A method for making a metal stamping die suitable for use in forming sheet metal reflectors for photographic use. The structure of the metal stamping die is made in the manner of the method to compensate for spring-back characteristics of a material used to form a reflector by first constructing a test die which has a predetermined shape related to the desired reflector shape. A comparison is then made between a test workpiece made with the test die and the desired reflector shape to determine the die shape that produces a corresponding portion of the reflector shape. Finally, another die is constructed by shaping it in accordance with the comparison to obtain a final die shape that will acceptably produce the desired reflector shape.