What’s the difference between a white and silver umbrella?
Written by: Profoto
Umbrellas are the backbone of many photographers' toolboxes. No wonder why. They are easy to use, portable and available in several different shapes, sizes and fabrics. But what is really the difference between the white version and the silver version?
White umbrellas
Used in an environment where you can bounce light (such as a studio or location with white walls), a white umbrella will give you lower contrast and brighter shadows. They are perfect for creating a light that's less dramatic and more neutral.
Silver umbrellas
The silver umbrella has a more focused spread of light, meaning that you will get more power out from it. It creates a very crisp, direct light with more contrast, similar to the light you’d get from a hard reflector. Silver umbrellas are perfect for adding more drama to an image.
Tip
The bigger the umbrella is, the softer the light you will get. Profoto's umbrellas are availiable in S, M, L and XL.