Skyler Call

In the past when I have used an umbrella it has been one I borrowed from my friend Clark Weakley. I recently had my first engagement shoot earlier this month and will hopefully be shooting the bridals, wedding, and reception as well. I decided I really needed to get my own umbrella. Last year when I attended a seminar by Ed Pierce (fantastic seminar by the way) all I heard when it came to lighting equipment was Westcott this and Westcott that. So, I decided to buy the Westcott 45″ Optical White Satin Umbrella with Removable Black Cover.

With the black cover on you shoot into the umbrella and the light bounces back at our subject. Remove the cover and you have a semi-transparent shoot-through umbrella. I was worried about how hard it might be to remove and replace the cover but was quite pleased when I saw just how easy it was. The black cover has little metal end caps that slip over the end of each umbrella rod.

I am very impressed with the construction of this umbrella. Every part of it seems so durable including the solid shaft that runs through my flash bracket.

So far my only complaint about this umbrella is that is comes with the same cheap bag as all the other umbrellas I have seen before. My first time putting the umbrella back into the case I discovered that it already has a hole in it.

Below are some of the photos I took of my wife’s parents and her siblings that still live at home. View the full gallery at http://www.callstudios.com