What’s the difference between Profoto Umbrellas

Profoto Umbrellas are designed to deliver professional soft light with maximum speed and simplicity. Available in White, Silver, and Translucent fabrics, and in Deep or Shallow shapes across multiple sizes, each version produces a distinct light quality — from subtle and natural to bright and contrasty. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right umbrella for your work.

Photos: Mira & Thilda

Soft light made simple
Compact, lightweight, and easy to use, Profoto Umbrellas are among the most versatile light shapers in the lineup. They offer studio-quality light on location, fast setup, and consistent results across every shoot. Whether you’re working in tight spaces or large sets, there’s a Profoto Umbrella built to fit your lighting needs.

Photos: D'Ann Boal, Mira & Thilda, Jan Gonzales, Evan Naka, Drew Gurian, Trupal Pandya

Fabric: white, silver, or translucent
The fabric determines how your light behaves. White gives soft, natural light with smooth transitions and brighter shadows. Silver provides higher output and contrast with specular highlights and deeper shadows. Translucent, or shoot-through, produces broad, even light similar to the white but with more overall output — perfect when working close to your subject or in smaller spaces.

Photos: Chris Fain

Shape: deep or shallow

The shape affects light spread. Shallow umbrellas create wide, even illumination suited for groups or full environments. Deep umbrellas direct more light toward your subject, increasing efficiency and keeping illumination within the frame.

Photos: Drew Forsyth

Size: Small to XL

Smaller umbrellas create light with more definition and texture, while larger sizes soften transitions and produce a broader, more forgiving light — ideal for portraits and fashion work.

Photos: Mira & Thilda

Fine-tuning your setup

A diffuser removes any uneven light patterns, giving the umbrella a softbox-like quality. A backpanel prevents light from spilling backwards, ensuring maximum efficiency. (In setups with a backpanel, the white sphere should face the talent, and the backpanel should point upward and behind the light.)

Photos: Drew Forsyth

Light shaping versatility

Profoto Umbrellas combine portability, reliability, and precision. With multiple configurations to choose from, they make it easy to achieve consistent, high-quality results — wherever your work takes you.