Using a shoot through umbrella as a reflective..

I couldn't really think of the right way to word the title, so apologies for that.

I've noticed on a few video tutorials that I've been watching that the photographer was shooting a flash into a shoot through umbrella (no cover on the umbrella) and depending on the reflected light for the exposure. In other words, the concave side was facing the subject.

What is the purpose of that? Simply to get less light/shallow DOF?

I don't have a light meter to test it, but in my mind it seems as though the light reflected would be almost non existent.

I really have no idea, but I was practicing my lighting for some baby photos I intend to do, and I used a shoot-through like you said, up above my right shoulder, concave side to subject. I put a reflector on the left of the "baby".

People said the lighting was pretty good...muct be some decent light coming back, as the dining room was quite dull and dark at the time (evening).

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …end_the_light/5​373747176/