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As everyone knows, lighting is essential to good photography. If you can’t get daylight, photography umbrellas can reflect or diffuse light evenly over your subject. Assuming you’re an amateur photographer and not trying to be Ansel Adams, you don’t need a professional kit, which can run up to tens of thousands of dollars. You simply need a basic set of adjustable umbrellas and bulbs, ideally with a few customization functions such as colored bulbs or filters to adjust the warmth and color of the light.
What Are the Best Photo Umbrella Lighting Kits?
The best photo umbrellas are great for both amateur and hobbyist photographers looking to get started on a home photography studio setup. Kits should include a standard variety of basics, including two or three umbrellas, lights, and stands in multiple sizes and adjustments. From there, photographers can build on their studios for more specialized equipment. Here are some things to look for.
Variety and Versatility: All of our kit recommendations include a few different umbrellas, stands, and lightbulbs, which should be all you need for almost every situation. We appreciate extras like blue and orange bulb filters or reflective silver and gold umbrellas which can further customize light temperature and intensity.
Bulbs:All of our recommended kits come with bulbs included, some fluorescent and some LED. While we find that fluorescent lights are often perfectly serviceable, LED bulbs can offer stronger and more energy-efficient light. Adjust the positioning of the lights and umbrellas to cast a warm glow on the subject you’re photographing, or to mimic a daylight setting.
Ease of Use and Assembly: Especially for beginners, it’s important for home photography studios to be user-friendly. We looked for kits with intuitive assembly and breakdown mechanisms. We also looked for lightweight and portable sets including carry bags for when you want to take your studio on the road.
