Softboxes

Softboxes are some of the most common studio light modifiers you’ll encounter in photography. They’re inexpensive, they’re simple to use, and for many photographers they’re some of the most essential pieces of kit they own. Whether you’re using an expensive set of studio strobes or the cheapest flashgun you could find, a softbox can be your best friend when it comes to producing flattering photography lighting.

A softbox is a pretty simple concept at heart – it’s a box that softens light. It is placed over the light source in order to filter the light it produces through a translucent material. This makes the light less harsh and directional, spreading it over a greater area for a subtler, more flattering effect, which is what we mean when we talk about ‘softening’ light.

Softboxes

This may seem pretty simple, but once you start looking at softboxes for photography, you’ll notice that there appear to be a lot of different shapes and sizes, to the point where it can be quite overwhelming to the novice photographer.

Square and rectangular softboxes disperse light evenly over subjects for a naturalistic look. They’re great for replicating the effect of window light, as windows are generally square or rectangular in shape. Square softboxes will create even shadows on the horizontal and vertical axes, while rectangular softboxes will create harder shadow edges on the shorter edge, and softer shadow edges on the longer edge.

Strip softboxes create a narrower strip of light, which can be great both for illuminating backgrounds and for creating the highlights on a product.If you are shooting a full length portrait, a strip portrait can be a great way to highlight a subject’s full body.

Octagonal softboxes, meanwhile, create a rounder, flatter light that’s great for creating attractive round catchlights in a subject’s eyes – excellent for headshots. Another option is a parabolic softbox, which resembles a lighting umbrella in design, providing much more depth to funnel the light for a dramatic effect.

Size of the softbox is also an important consideration. Using a larger softbox will diffuse and spread the light over a larger area, effectively increasing the softening effect. If you are working with larger subjects then you’ll need a larger softbox to ensure adequate spread of light, while if you’re working with smaller subjects (like products or food) you can likely get away with a smaller one. You may also want to think about portability if you’re frequently going to need to transport your setup to different shooting locations.

There are many accessories available for softboxes that allow you to further modify the shape and quality of your light. Grids allow you to direct your light and minimise light spill for greater efficiency. There are also masks, such as round masks or strip masks, that let you effectively change the shape of your softbox to achieve specific lighting and shadow effects.

Lightweight and inexpensive, softboxes are essential pieces of studio kit for anyone who’s looking to get serious about controlling their photographic light.