An umbrella is normally one of the first lighting modifiers photographers use, and while they are a great tool for lots of scenarios, eventually, you will likely want to explore other options. The beauty dish is a highly popular option, and this helpful video will show you the differences between the two.
Coming to you from Karl Taylor, this great video will show you the differences between an umbrella and a beauty dish. Umbrellas are a great first modifier, especially since they are so cheap. However, one of their biggest issues is that they tend to throw light everywhere, making it hard to control their spill and achieve precise lighting effects. On the other hand, a beauty dish offers much more controlled light, and adding an optional grid can give you even more precision. Beauty dishes also offer a much different quality of light that make them highly popular for a range of applications from headshots to beauty work. Check out the video above for the full rundown, and if you want to continue learning about lighting, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley," which is currently on sale for 30% off!
I'm so sorry to post a negative comment but...I was hoping for a nuanced comparison of the affect of the lighting on the face (since that is the subject) between the silver umbrella (which I consider harsh) to the "beauty dish". The only thing I took away was that there was a difference in the background between the two light modifiers. I know how to light the background already. I am so sorry but I did not learn anything from this video concerning the headline. I will back off my comment if upon review I glean otherwise.