> Quote - Your figure is standing in front of the mirror. The figure is dark in the reflection but correctly lit everywhere else.  *Why do I have to put a light inbetween the figure and mirror?*  This creates a problem where the walls around the mirror become too strongly lit.

Maybe the figure is corretly lit in the reflection also.  The effect depends heavily on the global lighting situation. Put your camera in the place of the mirror and look if the backside of your figure is properly lit. If not, the mirror is not the problem.