Shoot through or reflective umbrellas?

Les McLean

Les McLean

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I normally use reflective umbrellas for portraits, but was reading recently that shoot through provides a better/more controlled light?

I'm quite happy continuing shooting reflective, as it meets my needs, just curious to others approach?
 
I'm trying out shoot through at the moment, while experimenting with lighting and i'm having trouble controlling spill with them, not tried reflective yet, so cannot compare.
 
You can get in much closer to the subject with a shoot through, and it provides a softer spread of light.

If you were thinking of buying.. then you could always buy a couple of the convertible ones so you have the best of both worlds :)
 
In situations where I want s hoot through a softbox generally does a better job, I like the slight hardness of a reflective umbrella
 
Shoot through umbrellas are capable of producing soft light because they can be placed close to the subject. But the light is uncontrolled, so they are less than ideal in small spaces, except perhaps as an on axis fill.

Reflective umbrellas cannot produce such soft light because they cannot be placed as close to the subject, but the light is more controlled.

And softboxes combine the benefits of both umbrella types. Read more here
 
Garry Edwards said:
Shoot through umbrellas are capable of producing soft light because they can be placed close to the subject. But the light is uncontrolled, so they are less than ideal in small spaces, except perhaps as an on axis fill.

Reflective umbrellas cannot produce such soft light because they cannot be placed as close to the subject, but the light is more controlled.

And softboxes combine the benefits of both umbrella types. Read more here
Click to expand...

The23rdman said:
Have a read of this, Les. Great comparison.
Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks :clap::clap::clap:
 
I have tried my flashes out in three different configurations, one just the flash , two reflective umbrella, and three the shoot through umbrella... after more then a few hundred shots and some very tired friends I decided I like the shoot through umbrella lighting the best. it gives me the light I need and the softness I am looking for. I have a relatively inexpensive set of three smith victor flashes and a portable backdrop that travel with me everyplace.
as for the natural lighting, I cant remember the book I saw it in, but adjusting the shutter speed you can take all the natural light out or lengthen it to make use of both flash and natural light. once again.. many photos and tired friends, but they all had some BBQ after the shoot so all were happy.
personal experience and loads of shooting will make your photos just what you want, I keep a book of almost every shot I take the lighting and the settings on my camera so I can go back and see what worked and what to avoid. even see how to combine everything.
Rely on your camera not photoshop!
 
I've been trying to work out the differences between these two types of umbrella myself recently but haven't had a great deal of time to experiment properly but this has cleared that up! :)
 
Don't forget that you can shape the light when using a shoot through by blacking out sections of the umbrella with gaffer tape.
 
Eman1047 said:
I have tried my flashes out in three different configurations, one just the flash , two reflective umbrella, and three the shoot through umbrella... after more then a few hundred shots and some very tired friends I decided I like the shoot through umbrella lighting the best. it gives me the light I need and the softness I am looking for. I have a relatively inexpensive set of three smith victor flashes and a portable backdrop that travel with me everyplace.
as for the natural lighting, I cant remember the book I saw it in, but adjusting the shutter speed you can take all the natural light out or lengthen it to make use of both flash and natural light. once again.. many photos and tired friends, but they all had some BBQ after the shoot so all were happy.
personal experience and loads of shooting will make your photos just what you want, I keep a book of almost every shot I take the lighting and the settings on my camera so I can go back and see what worked and what to avoid. even see how to combine everything.
Rely on your camera not photoshop!
Click to expand...

Thanks Errol, for that enlightning, and thoughtful response, it is appreciated :thumbs:
 
I have both types but prefer the shoot-through umbrellas to reflective ones... Although now that I've got one of FiTP's reflective softbox umbrellas, I can honestly say I use both at once! :D

Si
 
Any thoughts on where to position the flash on the brolley handle ie back middle or front ?

I guess the closer the higher the output through the brolley and subsequent softening ?

On another forum i've been advised 30degrees is good for female and 45degrees for men as a general rule....guess it's all down to personal preference.
 
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