The Best Position for a Softbox for Portraits
- 6 Classic Portrait Photography Lighting Setups
- Advanced Portrait Photography Tips That Will Immediately Make Your Photos Better
photo by CoffeeAndMilk via iStock
Softbox Position
Not to state the obvious, but photography is all about light and how it falls on the subject.
That means when you create portraits, you have to pay just as much attention to the type of lighting you use and its positioning relative to the model as you do on posing the model and making him or her feel as comfortable as possible in front of the camera.
So, that begs the question, what is the best position for a softbox for portraits?
Where to Position Softboxes for Portraits
In the video above, Gavin Hoey explains that the positioning of a softbox really depends on the look you're trying to achieve.
That is, you can place the softbox in front of the model, next to the model, and even behind the model to tailor the lighting to your specific tastes.
For example, as you can see below, by placing the softbox to the front and left of the model (as we look at him), you get a classic portrait lighting result with the model's face well-lit face and slight shadows on the side opposite the light.
For a slightly different look, you can move the softbox back such that the edge of the softbox is more or less in line with the back of the model's head.
When using a rectangular softbox as Gavin has done, you'll get a little bit of illumination behind the subject that then extends to the front of the model.
As you can see above, positioning the softbox to the side of the model yields a portrait with much more contrast than the first example.
In particular, notice how the shadowed areas on the right side of the model are much more pronounced as before.
Also notice how despite the increased contrast, there is still plenty of detail on the right side of the model's face - his eye is still visible and sharp, just as it should be.
Yet another option is to split the model with lighting such that about half of the softbox extends behind them and the other half extends in front of them.
This setup is ideal for split lighting, in which the side of the model's face nearest the light is well-lit and the opposite side of the model's face is virtually in darkness.
Notice this time how there's less detail in the shadowed areas of the model's face than before. This gives the portrait a more contrasty and mysterious vibe.
A final option regarding the positioning of the softbox is to place virtually all of the light behind the model.
As you can see above, when the model is in line with the front of the softbox, the background is much more visible.
Not only that, but the shadowed areas of his face are getting larger, with more pronounced shadows creeping onto the left side of his face as we look at the image.
The takeaway here is that there is no one perfect spot to position a softbox. Instead, the best approach is to experiment in order to find the lighting setup that works best for your creative vision.
Learn More:
What is a Softbox?
If you're new to portraiture and aren't completely sure what a softbox is, it's a pretty simple concept.
In short, a softbox helps diffuse the light from a light source, such as a speedlight or a strobe, such that the light is softer (thus the name softbox).
To modify light, softboxes usually have some sort of scattering material through which the light is transmitted. As you can see above, the Chimera Super Pro X Lightbank has a translucent cover to soften the light.
The result is beautiful, even light without the harsh shadows and highlights that often result when light sources are unmodified. You can see the difference a softbox makes in the comparison of the two images above.
photo by druvo via iStock
Other softboxes reflect light off of a second surface and back onto the subject.
Either way, as you can see in the portrait above, using a softbox helps you create a much more pleasing portrait that has even light without harsh contrast to distract the eye.
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Soft box Sizes Explained
In addition to understanding what a softbox is and the purpose it serves, it's also important for beginner photographers to understand the varying sizes and shapes of softboxes.
Though most softboxes are rectangular in shape, there are also octagonal ones (like the $260.00 Westcott Rapid Box shown above). If that price point is a little too steep, there are also budget-friendly options like this one that save you money without sacrificing quality.
There are also square options, like the Chimera Pop Bank (shown above) for $162.36. Again, there are budget options available, like this Godox 23.6" x 23.6" square softbox.
Less commonly, there are parabolic, round, and hexagonal-shaped softboxes as well.
Likewise, there are a variety of sizes available. Large softboxes (say, 48-inches and larger) are ideal for group shots and full-body portraits. For example, the 12x56-inch rectangular softbox shown above is available for about $115.00 and would be an ideal choice for a full-body portrait, particularly if the model is lying down. If you're on a smaller budget, this is an ideal option.
Smaller softboxes (say, 18-24 inches wide) are more appropriate for headshots and half-body portraits. In this case, the Westcott Rapid Box 10x24" Strip softbox shown below is a solid choice at $150.00. The budget-friendly Glow EZ Lock 12x24" softbox would be a good choice as well.
The size of the softbox alters the quality of light. That is, the larger the softbox, the softer the light.
Conversely, small softboxes produce comparatively harsher light with more defined shadows.
Additionally, the shape of the softbox alters the quality of light as well. This is especially true when you're taking close-up portraits, as the shape of the light source being used is often reflected in the model's eye (this is known as a catchlight).
photo by CoffeeAndMilk via iStock
For example, if you use a rectangular softbox in a vertical orientation, the catchlight will mimic the look of light emanating from a window.
On the other hand, using a octagonal-shaped softbox will produce a catchlight that looks like it's coming from the sun. If you look closely at the eyes of the model in the image above, you can see a round catchlight that was created by using an octagonal softbox.
For more details on how the size and shape of softboxes affect portrait lighting, be sure to check out the video above.
In it, Gavin Hoey demonstrates how the light changes as different softboxes are used. It's a great introduction to using softboxes for portraiture!
