Small Product Photography: Softboxes vs Umbrellas (Starter Kit)

Hello,

I'm looking to start with flash photography. I have a Yungnuo 565 TTL and plan on adding a 560 manual as well.

I do not currently have any modifiers or triggers. I'm going to pick up a pair of Yungnuo triggers.

Light modifiers! Here we go...

I want to have a lot of flexibility and ways to create beautiful lighting for my shaving goods (aftershave bottles, brushes, razors and soaps). I sell them on eBay and take pictures of my setup on a daily basis.

Should I pick up softboxes or umbrells for the job at hand? What size?

Should I pick up a kit with everything included like a cheapie cowboy studio one? Or individual parts?

I want to keep the modifier costs under $175 or so.

How small of a product will you be working with? You may want to look into photo boxes

Adorama SSL100 DE-Shadow Box, Photo Studio In-A-Bag ADSL100

bmilcs said:

Hello,

I'm looking to start with flash photography. I have a Yungnuo 565 TTL and plan on adding a 560 manual as well.

I do not currently have any modifiers or triggers. I'm going to pick up a pair of Yungnuo triggers.

Light modifiers! Here we go...

I want to have a lot of flexibility and ways to create beautiful lighting for my shaving goods (aftershave bottles, brushes, razors and soaps). I sell them on eBay and take pictures of my setup on a daily basis.

Should I pick up softboxes or umbrells for the job at hand? What size?

Should I pick up a kit with everything included like a cheapie cowboy studio one? Or individual parts?

I want to keep the modifier costs under $175 or so.

Click to expand...

Just one opinion, but I think you want white reflecting umbrellas for speedlights.

See the last two pictures at far page bottom at Mounting Speedights in Umbrellas

Speelights have the fresnel lens on them, to focus the light forward. At best, they make a spot in the center of a softbox panel. Some light comes out, but softboxes are designed for bare bulbs with 180 degree spread. Speedlights don't do that.

But speedlights can sit back at the end of a longer umbrella shaft, and can illuminate all of it (at about 24mm zoom).

Here is a fine two - umbrella kit:
Smith-Victor UK2 Umbrella Kit with RS8 Stands, 45BW 401484 B&H

It will also need two shoes: Stroboframe Flash Mount Adapter - Standard Shoe Type 300-SHO B&H


Here is a lesser kit, a bit smaller:
Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit DFUMK B&H Photo Video

I would replace those shoes with the same shoe link above (because they don't hold the flash securely, it won't be long before the flash falls to the floor. Mine did twice before I trashed the shoes).

32 inches might be easier to work around on the tabletop scene, but the larger ones are softer and very nice.

I do not like being stuck in a lightbox. I am currently using one for my ebay product shots but I hate having very little room to work. You're stuck on one side of the item.



This is a quick snapshot I took last night so you have an idea of what I'm lighting.

I want to have creative options to create dramatic lighting and different effects with my speedlights.

Now, I do like the idea of umbrellas and having a nice tabletop studio setup but will that limit my creative options drastically? I want to be able to have a big soft light and a punchy one as well. Maybe a combo of the two?

If you are taking pictures and feel confined using a box, what I would suggest is getting a roll of seamless paper and 2-3 small light stands.

If not a tabletop kit would probably be better, but do keep in mind that you still would be working in a "box" sort of.
But good luck with whatever you do.

WayneF said:

Just one opinion, but I think you want white reflecting umbrellas for speedlights.

See the last two pictures at far page bottom at Mounting Speedights in Umbrellas

Speelights have the fresnel lens on them, to focus the light forward. At best, they make a spot in the center of a softbox panel. Some light comes out, but softboxes are designed for bare bulbs with 180 degree spread. Speedlights don't do that.

But speedlights can sit back at the end of a longer umbrella shaft, and can illuminate all of it (at about 24mm zoom).

Here is a fine two - umbrella kit:
Smith-Victor UK2 Umbrella Kit with RS8 Stands, 45BW 401484 B&H

It will also need two shoes: Stroboframe Flash Mount Adapter - Standard Shoe Type 300-SHO B&H


Here is a lesser kit, a bit smaller:
Impact Digital Flash Umbrella Mount Kit DFUMK B&H Photo Video

I would replace those shoes with the same shoe link above (because they don't hold the flash securely, it won't be long before the flash falls to the floor. Mine did twice before I trashed the shoes).

32 inches might be easier to work around on the tabletop scene, but the larger ones are softer and very nice.

Click to expand...

I really like that first set of umbrellas. I think I may order that today =]

Big and close is what makes a light be soft. Big makes soft, and close makes it be big (relative to the subject, with light arriving from many angles, filling all the other paths shadows). A 40 inch umbrella or a 40 inch softbox, either roughly about 40 inches from the subject (distance about same magnitude as size), will be the same "soft", will produce very soft and vague shadows, almost shadowless except where there subject is touching the background. There won't be much difference in the light from an umbrella or a softbox (if same size), but a tiny softbox (like 8 inches across) simply can't be very soft. Umbrellas are naturally bigger, and will run circles around a little softbox. The soft concept is about size (and close makes big).

As you mention, you may not always want "soft".

See Four Flash Photography Basics we must know - Soft Light

You can do that other ways, like a speedlight reflected from a wall, or from a 3x3 foot white foam board. The reflector is big and soft (and close). But the umbrella is so much easier to mount and move. And a speedlight can fill an umbrella, but its difficult in a softbox.

My opinion is that the light tent is for shiny subjects, like glass or chrome balls, which reflect all the things in the room, including you and the camera (stuff seen as unwanted reflections on the subject). The light tent can hide that, and reflects only the smooth featureless white tent walls. The lighting is diffused, but not necessarily better, in fact umbrellas may be more versatile.

Not sure if you can tell from this picture but I made my own table top and just drape cloth or used foam boards on it. Its made of pvc pipe, it can be taken down and stored as well. Its laying on its side for the picture to show the frame and cloth. You can make it any size you want. There is that was posted on here that went for about 100.00 and I just made my own for around 30.00 or something like that, sorry forget the actual cost but it was really cheap. PVC you dont have to glue so you can customize it till you find the right size and angle of the back. I also just got 2 foam boards for my white backdrop that just lay on it and then I can store them so they dont get dirty.



Here is one of the shots I used it on, there are more in my gallery.

Well I just went all in!

Smith-Victor UK2 Umbrella Kit with RS8 Stands, 45BW 401484 B&H

bmilcs said:

Well I just went all in!

Smith-Victor UK2 Umbrella Kit with RS8 Stands, 45BW 401484 B&H

Click to expand...

Mine is about nine years old, and has been used a lot, and it is holding up very well.


These stands are extremely adequate for the umbrella load, but one thing we learn quickly, about any such light stand, is to keep one leg directly under any larger off-center weight. Any stand can tip over fairly easily otherwise.

Excellent. Cannot wait!

Now I need a cheap stand / roll of material to place my stuff on

I received my kit on Friday and have been experimenting with it since. Thanks for the suggestion; I'm very happy with the purchase.

Now, I need to make a setup for product photography

Anyone have any good tutorials using umbrellas?

I took this image yesterday . Two umbrellas, a drum stool and a piece of poster board 1.5 ft. away.

I used one umbrella in my ugly bathroom last night .

Now, I feel like I need to get a modifier like a softbox that'll be more direct with the light. The umbrellas are a) massive b) throw light everywhere.

Are there any super inexpensive softboxes w/ speedlight hookups?

Thanks.

bmilcs said:

I used one umbrella in my ugly bathroom last night .

Now, I feel like I need to get a modifier like a softbox that'll be more direct with the light. The umbrellas are a) massive b) throw light everywhere.

Are there any super inexpensive softboxes w/ speedlight hookups?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Plenty of them available. Google "firefly soft box". I have a small one that's easily used with a flash. They are not too expensive and there are quite a variety available. I agree with you that an umbrella in a small room such as a bathroom will just drown you small subject with light. You could use dark pieces of masking material to control the umbrella though but it might be harder to do than just use a smaller light box.

Marcel said:

Plenty of them available. Google "firefly soft box". I have a small one that's easily used with a flash. They are not too expensive and there are quite a variety available. I agree with you that an umbrella in a small room such as a bathroom will just drown you small subject with light. You could use dark pieces of masking material to control the umbrella though but it might be harder to do than just use a smaller light box.

Click to expand...

Very cool.

I forgot to mention the Rogue Bender! This product seems perfect for redirecting flash on the go and also when you want more direct, shapely light.

I am looking to spend < $50 on the softbox.

Bender is VERY versatile from my own experience. I'd say worth the 60-70$ given that you get white, silver, black bounces to use with the diffuser piece and the whole thing is tiny compared to anything else similar.