Umbrella Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/umbrella Lighting Education for Photographers and Filmmakers Tue, 09 Dec 2025 21:53:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://westcottu.com/wp-content/uploads/icon-university.png Umbrella Archives — Westcott University https://westcottu.com/topic/umbrella 32 32 How to Simulate Sunlight in Studio Photography https://westcottu.com/how-to-simulate-sunlight-in-studio-photography Thu, 22 May 2025 00:00:06 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=156730 Joel Grimes breaks down one of his go-to studio setups using just two lights to mimic the feel of natural sun. It’s a repeatable, controlled way to get dramatic shadows and that cinematic outdoor style, all from the controlled environment of your studio.

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]]> 156730 How to Create Portrait Lighting to Help Tell a Story https://westcottu.com/how-to-create-portrait-lighting-to-help-tell-a-story Tue, 19 May 2020 17:01:15 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=152659 Celebrity commercial photographer Ian Spanier began taking photographs at six years old when his parents gave him his first point and shoot camera. After majoring in photography in college, Ian worked in publishing as an editor, but making pictures never left him. Since re-entering the photography industry, Ian has mastered commercial portrait lighting. In this […]

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]]> 152659 Dramatic Lighting for Photographing Athletes https://westcottu.com/lighting-photographing-athletes Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:07:51 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=151659 Hernan Rodriguez is a Los Angeles-based celebrity portrait photographer with years of experience photographing athletes, including some of the most recognizable World Champions. Hernan is a true artist and he takes lighting very seriously. His dramatic imagery often requires multiple lights and modifiers, but we wanted to see just what he could create with a […]

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]]> 151659 Lighting for Black and White Portraits https://westcottu.com/lighting-for-black-and-white-portraits Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:55:30 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150809 This article is courtesy of lifestyle photographer Jay Watson. It first appeared on Rangefinder. Using one big light source created three things for this black and white assignment for Bicycling magazine of road racer Peter Stetina: an evenly lit background, edge light, and contrast due to fall-off. Highlights and shadows give us a range of tones […]

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]]> 150809 Improving Wedding Prep Photography with Portable Lighting https://westcottu.com/wedding-prep-photography-with-portable-lighting Sun, 17 Dec 2017 20:08:50 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150177 In this two-part tutorial, professional wedding photographer Bob Davis discusses how to improve wedding preparation shots (for both brides and grooms) with surprisingly portable lighting setups. By adding just a couple of speedlites and compact modifiers to your shoot, photographers can save time on post-production editing and offer clients higher quality images. In Bob’s bridal […]

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]]> 150177 Team Portrait Posing Tips https://westcottu.com/team-portrait-posing-tips-2 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:40:44 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=150222 Posing just a single subject can be difficult, let alone an entire sports team. Talented sports and senior photographer Matt Hernandez has perfected team and group shots with these quick portrait-posing tips. Sports Team Posing Pro Tips If you want to make your client’s team look tough or intimidating, shoot from a lower angle. This […]

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]]> 150222 Creating Modern Portraits with a Deep Umbrella https://westcottu.com/in-the-studio-with-westcotts-new-deep-umbrella-series Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:54:00 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=149997 This article is courtesy of Atlanta-based portrait photographer and designer Alex D. Rogers. Whenever the situation allows, I love to use a simple one-light setup for portraits and fashion shoots. It’s a quick and easy solution that—when paired with carefully-placed bounce cards or reflectors—adds a no-fuss simplicity to the look of my photos. One challenge […]

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]]> 149997 Wedding Photography on a Budget https://westcottu.com/wedding-photography-on-a-budget Fri, 13 Jan 2017 21:36:51 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=149557 For wedding photographers, nothing is more important than using gear that is both portable and easy to use. Wedding photographers are constantly on the move and always need to be ready to capture those special moments. Unfortunately, a lot of user and travel-friendly gear is pretty expensive. In this video, Scott Kelby captures beautiful wedding photography […]

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]]> 149557 The Essential Guide to Photo Umbrellas https://westcottu.com/the-essential-guide-to-photo-umbrellas https://westcottu.com/the-essential-guide-to-photo-umbrellas#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:56:08 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148919 Photo umbrellas are a portable and inexpensive way to modify a light source. But because there are so many sizes and color options, choosing one can be a bit intimidating. Photo umbrellas are a portable and inexpensive option for modifying a light source to a desired result. An umbrella can be used with virtually any style of light, including sunlight, […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/the-essential-guide-to-photo-umbrellas/feed 1 148919 Team Portrait Posing Tips https://westcottu.com/team-portrait-posing-tips Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:30:45 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148258 Westcott Top Pro Matt Hernandez began his career as an award-winning graphic artist, then combined his love of photography with his design background and love of sports to become one of the country’s premier sports photographers. Here, Matt offers insightful posing tips for capturing professional and eye-catching team portraits. The most common mistake photographers make […]

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]]> 148258 Dramatic and Effective Lighting for Team Portraits https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2016 21:34:27 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=148169 Renowned sports photographer Matt Hernandez has had years of experience capturing professional and high school team portraits. Through years of shooting in a variety of locations, he has perfected the group lighting setup. To perfect the light coming from his key strobe, Matt prefers to use a reflective . By bouncing his strobe into this modifier, […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/how-to-light-team-portraits/feed 1 148169 Modern Pin-Up Photography https://westcottu.com/modern-pin-up-photography Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:48:34 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=146920 The shoot starts with the Yaphank Garage, a restored 1930’s-era gas and service station that these days is a museum. It’s about 15 minutes from my home in Long Island, New York, and I pass it countless times, each time thinking, I’ve got to do a shoot here.          I get my chance this past summer […]

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]]> 146920 Modifying a Key Light on a Budget https://westcottu.com/modifying-a-key-light-on-a-budget Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:55:32 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=146912 Canadian portrait photographer Craig Beckta used a wraparound key light setup for this portrait. While it can often be expensive to create large key light source in-studio, Craig decided to use an affordable Westcott 7′ Parabolic Umbrella. These large modifiers are available in reflective white, reflective silver, white shoot-through versions. Here, Craig uses the reflective silver umbrella. […]

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]]> 146912 Choosing the Right Light Modifier with Joel Grimes https://westcottu.com/choosing-the-right-light-modifier https://westcottu.com/choosing-the-right-light-modifier#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2014 15:13:41 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=141599 Both new photographers and experienced professionals often question which light modifier is the best choice for each and every photo shoot. World-renowned commercial photographer Joel Grimes has been working in the industry for nearly thirty years and has an immense understanding of light modification for portraiture. When choosing a light modifier, Joel suggests that photographers first […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/choosing-the-right-light-modifier/feed 1 141599 Justin Van Leeuwen Reviews the Westcott ProGrip https://westcottu.com/justin-van-leeuwen-progrip Tue, 22 Apr 2014 15:47:20 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140359 Corporate and editorial portrait photographer Justin Van Leeuwen hails from Ottawa, Canada. Modest and self-taught, Justin’s photography often seems larger than life, featuring high contrast and colorful subjects. His work has been published locally in Ottawa Magazine, Kitchissippi Times, Capital Parent, Centre Ice, Ottawa Woman, and nationally in Spacing and iRun magazines. Justin’s corporate clients include the […]

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]]> 140359 Bob Davis on the ProGrip Speedlite Handle https://westcottu.com/bob-davis-progrip-speedlite-handle Fri, 21 Feb 2014 15:09:55 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=140200 Westcott Top Pro Elite photographer Bob Davis discusses the use of the new ProGrip Speedlite Handle in this video tutorial. An avid speedlite shooter, Bob is an expert in creating beautiful images with off-camera flash. The Westcott ProGrip Speedlite Handle is available both on its own or two kits, the ProGrip Umbrella Kit and the […]

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]]> 140200 Real Deal Review: Westcott Triple Threat Speedlite Bracket https://westcottu.com/review-westcott-triple-threat Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:40:03 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=133255 Photographer Ben Weatherston reviews the Westcott Triple Threat with a 7 foot parabolic umbrella, and a diffusion front panel for this week’s Real Deal Review. The Triple Threat is a speedlite accessory that allows photographers to mount three speedlites to one unit.  This will not only give more power to photographers who use speedlites, but […]

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]]> 133255 Wedding Photography Lighting Tips: Part 2 https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2 https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2#comments Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:35:26 +0000 https://westcottu.com/?p=133252 Westcott Top Pro Jim Schmelzer continues his wedding photography lighting tips from Part 1 at the church. Here, Jim will bring in his bride and groom to start shooting beautiful images. Jim was using the in this lighting setup. Along with using an umbrella for the main source of light, Jim also uses a on […]

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]]> https://westcottu.com/photo-lighting-for-a-wedding-part-2/feed 1 133252 Using a 7′ Umbrella for Portraits https://westcottu.com/using-a-7-parabolic-umbrella-for-portraits Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:54:20 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=125412 Some people use umbrellas all the time. Reflective, shoot through, they just love the spill and shape of the light that comes out of them. For me, I like the control I get out of softboxes, strip lights, and octabanks. The light goes where I want it to go, not just everywhere. There’s no denying […]

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]]> 125412 Bruce Dorn: Portraits with Speedlites (Part 5) https://westcottu.com/bruce-dorn-on-speedlites-5 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:05:16 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123669 Explorer of Light and Westcott Top Pro Elite Bruce Dorn has been teaching Speedlite techniques around the country for years through Canon Live Learning and his own workshops. With the Canon Digital Learning Center’s exclusive tutorials series on Environmental Portraits with Speedlites, now an even larger amount of photographers can watch and learn. The series was designed […]

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]]> 123669 Bruce Dorn: Portraits with Speedlites https://westcottu.com/bruce-dorn-on-speedlites Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:38:20 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=123641 Explorer of Light and Westcott Top Pro Elite Bruce Dorn has been teaching techniques for speedlites around the country for years through Canon Live Learning and his own workshops. With the Canon Digital Learning Center’s exclusive tutorials series on environmental portraits with speedlites, now an even larger amount of photographers can watch and learn. The series was designed […]

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]]> 123641 Comparing Large vs. Small Photo Umbrellas https://westcottu.com/large-vs-small-photographic-umbrellas Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:02:39 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=122779 Photographic umbrellas come in so many sizes nowadays, perhaps even more so than the common rain variety. Let’s set aside those and the for a moment and discuss some key differences and techniques, when selecting and shooting with the versatile photo umbrella. Benefits of Each Small Umbrella Easier to fit on tight sets or locations […]

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]]> 122779 Large Octabank Alternatives for Portability https://westcottu.com/erik-valind-my-favorite-parabolic-umbrella Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:42:14 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=122189 Most photographers love Octabanks. The light quality if amazing! Unfortunately, they are not easy on the wallet or easy to transport either. Usually rather heavy, they require a specific speed-ring to use with your lights and a large light stand to support them. But if you are looking for an alternative because of size of […]

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]]> 122189 Speedlites for Action Photography https://westcottu.com/tyler-stableford-speedlites-for-action-photography Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:12:06 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=121611 Explorer of Light Tyler Stableford takes us to the legendary Snowmass Terrain Park in Snowmass, Colorado, where he utilizes the radio functionality of the Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite system to achieve a perfect balance of ambient and speedlite lighting. Learn how to overpower the harsh mid-day sun to create dynamic action photos and portraits in tricky shooting situations. […]

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]]> 121611 Using Shoot-Through Photo Umbrellas https://westcottu.com/tog-tuesday-lighting-spill-differences Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:19:41 +0000 http://fjwestcott.com/?p=3378 Umbrella are a quick and easy - not to mention affordable - way to produce soft light. One of the main differences between an umbrella and a softbox though, is their ability to control where that soft light spills. Or more precisely where the light goes and where it doesn't. Lets walk through a couple different kinds of umbrellas and what kind of spill you can expect when using each.

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