjects chin. This is even the case with a silver reflector which is what I generally use for more snap in commercial style images (white reflector would be more for one light portraits).

By having the reflector source close to the subject you end up with that broad rectangle of a highlight in the lower eye that is so appealing. It is good to remember that just as with the main light, the closer the reflector is to th subject the softer and more deep the light reflected is. If I use a white reflector (only for side reflecting not from underneath) it is generally almost touching the side of the subjects face to get the look I am after. Just remember that if you place your strobe lights 10 to 15 feet away from the subect you will get small highlights, harsh and more contrasty lighting - - - same goes with reflectors. It's all physics of light regardless of what the source is. Of course if the pinlight is the effect you wanted then none of this matters. 

BTW - you did a really nice job of retouching Mike.

It may be that the pin light is a reflection of something bright (reflector acting like a mirror). The fact remains that however your reflector was placed or whatever size or material it was made out of - - - it is definitely not doing its job in this shot. The rectangular highlights are barely visible (although now you mention I can kind of see them) and there is not enough softening of shadows on the areas under her eyes (requiring you to do  lot of retouching work). The reason we generally use a reflector under a face in model shots is so we have a certain look in the eye and so we don't have to retouch skin.

All I was pointing out is that like a main strobe light in a softbox, your most effective quality of fill light from a reflector will be with the largest source and the closest distance you can have. Those values can only be determined by you playing with the reflector and trying different things and seeing what brings the best success. I'm just relaying some of the principles to be aware of when experimenting. There are no hard and fast rules and what everyone wants out of a lighting effect is different.

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Update - you're making me analize this too much Mike  . I'm just not one to spend time analizing and figuring out every nuannce - I just come to a quick conclusion with what I see if front of me and respond based on that. So don't look too deeply into my replies. When I now look at your original, I believe that what you have is shadows under the eye that are cast up as a result of your reflector being the main harsh light (an effect used in horror movies of old). As I mentioned in my first reply, you would do well to have your main light in front and the reflector as the balance for that light.   Here you obviously have light blocked off from overhead and are using the reflector to redirect light in to her face - thus it has become a main light - not a fill light as I suspect was intended. This would have worked if your reflector was vertical and redirecting the light from that angle. PLAY PLAY PLAY - - - IS ALL I CAN SAY