The 8 Best Shoot through Umbrellas (2023 reviews)

The neewer translucent white umbrella should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. It is perfect for a portable lighting package. It opens and closes smoothly, and comes with a plastic storage sleeve. It will fold up like an umbrella. It is built for at least light use and so far no problems at all. It is best for outdoor shoots as wind may blow it away but for indoor shoots it’s perfect. It will last a long time.

Why We Like This:

Well made and good for soft light
Nice umbrella for a soft look for key lighting
Small enough to carry as part of travel kit

Best For on The go Shooting: Neewer Shoot through Umbrella

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The neewer shoot through umbrella is capable of outshining several other umbrella featured in this list in overall features for the price point. If you need a set of really portable and small umbs, these are what is advertised and works well for fast set-ups. It protects these in your gear bag. When folded, it occupies no space at all, unlike those larger umbrellas or light domes. The color is a nice crisp white, so no issues with any color cast, etc.

These are so important on the set, you put them infront of a key light that lights up with "Daylight" and its as good as gold. It allows approximately 50% light transmission. The umbrellas work exactly as expected without breaking the bank.

Why We Like This:

Well made and plan on using again for home stay portrait for social media
Lightweight and they work just fine
Great cover for new delicate plants

Best For portrait Photography: Westcott Nice Umbrella

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The westcott nice umbrella is capable of outshining several other umbrella featured in this list in overall features for the price point. A softbox has less light spill, is more directional, and has nice square catchlights. They are great compact light stands that fold up almost as compact as this. It is great for short shoots on the go or when you need to hike a light to get to your shoot location.

The haxagonal construction of the pole that goes through the umbrella clamp is awesome and confidence-inspiring. It provides a quick and effective way to soften the light on the face. It is constructed with a steel shaft and ribs, these umbrellas are reliable when used in both the studio and out on location. It comes with handy sleeves for storage / transport. It is great for bouncing or soften the light drastically shooting through.

Why We Like This:

Excellent for bouncing and shooting through
Works really well and folds down small for travel
Great, portable, affordable, a bit cheaply made
Perfect small packing size and light weight

Best With Diffuser: Fotodiox Shoot through Umbrella

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Compared with other umbrella in this category, the fotodiox shoot through umbrella has a convenient design. This white umbrella without a black backing may also be used as a makeshift softbox, although the use of the light will not be as efficient as softbox. It is designed to be used with any tungsten or flash light source. It is made of diffusive nylon fabric and easy to use in tight spaces. It fits very nicely, which means they are of a standard size for most strobe equipment.

This thing works decently well as a diffuser, but it is almost equally reflective and transmissive, meaning it's hard to say whether you should use this like a pass-through umbrella or a bounce umbrella. When the wind catches one of these, they'll both bend a couple times before they snap. It has a minimum light reduction.

Why We Like This:

Great build quality and nice soft light
Does a very good job as shoot-through
Good indoors, be super careful when outside
Inexpensive, simplistic option when a soft-box is out of reach

Best For Photography: Westcott Shoot through Umbrella

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The westcott shoot through umbrella should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. Diffusion or shoot-through umbrellas are designed with quality 1-stop diffusion fabric that softens and expands your light. It works good with and without the black cover. The black part has little caps that go on the rods that are attached to the white part. The pull out metal rod, which makes the umbrella easily fit into any bag.

This is an excellent modifier, well made, and good materials, THICK center pole. It also folds down conveniently small. There is a screw on the top and lining everything up to put back together takes some time.

Why We Like This:

Folds down real nice and small
Very good when set up, light and a good size
Include a built-in umbrella receptacle for instant mounting
Works great, cover is easy to add or remove and the situation demands

Best For Parabolic Umbrella: Impact Shoot through Umbrella

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate umbrella. The impact shoot through umbrella is exactly that - it's a simple umbrella that hits all the right notes. This soft and natural light is what makes this umbrella a favorite of wedding and portrait photographers. Due to the special shape of the umbrella there's a unique mix of soft enveloping light with the kind of crisp detail you only get from reflectors. It produces enough light for stunning group photos. It is made of durable fiberglass. The improved "finger-friendly" locking mechanism means you won't pinch your fingers when you're setting up or breaking down.

It will also emit a broad enough beam for full-length portraits. The parabolic shape produces a more natural wraparound light than a regular umbrella.

Why We Like This:

Of bendable metal, the 16 inner ribs are made of durable fiberglass
Good investment for long term

Best affordable Umbrella: Promaster Shoot through Umbrella

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The Promaster shoot-through version of the umbrella soft box gives you all of the advantages of a translucent shoot-through umbrella while adding the light amplification you get from the reflector in a standard soft box. It includes a 40 inch translucent umbrella. It is built to soften and spread light widely.

This umbrella is a very effective and reliable alternative to more advanced light modification setups. The umbrella design makes setup a breeze plus the extra heavy duty construction ensures that it will hold up to lots of use whether you are a professional or a weekend warrior. It's reasonably well made and priced.

Why We Like This:

An inexpensive light modifier that produces an amazing well lit image
Gets the job done well.built to soften and spread light widely
New and hot release

Best Premium: Glow Shoot through Umbrella

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Adorama's line of Glow light modifiers all share solid construction, durable materials, and a true umbrella-like opening and closing mechanism. The glow ez lock 41" translucent deep umbrella sports a dynamic parabolic shape with an unbeatable safe and positive lock system. It is easy to achieve smooth, warm skin tones, luscious fashion illustration, and effortlessly to accomplish gentle highlights.

This medium edition of the deep umbrella is especially suitable for illuminating subjects and products with smooth but exciting light. It is the newly designed locking device surrounds the shaft, providing a comfortable place to slide the umbrella mechanism to open, and a generous wide button to release the shoot. This umbrella comes packaged in a fitted, durable fabric pouch, which protects it during transport and storage, and will not grow hard and crac. Choose this translucent finish if you are seeking an umbrella that acts as a fill or key light, when a softbox is not available.

Why We Like This:

More open up and close down umbrella frustration or fumbling
Slick mechanism glides smoothly along shaft
Tough carry case with velcro flap