Camera umbrellas

Alexvthooft

New member
Well That all depends on the look you want to accomplish
You have to keep in mind that umbrellas are used to create 'soft' light which is usually preferable to 'hard' light in portraiture.
If you go by the books (and I'm talking every single studiolighting book will tell you this) you will 4 lights (or 5) of only 1 or 2 need to be soft ie have an umbrella
1 main light (soft light ie with an umbrella - traditionally 45 deg angle to the subject camera left about as high as the face)
1 background light (usually hard with a gel of whatever you want)
1 hair light (hard light from behind and up high)
1 kicker light (to help the fill somewhat - hard light)
1 fill light or fill card (camera right catches the flash and bounces it back to the shadowside of the subject)

Having said that.... You can do whatever you want with as many flashes as you want.
Joe McNally, who is a long time Nikon user and incredibly famous in the little world we dabble in, uses up to 20 or more flashes on really special shoots.
But he also occasionally uses just 1

It is good to just start out with one or two flashes and start experimenting. Be sure you know everything you can do with them before you start buying more and more very expensive equipment. Sadly enough; been there, done that :(

Hope this helps
 
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