Stumbling upon a cool accessory is one of the benefits of shooting events with other photographers. For me, the Demb Saucer Flip-It! was that product.

While I rarely shoot red carpet or step-and-repeats, I always carry a flash to photograph models backstage or shoot spontaneous portraits on location. There are plenty of diffusion and reflector choices for flash guns, and if you look backstage at a fashion show, you’ll see everything from full-on softboxes to jerry-rigged fabric diffusers. Recently, though, I noticed a handful of photographers using a small, saucer-shaped reflector atop their flashes (the Demb Saucer). After chatting with one of the photographers, I was convinced that it was worth looking into. At $35 it was more expensive than I anticipated, but I ordered one anyway because of the enthusiastic comments about how well it worked.

Available in two sizes—a 5 ½ x 5-inch model and the larger 7 ½ x 8 ½-inch Wedding Saucer Pro Flip-It! (which both cost $35)—the saucer reflectors have a white, semi-matte surface and come with a stretchy Velcro strap so it fits on all flashes.

The reflector is attached to a hinged bar so you can easily angle the reflector, whether you want to use the device in its “saucer” shape (just press the reflector to pop it into shape) or keep it in its flat position. I prefer the saucer design since it seems to soften and broaden the light a bit more than the flat position, but it’s a matter of preference and shooting conditions.

Flattened, the reflector slides easily into any camera bag, and the smaller version weighs only 1.25 ounces, so you hardly know it’s there. The larger model is also lightweight at 2 ounces.

Made from high-density polyethylene, the device should be able to withstand long-term use, although I haven’t put its construction to the test just yet. It is easy to clean with a little soap and water if it gets dirty.

Demb has other reflectors and accessories that you might want to check out, too. For now, I’m happy with the small Saucer Flip-It! and think it’s going to make my flash photography a little better and a little easier.

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