Studio umbrellas allow you to properly diffuse, direct or reflect light, so you can produce studio-quality photos at home. But how do you choose the right one?
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When choosing a studio umbrella, consider what lighting effects you want to create
Diffusion umbrellas
Feature a translucent material that softens and dissipates harsh light sources. They do not affect the colour temperature.
Reflective umbrellas
Unlike diffusion umbrellas, the inside surface of reflective umbrellas reflects light back onto the subject. The inside surface is usually a gold or silver-coloured layer.
Softboxes
Softboxes create soft and even light conditions by reflecting light through a diffusing material.
Different umbrella surfaces create different effects
- Gold - reflective umbrellas with gold surfaces shift the colour temperature towards the yellow spectrum.
- Silver - the layer acts as a mirror, so the light is reflected without colour shift.
- White - softens and diffuses light.