Reflective and Shoot Through Umbrellas | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey

[@dlanska]

One of the best instructors of photography on KZbin. Well done as always.

[@nehadhajar]

He is the best

[@JimKopriva]

Perfectly efficient tutorial. Thanks for putting this together.

[@leehargreaves7473]

I bought a NEEWER kit of 2 shoot-thru, 2 reflectives and 2 lighting stands for about £25 / $30. I use Yongnuo flashes and triggers. The whole setup cost about £120 /$150 and produces great results. OK it's not Pro studio gear but is gets you started for a quarter the price of a Canon Speedlight.

[@liamblackphotography]

Hands down the best instructor on KZbin

[@dunnymonster]

Another winning tutorial Gavin 👍 Hands up all those who, like me, have almost took their eye out with the pointy end of the umbrella because they didn't see it sticking out 😁

[@photoquent]

I really do like the way Gavin unpacks a photo shoot. Another one to try at home!

[@stephenpezzulich1108]

One of my biggest goals as I'm learning studio lighting is to really make informed decisions as to what modifiers I want to use for a given situation. Videos like this really help, thank you so much!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Stephen. You're think about modifiers like me. I have my favourites of course, but there's one modifier that will do everything.

[@JohnMacLeanPhotography]

@@GavinHoey I think you meant: there’s “no” one modifier

[@lisasimpson9343]

I never thought I'd be remotely interested in studio photography, but.......... Thank you Gary, I'm enjoying it.

[@stephenmuller5098]

Thanks again, you and the models would have a great collection of images from the many shoots you have done.

[@markgoostree6334]

We did a directory for my church. I am an amateur... completely. I chose the shoot through type umbrella... two of them. What I was looking for was lighting families so your comment of...flat, safe, sensible.....even lighting fit well and we got lucky. The directory worked and there were no complaints. I think I'll order the same size umbrella in the reflective type and give it a try. Fun video and best of all ... informative. I really didn't get to try the type of photography you did in this video.

[@UviOrogun]

Loved this! Detailed and engaging to watch. Thank you

[@jer3006]

Gavin, thanks for a great umbrella study. I have no soft boxes and use only umbrellas and reflectors with successful results. But only by watching this video have I seen an analysis of the variety and depth of their contribution. I should have known an umbrella video by Gavin Hoey would go way beyond my simplistic approach of "stick it there, shoot from here." Always learning from you, man, and enjoying every minute of it! Thank You! ⭐x5

[@ivandepaepe5601]

Best short video showing how versatile umbrellas really are. Well done.

[@callemdavies8992]

Have been deliberating over which setup to start with, so thanks that was really helpful!

[@snowwalker9999]

Gavin you're my favorite Adorama guy and Sophie is amazing, she is now my favorite model on youtube. I like the fact that you take all these awesome photos with an Olympus.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the kind words. Sounds like your on the right path to realising that for studio flash work, the lights are doing almost all of the work and the camera is along for the ride 😉

[@snowwalker9999]

@@GavinHoey Yes Gavin and I really enjoy your studio flash series. I’m half way there and still need to master and refine lighting techniques. But you give me a lot of great ideas as my studio is almost the same size as yours.

[@Shawn.72]

Hey Gavin. I think you "covered" everything perfectly in this video. I like umbrellas myself, specifically shoot through. 👍. Thanks for sharing this one.

[@thekushinator]

You are a true magician mate. Been following you for years now.

[@JosrRocks]

the leaf blower really added a whole different dimension !

[@adreaminfocus]

Bloody love gavin! Thank you so much for this tutorial,… I’m sat surrounded by tripods, umbrellas, camera, flash, triggers and scratching my head ❤

[@PhillipW12]

Such a great instruction video from the master 👏 I've learned massively from him over the years, big thank you Gavin.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Phillip. I'm glad I've been of help 👍

[@djstravels4828]

Loved the book balance pic and the leaf blower!! Great easy tip!!! Thanks

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Annette. I think Sophie made book balancing while modelling look easier then it is!

[@josephchan4198]

I was wondering if Gavin can do another product photography also? Great instructor!!

[@martynphillips6646]

Great video Gavin, Sophie looks wonderful as ever. The sound in this post was superb

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Martyn 👍

[@paulkhoury3160]

Thanks for the video Gavin; very insightful. Always struggled with studio photography and when to use which umbrella, so this refresher was very useful!

[@cuttinbb]

I believe that your videos are not only instructive and easy to watch, funny but, they feel real since things not always go perfectly smooth. Regarding umbrellas you also have the reflective white ones that are not specular. My suggestion is that you include them in any new umbrella tutorial. Also how the size and form of the umbrella affects the light

[@IanWhiting]

Excellent video, thank you to everyone in the team! What you also regularly demonstrate is the need to start slowly, test and evaluate/understand each new technique or gear. It is so tempting when one only has a 10 or 60-minute slot, to just rush in, set up the model and shoot away.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Ian. Thanks for the kind words and you're spot on about building your skills by experience.

[@Talkaboutit1]

Another great informative video! my first modifier bought is the shoot through umbrella ))))))

[@vikesbenbetter]

Great video as always. I see a double shadow on nose of the reflective umbrella image in your side by side, similar to what you said of the reflective pattern on the wall. Good to know to be on the lookout for that.

[@chrishowitt9654]

Wonderful example of both modifiers. Thank you for the inspiration.

[@billydugger737]

Fabulous instructional video. Best yet, Gavin. Thank you.

[@BenSussmanpro]

Great tutorial. I was looking for this solution because I’m tired of lugging my soft-boxes around, I’m moving to umbrellas. Thanks’

[@BiggieZee]

Mate! Gavin is such an amazing instructor, so easy to watch and learn!

[@loihpatli]

Great vid as always, thanks Gavin! I recently started to shoot outdoor portraits with lightthrough umbrella and i got to say it makes life way easier especially when you deal with some weather conditions.

[@michaelschmitt5413]

Thanks again for another helpful video. I appreciated the test shots showing the difference in lighting modifiers on the wall. I'm always glad to see one of your videos popup in my notifications list.

[@250GTOAJ]

I have several of both kinds including an older Larsen Reflectasol square shoot through umbrella. All very useful. Thanks Gavin, Sophie and Sam 😎👍🇨🇦

[@GavinHoey]

Sounds like you have more brollys then I do Alan 😁

[@250GTOAJ]

@@GavinHoey I think I have around 6 of them! 😀

[@TheTawong68]

Sophie is an incredible model! Gavin you have the best videos!

[@luistunonjr.304]

Man you are good ! What more can I say? Other than why after more than 50 years taking pictures (I am a hobbyist not a professional) I always go back to basics and end up with my faithful umbrellas and leave my other modifiers on the shelf (to mate I guess) and somehow they end up producing more modifiers that I never use.........Incredible, no?

[@skillcubator1]

As always, you have nailed it yet again. AWESOME JOB.

[@pattymattes7124]

Thanks for this. I have both. Now I'm going to try to use the shoot through as a fill light. I just love your videos.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Patty. Shoot throughs make great fill lights 👍

[@jpdj2715]

At about 6:27 you show photos of your light modifiers that illustrate how the strobe shines outside them. This is the best way to investigate how your umbrellas work. Adding to that, with soft boxes and reflectors, I would test shoot each light modifier (for each of its variants, like one diffusion panel, two diffusion panels, no diffusion) at, say, 2 meters or ~7 feet distance from a white wall and with the camera documenting the light circle/blob these variants put out. Then in your image processing software you can see how the light fall off happens. If you place a measurement indication on the white wall, then you have an easy size reference as well as an indication of how the vignetting evolves. The differences between different size modifiers will surprise you. And, as you measure the light output, you can place your camera at the test position of the light modifier and get an idea of the angle of the light output. Yes, that is in absence of proper modeling light.

[@kevinmichener1914]

Said it before and will say it again, you sir, never cease to amaze! Awesome control with umbrellas, who'd a thought. Thank you for enabling us.

[@fathampeak]

Awesome! Simple and helpful explanation. My camera store sent me a Shoot through umbrella when i ordered a white reflective umbrella! So I'm pleased to know I only lost one stop of light as I was using the umbrella the wrong way around!! I'll experiment with a reflector and shoot through umbrella and see what i can get. Quite keen to learn what umbrellas or light modifiers to use when shooting large groups outdoors (flash as fill, daylight as key), e.g a wedding group.

[@gustavolopez5403]

Thank for making photography easy to understand!

[@Brangustx]

Thanks a lot Gavin, I thought I knew what type of umbrella I wanted until I saw your video. Now it looks like I'm getting both. Cheers!

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Very clear demonstration, Gavin! ...and Sophie is striking, as always. :)

[@ramyahmed787]

i love your photography style so much .. U R the best

[@MizMahogony28]

I’m here Gavin! Yay watching lol and learning!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Venus, thanks for watching 👍

[@waltereaton6404]

Thanks, Gavin! Some really important info here.

[@vl0029]

I have a question about the flash. During the video you kept switching between having the cone on the front of the flash and no cone. It seemed like when actually shooting the model, you always had the cone on, but when demonstrating the light pattern, you had the cone off. When using an umbrella, should you have the cone on the front of the flash? Clearly this would focus the light, but if using an umbrella it seems you would want more diffuse light source to fill up the umbrella. Very helpful video, lots of practical information.

[@ivarschiager8529]

Gavin used an evolv 200 pro with reflector ("cone") when shooting the model, but Explore 300 pro with built-in reflector when showing the pattern on the wall.

[@jimk8353]

Great video, thank you! Would these techniques work with just a couple of small hot shoe flashes? I don't have the big 300's yet.

Always interesting, entertaining and well presented. I enjoy watching them even when it’s about something I already know. One thing that never fails to be mentioned though is that shoot through umbrellas spill light everywhere. I know that’s true. However, it should be noted that much of this spilled light ends up being affected by the inverse square law before it gets back into the picture, same as any other light. So, it’s not necessarily that much of a factor.

[@GavinHoey]

Fair point when the umbrellas are at a distance Pierre. I like to keep mine just out of frame, so on head shots light spill can be an issue.

[@dvongrad]

Great photos, as always. One thing I did notice is how much warmer and brighter Sophie and her sweater were in the video, but they were quite muted in the photos themselves, especially in those where the leaf blower was used. Perhaps this is due to KZbin compression or something else, but the colour differences are much more noticeable here than in your other videos. Thoughts?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi David. The test photos are straight out of camera. The final photos are edited usually in the way I preplanned. In this case we choose the orange jumper as it's a colour that takes desaturation really well.

[@adelgundyrin9309]

Great video. Thanks Gavin! I have an umbrella 2 in 1. It is very convenient to have an umbrella that allows you to take pictures through and reflected. It is also lightweight and easy to carry anywhere.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Adel. I also have several 2 in 1 umbrellas and your 100% right, they are great for travel. But of course I usually want the opposite type of brolly to what it's set-up to shoot! The low cost of umbrellas means I prefer one (or more) of each when working in my small home studio 😉

[@adelgundyrin9309]

@@GavinHoey Hi! Outside the studio, he can save from the rain.😉

[@deenugent473]

Great balancing act by Sophie 😁. Fantastic tutorial Gavin 👍

[@Impostertot]

Great refresher on umbrellas. Thanks Gavin!

[@mikecaissie1584]

Great video really like learning about umbrellas I am a fan of the Wescott FJ 400 Products they are great would like to know what do you use usually

[@lainchipimo8786]

Gav is back, yay!

[@comment_below]

Hey great video! Could you tell me which it the brightest option or the least amount of light lost? From what Im gathering from the video -the face section looks to be the same, But the wall test would suggest the reflective umbrella was brighter

[@izgil7541]

Thanks for another awesome video. Would love to know what those backgrounds are (8:10). Unfortunately, not a word about them in the description.

[@GavinHoey]

They're the fluffy rugs that are usually on the floor!

[@bethhendrickson4233]

I use 1 shoot thru and 1 white inside bounce umbrella for my portraits..❤

[@alanroderick7153]

Easy to understand and learn from, well done as always. Who would have guessed that Spohie went to a Swiss Finishing School and learnt how to balance books like that ?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Alan. Sophie is full of surprises 😁

[@kevinlane7555]

I'm an amateur always looking for ways to get great images on the cheap. The absolute best and softest light I have gotten in a portrait situation is using a simple speedlight on a stand off to one side at about a 45 degree angle.I point the light straight up with a small piece of amber gel over the lens (flash), then use the little built in white bounce card. The result is a nice catchlight and soft light that looks like ambient without any blown out highlights....If you have a high, or dark colored ceiling it's probably not going to work

[@ajookazi]

Thanks for the wonderful lesson

[@skytrooper8888]

Dude amazing tutorial 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@sicros6356]

Hey Gavin. Great video as always and very instructive, but could you do one with a model that wears glasses as I struggle sometimes with the umbrella showing too much as a reflection. Thanks

[@paulbell9957]

Really enjoyed this Gavin. You make learning so much fun mate. And as always, beautiful images 👍😊

[@joeybailey9628]

Do you ever use diffuser for reflective umbrella portrait shots or without is fine.

[@gillfry1669]

As usual a great tutorial. Thankyou

[@jholbrookphoto]

A leaf blower? Fantastic idea! Small and cordless. (Ready to roll your eyes when I ask this) What’s the make and model of that leaf blower? I’m always loving your videos too Gavin!

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Jodi. That's my Ryobi mini leaf blower. The battery is compatible with my DIY tools but for cleanliness and safety, the blower itself is never taken out of the studio.

[@vukhuat4251]

Hope you will make a comparison between these umbrellas with the parabolic or deep umbrellas.

[@GavinHoey]

Good suggestion.

[@sjkidd2010]

Great comparison. Just wondered if anyone has tried a reflector (even just white card ) behind the shoot through to see if it reduces the spill.

[@RobertoCienfuegos]

Thanks for all your content. Loved it. Now not to be negative but I thought and learn my self that the level of the metal umbrella insert should be near to the end not the middle and not push closer to light. Due to size and the way light bounds back or go thru the modifiers has lots to manage and to take advantage to the way each of them is being made. Need input. I am sure that will to each photographer taste at the end but I know that the light is much better umbrella being hold the farther from light source. Thanks for any input and definitely you are one of my favorites in this channel.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Roberto. Placing your flash at the end of the umbrella shaft can cause major issues. I cover that very point at 6:10 and demo the pattern of light from both ends of the umbrella... the results may make you do some further testing of your own!

[@RobertoCienfuegos]

@@GavinHoey thanks. I appreciated it. I got used to place the shaft at the edge like not sticking it all the way in like just barely holding it and yes without falling. I really like your creativity. Thanks so much. I enjoy your videos.

[@lexluth1]

This is GREAT! Thank you Gavin for making these videos!

[@davebland8489]

Great video, thanks Gavin.

[@joeec2315]

How come some shots you use the flash reflector on the reflective umbrella? Is it to prevent light spill?

[@Fifthimagez]

This was great and very helpful

[@martynsutton1455]

Hey Gavin. Great insight on the umbrellas. Looking at your camera set up in the video it looks as if it is set low. When taking portraits I typically focus on the eye. With your set up are you still focused on the eye?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Martyn. I always have face an eye detect turned on, so my focus point is ignored as the camera tracks they're eye... It's all very clever!

[@krisy2017]

Hi whats the difference if you point the shoot through umbrella away from the subject?

[@seatacStudios]

can anyone provide insight on the ambient room light affect on the photo? It looks like the room lights in this video are cool. does it make a difference if you have warm or cool lights in the studio room?

[@chrisduffy4852]

Very informative thank you!

[@micronet67]

Hey Gavin, great video. Especially when you showed the light off of each umbrella on the wall. One question, I noticed you're shooting tethered, but I only see a small screen. How are you viewing your photos from this small screen?

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Johnny. I'm tethered to my Lenovo Miix 2 in 1 laptop/tablet which runs Windows 10. I believe it's discontinued but something similar (and available) would be a Microsoft Surface Pro.

[@micronet67]

@@GavinHoey thanks for your reply Gavin. What app or software do you use in your 2 in 1 tablet/laptop? Could it work with an iPad?

[@GavinHoey]

@@micronet67 Hi Jonny. I use Olympus Capture to run the tethering and Olympus Workspace to display the images in full screen. As far as I'm aware there's no tablet (iPad or Android) app version at the moment.

[@micronet67]

@@GavinHoey Thank-you Gavin. Much appreciated for the info and for taking the time to answer. I enjoy your videos! Keep them coming.

[@pelephotography]

And if you take of the head modifier of the ad300pro? To get a studio light feeling?

[@RafaelAntonioRiveraRodriguez]

Gavin, eres genial, gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, saludos desde Colombia

[@grgygantz6760]

Thanks Gavin for the video. Last year for Black Friday adorama ran a sale on the flashpoint AD 100 pro kit. Three lights two umbrellas, just like you have in your video. The pricing was amazing. I’m wondering if the AD 100 has enough juice . Too be used in a parabolic. Probably have to step up to 600s

What about reflective white umbrella? Isn't combination of advantages of both? Is the light is then smooth and easy to control?

[@valentinkovshik]

2:35 That is why I use a reflective umbrella but with a white surface inside instead of silver, so it is more diffusing.

[@brad_in_yyc]

I love using umbrellas. But I don't get anything as great as you do Gavin. Not yet anyway! One day!!

[@GavinHoey]

My top tip Brad... Get the umbrella close to your model and then, move it a little closer!

[@DesireeDuarteVera]

Thank you so much for your valuable information, I don't have umbrellas yet, but I'll try do to some exercises with my light bouncers. Greetings from Mexico, I love how didactic are your videos 🤗

[@anoirsx]

Thanks really enjoy your informing videos!!!

[@LukaTWP]

great content as always !

[@EarlJ55]

Can someone tell me what is that tablet you project your tether? PS. thanks fot the nice video Gavin!

[@Goldy-zw7fp]

Hi, love you tutorials. I notice you have what looks like a small reflector to what I'm guessing is a AD200, or similar. is there an advantage to doing this?

[@KMaybach1]

Great video and very educational as always.

[@kirstyhepworth7343]

Great video gavin 👏 👍

[@rebelforrevolution]

Can we use the normal speed light?

[@carloskuan]

Holy!!! how can I make one of those corner backgrounds? is it fabric? vinyl ?

[@NeilSnapePhotography]

Actually Gavin, I learned a great trick from Bruno Cohen, use a large umbrella in a room with walls and ceiling close, let the light spill past the umbrella to spill onto the wall/ceiling to increase the effective fill. Works for large groups so very well.

[@hawg427]

It's nice that Sophie know how to move & pose her hands. When you put the books on her head it reminded me of a youtube Wiener Dog named Harslo the balancing hound from Ireland. Check him out. LOL Nothing as heavy as books but he is a cutie. Nice video guys.

[@shirishpandey3503]

Excellent explanation which is Gavin's hallmark. Great learning 👍

[@skfineshriber]

Another thing I love about umbrellas is they are small and light when transporting.

[@BeenaDeming]

You are the best and a model is amazing.