Bounce or Reflective/shoot shoot-through umbrella for wedding off camera light?

Do you use umbrellas or bare/bounced flash?

If you use umbrellas to diffuse off camera light at weddings, which one do you choose and why?

I use a bit of everything. If it's fill I use bare flash. If flash is main and we're on location I sometimes use a white shoot-thru, and sometimes use direct if I need more power. At night I would typically use a white shoot-thru. During a reception I bounce off the ceiling if it's white, or I use direct flash if the ceiling isn't suitable for bounce. I occasionally use an umbrella for off camera lighting during the first dance.

Like Tim, I too use everything. Any trick that can and will make your job easier is what you do!

tim wrote in post #6579465
I use a bit of everything. If it's fill I use bare flash. If flash is main and we're on location I sometimes use a white shoot-thru, and sometimes use direct if I need more power. At night I would typically use a white shoot-thru. During a reception I bounce off the ceiling if it's white, or I use direct flash if the ceiling isn't suitable for bounce. I occasionally use an umbrella for off camera lighting during the first dance.

No silver reflective umbrellas? White shoot-thru umbrella would need to be closer to subject, for the softest light and best results, right?

PS: Check out few church shots I posted in wedding thred, I want to see what you think Can belive you have not comented on them yet!

yuriyo923 wrote in post #6581826
No silver reflective umbrellas? White shoot-thru umbrella would need to be closer to subject, for the softest light and best results, right?

PS: Check out few church shots I posted in wedding thred, I want to see what you think Can belive you have not comented on them yet!

Softness depends on the distance between the light source and the flash, with the umbrella effectively being a light source. Because of the rod the bounce umbrella ends up further away, so the light is harder. I use an assistant as a light stand for weddings, their body also gets in the way when I use a bounce umbrella, which is another reason I use shoot-thru. Silver bounce is generally more efficient.

I rarely go into the wedding sharing forum here, I find it depressing. PM me a link to the thread if you want my critique.