Indoor Reflections by Angie Mahlke
Reflections as a photography theme is so fun. You have free license to be as creative as you want! You can use just about any sort of reflective surface—play around & have fun!
I’m going to be focusing on the reflections you can find indoors—mirrors, windows, wood floors, iPads, counter tops, appliances, and so on. Before you start taking reflections shots indoors, first walk around your house and find potential reflective surfaces. You may be surprised at the odd things you discover. Try to brainstorm ways to use those surfaces for fun photo opportunities.
Light
Since reflection literally means “the return of light” you better believe light’s role in getting a good reflection shot is oh-so-important! While you’re walking through your house, consider light’s role. Are the reflections better with more or less light? Some surfaces need more, whereas others require less.
Take windows, for example. I have found the best way to get those crisp, contrasty reflections in a window is on an overcast day—not too bright, not too dark: a happy medium between the two.
Mirrors, on the other hand, require a little more light. Make sure you have ample light when using a mirror. Feel free to play around with the amount of light you use for brighter or moodier shots.
Perspectives
Another important thing to consider when attempting to photograph reflections is the angle you shoot at. You might have to get high in order to capture the reflection. Or you may need to be level with the surface or off to the side. Different perspectives yield different results. Once you discover a reflective surface, move around to explore all the potential possibilities.
My favorite perspective with windows is to shoot from above. Angling my camera in a top down position allows me to capture both the reflection and the subject. In post processing, play around with the orientation. Sometimes rotating the image can completely transform it.
Rotated to the left versus original orientation.
When you shoot level with the reflective surface, you get this mirrored scene effect from a creative point of view. This is something I like to do on my hardwood floors. It adds depth to the scene.
A more standard way to capture reflections is from the side. This is how our eyes naturally see reflections. Once you angle yourself away from the subject and the reflective surface, you instantly notice the mirrored effect.
Creative Crops
Consider using creative crops when capturing reflections. Including the whole scene is one way to approach the shot, but sometimes an image begs to be cropped. Play around with this! Maybe you include only the reflection itself. Or maybe you include only a specific body part of the subject with the reflection—like hands touching the window, for example.
Storytelling
Using reflections is a great way to tell a story. It adds a creative element that makes the story that much more interesting. A mirror within a scene is great for framing. It can add depth by using layers.
The reflection can be subtle, furthering the story along. Take, for example, the below images of my daughter in the doorway waiting for the school bus to drop off her brothers. If you look closely enough, you can see the reflection of the school bus in the glass on the door. Without that detail, the story isn’t complete. If you use a reflection strategically, it can really enhance the story.
Using a reflection as a missing piece of the puzzle is a great storytelling technique—what is being reflected aids in the story. For example, the below image of my daughter putting on makeup. You can’t see her face from the angle I’m shooting, but the reflection in the mirror adds that missing piece.
This idea can be applied on a grander scale for maximum effect. Imagine shooting a wide angle of a scene and a missing piece that explains the whole story is visible in a mirror or some other reflective surface. Perhaps the scene is a bedroom and all you see of the subjects are their backs. What they are doing isn’t obvious until you see their reflection in a nearby window. Maybe they’ve been caught sneaking candy and are devilishly pigging out before they get caught. Ooohh….and maybe another added layer would be to see the mom reflected in a mirror with her hands on her hips as she catches the little thieves. I obviously haven’t captured this scene, but I painted it as an example of how you can use reflective surfaces a great storytelling tool.
Exploring Outside the Home
Don't be afraid to take your camera outside your home to search out indoor reflections. Grocery stores are a great place with their shiny white floors and floor to ceiling glass doors in the frozen section! I brought my camera to my daughter's ballet class one day and those photos are some of my faves!
Tips
Photographing reflections can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you.
There’s that annoying factor of also catching yourself in the reflection. Unless your intention is to photograph yourself taking a picture of yourself—which can be fun, too!--then angles are again your friend! Move to a spot where you are capturing your subject and/or scene but you're excluded from the reflection. This requires moving around until you can both get the shot you want and still avoid making a cameo. It can be frustrating and sometimes it’s nearly impossible but keep searching for that perfect angle!
Another thing to consider is the surface itself. If it’s dirty, consider cleaning it. This will help in your post processing time. Cleaning up a dirty mirror in Photoshop is dull, tedious work, my friend. Trust me on this one. The texture of the surface matters too. Is it rough, bumpy, scratched? This can either enhance or hinder your image.
Pay attention to the light sources within the room. If there’s a lamp or overhead light on, it might cast an unwanted bright spot on your reflective surface. These are also a pain to remove in Photoshop.
Do yourself a favor: take a few test shots and then look at the back of your camera to peek at the results. If something bugs you—like a dirty or a light spot—correct it before continuing.
Also look for other objects in the room that are visible in the reflective surface. Maybe there’s some clutter or a random object that pops up in the reflection that is a distraction. Stop, remove it, then proceed. The clone tool in Photoshop is handy, but if you can spot those distractions before you click the shutter, then you’ll be saving yourself some unnecessary cloning time.
Creative
Reflections are a great way to be creative and think outside of the box. Here are some ideas I’ve seen floating around:
-iPad or phone: place it under your lens while you shoot to reflect the scene back.
-faucets: use the reflective surface of a sink or bathtub faucet (think a cute face in the faucet smiling back at you during bath time as you take a photo over your child’s shoulder in the tub).
-hand-held, frame-free mirrors held up to the side of your subject’s face for a direct mirrored image
The possibilities are endless!! I can’t wait to see all of your creative indoor reflection shots!
If you’d like to learn more from me, I have a course through Hello Storytelling all about documenting life’s big and little moments. I dive into different storytelling techniques using both the close-up details and also the storytelling details within a scene. Check it out:
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