Umbrellas, Reflectors etc...

[Peapod Photo]

Hi guys,

I'm going to be doing a friend's photoshoot for his next music album/promotion/etc, and he's offered to buy me an umbrella or... something for light reflecting. He wants to get a similar look to the pictures on his site, already (see Ash Andres).

Any advice on what reflecting equipment to get that would be OK budget for money (as he's offered to pay)? I've never had to buy any of this stuff before, so I'm not really too sure what would be best. I was just going to tell him to get an umbrella, but then... wouldn't I also need something to mount it on?

Gah, confused! Any advice is appreciated! :-)

[zona5101]

you have a lightstand and umbrella clamp and all to use with your new umbrella?

if so then your big choice is shoot through or reflective umbrella (or an umbrealla that does both). White lining or silver is another choice...then diameter size...

Silver faced bounce umbrella isprobably going to be the most efficient in light transfer. It is also going to have a harder edge to it and maybe a bit of specular highlight depending on the reflectivity of the subject. WHite umbrellas are a little less efficient. Convertable unbrellas (one that can bounce or shoot through) are usually white interier with a removable black backing. Choosing to shoot through or bounce with a white interior umbrella will usually be a matter of how much you need to control the spill. SIze. bigger is better but bigger is also harder to work with...moving a 5 foot umbrella around in a living room isn't effortless. A decent midsize choice might be 43" to 45" big enough to get some nice light but not so big that you can't set it up in a typical room.

[Peapod Photo]

Originally Posted by zona5101

you have a lightstand and umbrella clamp and all to use with your new umbrella?

if so then your big choice is shoot through or reflective umbrella (or an umbrealla that does both). White lining or silver is another choice...then diameter size...

Silver faced bounce umbrella isprobably going to be the most efficient in light transfer. It is also going to have a harder edge to it and maybe a bit of specular highlight depending on the reflectivity of the subject. WHite umbrellas are a little less efficient. Convertable unbrellas (one that can bounce or shoot through) are usually white interier with a removable black backing. Choosing to shoot through or bounce with a white interior umbrella will usually be a matter of how much you need to control the spill. SIze. bigger is better but bigger is also harder to work with...moving a 5 foot umbrella around in a living room isn't effortless. A decent midsize choice might be 43" to 45" big enough to get some nice light but not so big that you can't set it up in a typical room.

OK, really dumb question, but you do obviously need a stand and stuff, hey?

Thanks for the advice. =P

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Peapod Photo

OK, really dumb question, but you do obviously need a stand and stuff, hey?

Thanks for the advice. =P

ya, pretty much because the umbrella needs to be held up and angled. You could MacGyver something I suppose -
you'LL need a trigger too, either commander mode on a camera/flash, a radio or optical trigger, or a sync cable.

[danbaileyphoto]

You'll need a tripod or stand, a flash that operates wirelessly, or else with a sync cord, and an adaptor that holds the umbrella and flash on the stand like this one:

Amazon.com: Manfrotto 026 Swivel Lite-Tite Umbrella Adapter - Replaces 2905: Electronics

[inkista]

Once again, I embed:

[Peapod Photo]

Oh wow, thanks everyone!

Not sure I'll be able to get all that... :-( My friend's offered to buy me an umbrella so I can do his shots, and I have a speedlite, but nothing else... hmm... maybe I'll have to try without all that...

[inkista]

If you have a tripod or monopod and a friend to be your light boom operator , you might be able to use the speedlight and umbrella without a stand as long as you have an umbrella swivel and a stud. The stud will screw onto any 20x1/4" bolt, and the swivel will clamp onto the stud. It's a time-honored tradition for Strobist folk to roam the aisles at Home Depot to cobble together DIY lighting rigs.

[Peapod Photo]

Originally Posted by inkista

If you have a tripod or monopod and a friend to be your light boom operator , you might be able to use the speedlight and umbrella without a stand as long as you have an umbrella swivel and a stud. The stud will screw onto any 20x1/4" bolt, and the swivel will clamp onto the stud. It's a time-honored tradition for Strobist folk to roam the aisles at Home Depot to cobble together DIY lighting rigs.

Oh wow, thanks for the advice! You know so much about photography equipment, it's amazing!

[danbaileyphoto]

Umbrellas and those bracket clamps are only about 20 bucks each, so as long as you already have a tripod, you should be able to get yourself a basic lighting setup to use with your speedlight for not very much money.