How to use the photographic umbrella correctly?

The photographic umbrella is one of the simplest light adjusters. Photographic umbrellas are very suitable for beginners because they are cheap, portable and efficient. The photographic umbrella softens and spreads light, allowing lighting outside the car without dazzling shadows. At the same time, photographic umbrellas are often abused. The following is how to use the photographic umbrella in shooting.

1. What is a photographic umbrella?

A photographic umbrella is a dimmer and a diffuser, which means that it can spread light to a larger area and produce soft lights.

Like a soft box, a photographic umbrella is usually used for portraits and other types of studio photography. Although the soft box is easier to control, the photographic umbrella is often more economical and easier to install.

For portraits, it is useful to remember that the spotlight will present the shape of the modifier. Although all photographic umbrellas are round, the shapes of soft boxes are different.

Photographic umbrellas are very suitable for beginners, but you should know something before buying the first one.

Second, the type of photographic umbrella

There are many kinds of light modifiers, and photographic umbrellas are no exception. The photographic umbrella is white or black and lined with white or silver.

White photographic umbrella

A white photographic umbrella (also known as a "penetrating umbrella") has a translucent white fabric, which diffuses and spreads light to a larger surface, which reduces the light intensity. You may need to turn on the flash or strongpoint power to offset it.

White umbrellas are best suited to illuminate a larger area because they spread light over a larger surface area.

Black photographic umbrella

The black photo umbrella is reflective. These photo umbrellas retain more light energy and do not spread light like white photo umbrellas, which makes reflective umbrellas easier to control.

An umbrella with a silver lining

The lining of the umbrella will also affect the lighting. The black photographic umbrella with white lining produces softer light than the similar photographic umbrella with silver lining.

Third, why is size important?

Photographic umbrellas also come in different sizes. Like any diffuser, the bigger the umbrella, the softer the light. These two factors (size and type) will affect the working mode of the photographic umbrella.

When using a large photographic umbrella outdoors in windy days, it is necessary to put the lamp holder in a sandbag to prevent the photographic umbrella from falling over. If there is no sandbag, you can try to reduce the weight of the lamp holder by hooking the camera bag.

If you plan to work only in a studio with a powerful flash, you can safely use a large photographic umbrella.

In terms of price, there are different brands to choose from at different price points. The advantage of using a more expensive brand is that it is more durable and has a longer life.

Fourth, how to use the photographic umbrella?

1. Install the photographic umbrella to the flash or the flash.

Most studio flashlights have a small hole into which the handle of the camera umbrella can be inserted, and a knob that can be screwed in place.

If you use an off-board flash system, you need a flash stand with a camera umbrella stand. The flash bracket is screwed into the top of the lamp holder, and the flash or off-board receiver slides into the top socket.

Pay close attention to the reflection of light on objects.

There is a small hole in the bracket, into which the handle of the camera umbrella can slide, and there is a knob on its side, which can be tightened in place.

Please pay attention to how close the lamp is to the photo umbrella. If the flash or flash is placed too close to the photo umbrella, it will not illuminate the whole photo umbrella, and the light will not be as soft as you want.

2. Cover the light source with a photographic umbrella.

A photographic umbrella should block the light you are using, but that doesn't mean it must face the subject.

The angle of the light you use will vary according to the different creative lighting modes, and the direction of the photographic umbrella depends on the type you use.

We now know that a white photographic umbrella can be used as a diffuser. With this in mind, there will be two options. The photographic umbrella can be placed directly facing the object, and can also reflect other objects. For example, in a photo studio, you can use a photographic umbrella to reflect the light onto a white wall to make the light softer.

Adjust the position of the photo umbrella and try creative lighting.

Use a reflective photographic umbrella and keep the flash or flash away from the subject. The key point is to make the silver or white lining of the photographic umbrella face the subject.

3. Try different angles and get more changes.

The use process of photographic umbrella is almost the same as that of any other light. Adjusting the angle of light and the subject will produce different creative lighting modes. These include light splitting, Rembrandt, circulation and butterflies.

Try different angles. Facing the subject will produce strong light, and it will also illuminate the surrounding environment. However, if the umbrella is slightly outward, only the light will reach the edge of the subject. This is called feathering, which is a good technique to cover the weak light area.

Don't forget, you can also change the height of the light. Higher can get more dimensions, and lower can get more uniform light.

Hold up the photo umbrella, take an experimental photo, and then adjust the light as needed.

4. Use multi-lamp settings

The use of lamps is simple and easy to manage. But for more advanced lighting technology, more than one external light source will be needed.

Try to combine different light sources with a photographic umbrella. The soft box is very effective as the main light, and the additional photographic umbrella is a good auxiliary light. If there is a three-light area, such as a flash or a flash, you can also add it to the back of the main body to create a backlight.

Don't be afraid to try multiple light settings. You can even try adding colored lighting gel or reflector to add color to your image.

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Photographic umbrellas provide excellent diffusers for professional photographers and beginners. They are portable, cheap and easy to use. Through the tips in this article, I hope you now know how a photographic umbrella can produce softer and more charming light.