If you are a photographer who is passionate about shooting portraits and you want your photographs to be able to provide a more flattering light on the subject’s face for that perfect shot, then you have probably heard of this term before called a softbox. A softbox is often lit from one side to create a more even quality during the lighting process.
Types of Softboxes
When choosing a softbox, portrait photographers need to consider the number of lights it can accommodate, its reflectivity and light distribution, and its dimensions.
Some softboxes come with built-in scrims that can help reduce harshness in the background. Softboxes are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they can be mounted on stands or used without stands.
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to softboxes, so it’s important for portrait photographers to decide which type of softbox will work best for their needs. There are three types of softboxes: the umbrella, the circular, and the rectangular.
Umbrella Softboxes
Most umbrella softboxes are round and have a diameter that ranges from 4 to 16 inches. They come with an attached stand that allows them to be placed at any angle. The downside is that they often produce a diffuse light source because their fabric canopy diffuses the light as it travels through the box. This makes them ideal for shots where you want softer lighting than what you can achieve with a hard light source like a strobe or a continuous light setup.
Circular Softboxes
Circular softboxes have a hole in the center that allows the user to change the direction of the light by rotating the fixture around its axis. They come in different sizes ranging from about 2 feet wide to 12 feet wide and 6 feet tall to 16 feet tall.
Benefits of Using A Softbox for Portrait Photography
Softbox lighting is an essential piece of photography gear for portrait photographers. They can not only create beautiful light, but they can also help to reduce noise in your images. When used correctly, softboxes can give your portraits a natural look that is difficult to achieve with other types of lighting.
Softboxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can find one that is perfect for the type of photography you do. They usually have a large aperture, so they allow more light into the box than standard sized bulbs. This allows you to fill up the frame with your subject without having to use too much light.
Softboxes are also great for reducing noise in your images. By using a softbox, you reduce the amount of ambient light that enters your camera lens. This reduces the amount of noise that appears in your image. Softboxes help to bring out detail in the subjects hair, clothing and skin.
How to Get the Best Outcome from a Softbox
Softboxes are a must-have accessory for any portrait photographer. They help to control the light, helping to create a flattering portrait without harsh shadows or extreme light spots. Additionally, softboxes make it easy to isolate subject matter from the background and create clean, well-lit portraits.
There are many different types of softboxes on the market, but all share similar features. A softbox is made up of multiple small chambers that diffused and hid the light. The size, shape and number of chambers can all affect how the light is distributed and how convincingly the portrait will look.
A good way to test whether or not you need a softbox is to experiment with different exposures at home using a piece of white paper as your test subject. Doing this will help you understand how much shadowing and highlight detail your portrait will have with or without a softbox.
Softboxes come in both portable and studio models. Portable models are easier to move around, but they tend to produce less consistent results because they don’t have as fine a focus on their light output. Studio Softbox models are more accurate in their output but can be more difficult to set up and take down due to their larger size and more numerous features such as built-in stands.
Where and When to Use a Softbox
If you are a portrait photographer, then you should definitely be using a softbox to add some special light to your images. A softbox is an excellent tool for adding dimension and texture to portraits, as well as adding warmth and depth of field. Here are some tips for when and where to use a softbox:
– To add dimension and texture to portraits, use a softbox when the subject is in front of a flat surface, like a white wall or background.
– To add warmth and depth of field to portraits, use a softbox when the subject is in front of a more contrasty background, like foliage or bright lights.
– For portraits that require extra light, like those taken during the daytime, use a small (55 inch) or medium (105 inch) size softbox with your existing flash modifier.
