This is a great umbrella for shoot through or as a reflector. I almost bought a cheaper one that just shoots through, but I'm glad I didn't. I usually use it on one of my camera tripods and when I use it to take pictures it doesn't make you point down as often. This was a problem when photographing my daughter who had just turned 1 year old, so I started using her as a reflector. No matter how you use it, it provides great flash lighting. I was able to capture some amazing studio quality footage of my daughter in our living room. I think it's good value for money and works well, so it's great for both hobbyists and beginners as well as advanced users.