EFFECTIVE & CHEAP💡☂️ Video Lighting Setup | Umbrellas And How They Perform (VS softbox)

Photo umbrellas are a portable and affordable option for modifying a light. An umbrella can modify most styles of lights, including COBs, panels, and even the sun itself.

A white, semi transparent, shoot-through umbrella softens a light source. The effect is dependent on the thickness of the umbrella's material, the distance of the source light, and the size of the light being modified. These umbrellas are the easiest to start with as they are the most intuitive.

A white reflective umbrella is good at maintaining light output while softening the light. They also tend to be more focused than shoot through umbrellas. Thus, white reflective umbrellas are a great alternative to softboxes. I use this type most often.

A silver reflective umbrella maximizes light output, using as much of the light as possible while still modifying the light to be bigger. They can be hard on the talents' eyes, so use with discretion. That said, they have really helped me out when I've needed to compete with sunlight.

A convertible umbrella is an umbrella that has a modifier that turns it from one type of umbrella to another. Ex. A shoot-though comes with a cover that turns it into a white reflective. A modifier for your modifier!


00:00 Film skool jokes 😬 😱
00:30 Photo umbrellas for LED lights as a concept
01:24 Intro to the umbrellas and the testing methodology
02:26 Softbox- The comparison begins🫡
03:18 Softbox + grid attached
03:56 Diffusion umbrella (or shoot-though)
04:21 White bounce (or reflective) umbrella
05:38 Silver reflective umbrella🥈
08:54 Silver reflective umbrella + diffuser shower cap thing
10:32 Focusing the silver reflective umbrella🤯
10:58 Comparing them all side by side. Please pause as needed 🙏
11:44 Dad joke incoming... Final Reflections.