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How to Make a Studio Umbrella

Studio umbrellas can be made at home using white or colored golf umbrellas. Colored umbrellas add a touch of color to your images, similar to adding a colored gel to the front of a studio light. Sports stores and golf pro shops will have a larger selection of umbrellas to choose from. Second hand sports retailers may have a supply of used golf umbrellas.

Things You'll Need

White fabric umbrellas
Hacksaw
Metal file
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Locate two white fabric umbrellas; these can be personal umbrellas or golf umbrellas that you may have around the house. Ideally they should not have any trademark symbols or logos on the umbrellas. The umbrella needs to be a fabric that will allow light to penetrate through it.
- 2
  Open the umbrellas and cut off the handle with a hacksaw. File any rough edges left from the cut with a metal file. Apply a strip of gaffers or duct tape to the end of the umbrella to protect yourself from any potential cuts.
- 3
  Open a light stand and screw the studio strobe light onto the top of the stand. Insert the umbrella into the small hole located on the front of the studio strobe or into the holder on the light stand. The make and model of the studio stand and lights you're using will determine where the umbrellas are attached.
- 4
  Position the studio light so the umbrella is pointed towards the subject, allowing the light to filter through the umbrella. When using a white umbrella, you will get a soft diffused light. Colored umbrellas add a soft colored light to your subject.

Photography