Umbrellas for on location portraits?

[Tom Barnett]

How do you feel about umbrellas? I've been using on for almost all of my portrait assignments lately and I would love to hear some opinions.

[DocFrankenstein]

My extremely limited experience using a single umbrella with available light says that a reflector would be better.

[scottbergerphoto]

Umbrellas are a cheap and easy way to diffuse a monolight or a small speedlight. I carry one in my portable lighting kit with a lightstand and multibracket.
Scott

[mbze430]

Same here, 42". Mostly used as a fill light.

[blackviolet]

tritto... i generally carry one with me - it's a combination shoot-thru and black backed/white brolly. i also carry a photoflex arm which holds a brolly and has a shoe on top.

they are great for fill. note that i also carry a gold/white reflector with me too.