Youre likely to choose a favourite, but they are both beneficial. Read more about our policy here. It is good when you want it to be obvious that lighting tool has been used, rather than trying to hide it. Check the price of the Profoto OCF Beauty Dish at B&H. It is an extreme example, and I only show it here for demonstration purposes. By Dan Havlik Digital Photo Pro is the leading source of new ideas, new techniques and new ways of seeing for professional photographers, showcasing innovative concepts in still and motion image capture, in-depth equipment reviews, business and legal insights and the latest advances in imaging technology. Feel free to use the straight-down positioning I recommended above, though you can also set it up at a 45-degree angle, like you might use a softbox. For me, the best thing about the lighting here is the shadows that form around the model. While both these lighting modifiers work great, they do come with several significant differences, so its worth carefully considering your options. Softboxes are also great for achieving a softer, flattering look so theyre perfect if youre hoping to get that diffused window effect that portrait photographers love. Plus, you can buy huge softboxes, which are great for group shots (beauty dishes vary in size, but they never go that big). When light is large and close to the subject, it will illuminate them from more angles. What we like about this dish is that while it provides ample reflective area when fully open, its collapsible and lightweight so its easy to transport if youre shooting at a clients space. This means that its much more focused on one spot. Check the price of the Westcott Switch Beauty Dish at B&H. Check the price of the Profoto White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector at B&H. The first photo demonstrates the setup I used, followed by an image of the result. The light produced is harder than a softbox but softer than an umbrella. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. In the photo below, the beauty dish is roughly three feet above the models head, without a grid. Designed for Profotos B1 and B2 OCF heads, the Profoto OCF Beauty Dish ($199) is a 24-inch beauty dish that comes in white or silver interior colors. That can be wireless or wired. More on that later. Thats why, in this article, I share everything you need to know about beauty dish photography, from the lighting basics all the way to my favorite setups. As you notice, much more direct light is produced. 
And of course, the price for a quality beauty dish like this really cant be beat. Portrait Photographers: Do You Really Need a 70-200mm Lens? Check the price of the Godox Beauty Dish Reflector at B&H. Check the price of the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector at B&H. 
This allows me to vary the amount of shadows on the face, depending on where theyre looking. Beauty dishes are great tools for any photographer. Add in the counter reflector on the interior, and youll be able to sculpt a persons face with light while defining specific features such as the chin, nose or forehead. Finally, I turn the models face towards the dish. I prefer to use a strip box as fill (set one or two stops darker than the main light). 
Use a Reflector, How to Find and Use Natural Reflectors for Portraits, How to Create Dramatic Portraits with Shadow Photography [video], Tips for Portrait Photography in Overcast Weather [video], How to Photograph People Outdoors Without Using a Reflector, How To Use an Outdoor Studio for Natural Portraits, Female Poses: 21 Posing Ideas to Get You Started Photographing Women, Glamour Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Men, Good Crop Bad Crop How to Crop Portraits, How to Pose and Angle the Body for Better Portraits, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Groups of People, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Couples, Your Guide to the Best Poses for Engagement Photos, How to do Gentle Posing: A Collection of Prompts to Get You Started, Tips for Posing Large Families and Groups, Tips for Posing People in Outdoor Portraits, 20 Tips for Getting People to Smile in Photos, How to Avoid Fake Smiles in Your People Photography, Tips for Posing Muscular Female Body Types, Your Guide to Posing Bands in Photography. This will help minimize shadows under the chin and will add a catchlight at the bottom of the eyes. Register for our newsletter of photography that refines you. First, Id suggest you only use a beauty dish setup on clients or models with very good skin, because the harder lighting can show off imperfections like wrinkles and blemishes. Below, I share five specific beauty dish lighting setups to get you taking gorgeous images in no time at all: This setup, also known as clamshell lighting, is the most typical way to do a beauty-dish photo. Digital Photo Pro does not accept money for any editorial recommendations. Its also helpful to find a good makeup and hair artist since youll likely be showing off the subjects face in detail. So if youre hoping to shoot still life photos, product photos, or even studio pet photos in addition to standard portrait shots, a softbox is the better buy. Also, to adjust the amount of fill light, youll need to push the reflector closer or pull it away. It dims around the edges to form avignette. This is not an effect that I care for. I used a grid and positioned the dish 45 degrees off the centre of the face. If youre on a budget and dont need the surface area of the larger modifiers in this guide, the Godox Beauty Dish Reflector ($44.70) is a solid, affordable option. A classic beauty dish that creates a classic look for portrait photography, the Profoto White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector features a center disk that blocks out the direct light to prevent hot spots. Serious pros dont skimp on their cameras or lenses so why buy a cheap beauty dish from a manufacturer with no track record of making modifiers just to a save a few bucks? So if you havent already, go out and buy (or make!) In general, it makes sense to use an aperture of around f/8 to f/11 and an ISO of 100, then adjust the lighting power to achieve the right exposure. This means we may receive a commission if you purchase something by clicking on one of our links. The dish comes with a deflector plate, which bounces the light and directs it to the edges, and a front diffuser for softening the light. 2022 Madavor Media, LLC. Below is a more dramatic example of how I used my beauty dish. What now? Learn more about how to improve your photography with Photography Unlocked. And for a more sophisticated effect, try adding a background light or a rim light to make your subject stand out. While it costs more than some similar products, the Profoto White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector is extremely well made and will likely become your go-to light shaping tool for decades to come. I chose to shoot the photo like this because it suited the background. All rights reserved. When the beauty dish is much further away and is the only lighting source, you start to see how the modifier is made. Without a grid, the light bounces into the back of the dish, reflects around the sides and then out the front. First, lets have a look at how you may use a beauty dish without a grid. Some photographers like to add black cards on either side of the subject to create shadows on the sides of the face, but this is optional. Here is one of my favourite techniques when it comes to beauty dish lighting. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. And it provides a soft shadow on the left side of her face. You can also add different modifiers to change how they work. I prefer placing the dish nice and close to the subject. Do, From our earliest days, fairytales have excited and ignited our imaginations. You geta harder light with the grid on I try to soften it by havingthe light source a little closer. They dont tend to appreciate that too much. You should also check out this recent tutorial with five classic techniques for using a beauty dish in the studio. There are a lot of details in the shadows of her wrist and fingers that would simply have been flattened with a hard, direct light. I took the following portrait with the dish, without a grid, and over my right shoulder. This has left a strong shadow across her neck while illuminating the rest of the scene. Also, beauty dishes produce stunning catchlights in the eyes (beautiful, circular highlights that draw the viewer into the portrait), and they produce nice shadows under the jaw line. It doesnt reveal the details of the inner workings of the lighting tool,asyou can notice in the following photo. The portrait below demonstrates this. Next, add a reflector under the chin to bounce light back up into the subjects face. Profoto is a storied name in studio lighting so its no surprise that two of their beauty dishes make our top five. You can expect this sort of shadows. (It literally takes up no more room than a folded umbrella and comes with a carrying bag.) The Godox Beauty Dish Reflector bounces light off a central deflector and then distributes it evenly across the full interior for smooth and pleasing illumination. Depending on the power of your lights, you can use a beauty dish as a main light or fill light. When the light is facing directly into the face of the model, its going to appear harder. This way, you dont notice any of the inner workings of the dish in the photo. Plus, the light falloff is quite rapid, which allows you to emphasize facial features and deemphasize surroundings. I recommend a sandbag to anyone who wants to use a beauty dish on a lighting stand. I wanted to include the legs in there too. Its more consistent. What is the difference between a beauty dish and a softbox? Beauty dishes are popular in the fashion industry, generally for head-and-shoulders portraits that highlight makeup and hair. A strobe lets you control the fill light power, which makes filling in shadows much easier. Theyre my favourite lighting modifiers because they produce awesome results. Sign up for the latest photo news and tips for taking your images to the next level. [ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. We won't share it with anyone, 8 Tips for Breathtaking Forest Photography, 7 Tips for Beautiful (and Meaningful) Engagement Photography, Weekly dPS Photography ChallengeYour Choice, 10 Tips for Stunning Street Market Photography (+ Examples), Upcoming: Nikon Full-Frame Camera and Lenses to Be Released in 2022, Mylio Photos Review: Manage All Your Images in One (Safe!) How to Use Portrait Angles More Creatively: A Visual Guide, How to Use Facial View and Camera Angle to take Flattering Portraits, Comparing a 50mm Versus 85mm Lens for Photographing People, Comparing a 24mm Versus 50mm Lens for Photographing People, 3 Tips for Taking Portraits with a Kit Lens, Best Fujifilm X-Series Kit for Urban Portraits, 3 Ways to Get Killer Portraits Using a Tripod, Photographing Portraits with Classic Lenses (includes Example Images). When used with the separately purchased OCF speed ring, set up is a breeze: just pop the rods in before they are tensioned and then snap them into place. A diffusion sock is included if you want to further soften the light. Thanks for supporting Digital Photo Pro. 7 Steps to Capturing Truth in Your Portraiture, Engagement Portrait Shoots: 7 Professional Tips to take your Engagement Shoots to the Next Level, Personalities and Portraits and Getting Them to Mix, 3 Reasons to Have Your Own Portrait Taken, 5 Tips for Photographing Portfolio-Worthy Costume Portraits, 3 Critical People Skills Portrait Photographers Need, The Essence of Masculinity Portraits of Men, 5 Tips for Doing Portrait Photography in Busy Locations, How to Create Portraits with a Black Background, How Using Props in Portraits Can Make Your Photos More Interesting, How to Take Unique Crystal Ball Portraits, How to Create a Hollywood Film Noir Portrait, How to Create this Fight Club Inspired Portrait using One Light, Dragging the Shutter for Creative Portraits, 5 Secrets for Creating Perfect Silhouette Portrait Photography, Copper, Prisms, and Orbs, Oh My! The gradual and smooth fall-off of light generated by the dish is particularly suited for close-up beauty shots. 2006 - 2022 Digital Photography School, All Rights Just make sure the grid is pointed directly at the subject, or the light pattern will not strike the face correctly. I find this much more exciting than a white wall. Note that youll need to put your camera between the beauty dish and the reflector, which might take a bit of finesse. This is a great beauty dish for getting hair and makeup to look right so dont be afraid to use it to prep your model before a shoot. So youve decided to use a beauty dish and maybe even purchased one. This reflector sends the light back around the edges of the grid. Read our complete guide to photography lighting here. What Size Beauty Dish is Right For Your Portrait Photography? The Switch in the Westcott Switch Beauty Dishs name is for how quickly you can set it up whether youre using studio strobes or portable speedlights (even if theyre made by different brands). loves all types of photography but shoots mostly landscapes, wildlife, and portraiture. When the light is farther away, its angle decreases, and we have more shadows. The best idea is to experiment and see what results you prefer. And then do a photoshoot! You can make the light harder when you use a grid, which youll see below, helping to add to theversatilityof the modifier. (The easiest way to check this? You can also follow him on his blog, Facebook, or Twitter. When you include a grid, a similar thinghappens. It provides just the right amount of shadow on the collarbones, cheekbones, nose and eyes. Designed for portrait or beauty photography, the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector is a good alternative to softboxes, providing light thats more directional but still soft and flattering. Place, 50mm Photography: 5 Reasons Everyone Needs a (Nifty) 50mm Lens. All Rights Reserved. The distance that you place the lighting tool from your subject is also going to create a big difference. You may choose different lighting conditions. ExpertPhotography is part of several affiliate sales networks. Youll notice that, without a grid, the light starts to dim about 18in away from the edge of the grid.
Rememberthis is still harder lighting than a softbox. First of all, the beauty dish is a light source that has a parabolic disk attached to it. When the light conditions are warm such as around sunrise or sunset you may want to add a color temperature orange gel over the beauty dish to help blend the strobe with the sunlight. When in use, this Profoto dish creates a classic beauty light effect, with crisp but creamy illumination for eye-catching portraits. Photographing People: To do Styled Portraits or Not? If you want top-of-the-line quality in your beauty dish and dont mind spending a little extra, the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector ($560) is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of light modifier. (Pro tip: If you want to use a makeup artist but arent ready to pay for this service, offer them a trade: makeup in return for professional images, which they can use to expand their portfolios.). I also explain when it makes sense to use a beauty dish versus a softbox, so if youre not sure which way to go, I should be able to help you out. So how do you set up a beauty dish for excellent portraits? His biggest passion is sharing his photographic knowledge through workshops and his online photography classes. This time, its been shot with a grid on the front of the dish. Expert Photography 2011-2022. Another premium light modifier from Profoto, the 20.5-inch White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector ($465) is designed to produce wide, balanced, and soft light along with crisp shadow definition when mounted to a Profoto flash head. As for the technical details: Id recommend a lens in the 85-200mm range so you can zoom in for tight headshots. But when the light reaches the edge of the dish, its channelled forwards instead of going outwards. This will produce fewer shadows. Beginners Tips for Sunrise Portraits : Part I, Getting to Grips with Fill Light in Portrait Photography. Save This Article. The farther away it is, the more the brightness will cover and the softer the light will be. The circular shape of the light is still very much there. Look for exciting shadows and unusual effects. Share your thoughts in the comments below! As much as I enjoy this lighting effect, its not suitable for the photo that I was taking. Note that a beauty dish blocks light in the center of the strobe and reflects it around the entire dish; this ensures a relatively hard, focused beam of light, though its softer than, say, a scrim, a softbox, or an umbrella. I also make sure that the light is just out of frame. Theyre powerful lighting tools, and the effect is amazing. Updated April 20, 2022 So add your beauty dish above the subject pointing down, then position the strobe below the subject pointing up. Need more info? The dish should be close enough to your subject to produce soft light, generally within two to four feet. Or I get much closer like I did in the photo above (and the final photo of the post).
Beauty is in the eye of these studio reflectors. Designed by pro photographer Joel Grimes, the Westcott Switch Beauty Dish ($290) works with dozens of inserts (sold separately) that are compatible with a range of strobes and speedlights, letting you switch rapidly between them for different looks and increased mobility. The harder light makes for a more interesting effect, in my opinion. Remember that the light tends to spread farther when it leaves the tool, which is beneficial for larger subjects. Get full access to articles, free contest entries and more! (And How to Use It for Beautiful Portraits), Tips For Great Indoor Portraits Using Natural Light, 5 Reasons for Doing Natural Light Portraits, Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits, How to Use Angle of Light in People Photography for Added Punch, High Speed Sync Versus a Neutral Density Filter to Overcome Bright Sunlight in Portraits, 5 Creative Portrait Lighting Tricks Using Only Phone Light, How to Use Off-camera Flash to Fix Lighting Problems for Outdoor Portraits, How to Create Awesome Portrait Lighting with a Paper Bag an Elastic Band and a Chocolate Donut, Tips for Using Speedlights to Create the Right Lighting for Outdoor Portraits, How to use a Gobo to add Depth to Your Portraits with Subtractive Lighting, How to Use Hard Lighting to Create a Dramatic Portrait, Portrait Comparison Flash Versus Natural Light, Stealing Light Using Street Lights for Portraits, Five Places for Perfect Natural Portrait Lighting, How to See the Light for Portraits: A Quick Tip for Beginners, Shooting with Available Light Lifestyle Portraiture, 5 Ways to Light Your Christmas Tree Portraits This Festive Season, A Simple Lighting Technique for Couples Portraits, A Portrait Lighting Project for a Rainy Day, Simple Portrait Lighting Setup: Gorgeous Result, How to Achieve Great Portraits with Window Light, A Simple Exercise on Working with Natural Light in Portraits, Small Flash Portraits on Location with Adorama TV, Portraits on an Overcast Day? ExpertPhotography is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. It comes with a slip-on front diffuser to further soften the light if needed. You can also control the spill of light with a grid and further soften the light by adding a sock over the front, like this: If youre just getting started with studio portrait photography, you might be struggling to decide between a beauty dish and a softbox. The beauty dish is a great portable light modifier because its more compact than a softbox, and it wont catch the wind like an umbrella. The first photo is without a grid and second is with one. I like to choose a background and sit the model in front of it by about one foot. Take another look at the photo below. This way, it doesnt fall over into your models face. Heres another method of modifying the beauty dish clamshell setups: Set your beauty dish above the subject, then add a grid, as shown below. This lighting setup is similar to the clamshell pattern I shared above, except you use a strobe in place of the reflector. It provides a natural vignette effect. See how it all works here.]. This effect is the main reason I dont like using beauty dishes in this way. Ask the subject if they can see directly through the grid to the light source.). The beauty dish is one of my absolute favorite light modifiers but it can be intimidating for beginners, and can even confuse serious portrait shooters.
And of course, the price for a quality beauty dish like this really cant be beat. Portrait Photographers: Do You Really Need a 70-200mm Lens? Check the price of the Godox Beauty Dish Reflector at B&H. Check the price of the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector at B&H. This allows me to vary the amount of shadows on the face, depending on where theyre looking. Beauty dishes are great tools for any photographer. Add in the counter reflector on the interior, and youll be able to sculpt a persons face with light while defining specific features such as the chin, nose or forehead. Finally, I turn the models face towards the dish. I prefer to use a strip box as fill (set one or two stops darker than the main light). Use a Reflector, How to Find and Use Natural Reflectors for Portraits, How to Create Dramatic Portraits with Shadow Photography [video], Tips for Portrait Photography in Overcast Weather [video], How to Photograph People Outdoors Without Using a Reflector, How To Use an Outdoor Studio for Natural Portraits, Female Poses: 21 Posing Ideas to Get You Started Photographing Women, Glamour Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Men, Good Crop Bad Crop How to Crop Portraits, How to Pose and Angle the Body for Better Portraits, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Groups of People, Posing Guide: 21 Sample Poses to Get You Started with Photographing Couples, Your Guide to the Best Poses for Engagement Photos, How to do Gentle Posing: A Collection of Prompts to Get You Started, Tips for Posing Large Families and Groups, Tips for Posing People in Outdoor Portraits, 20 Tips for Getting People to Smile in Photos, How to Avoid Fake Smiles in Your People Photography, Tips for Posing Muscular Female Body Types, Your Guide to Posing Bands in Photography. This will help minimize shadows under the chin and will add a catchlight at the bottom of the eyes. Register for our newsletter of photography that refines you. First, Id suggest you only use a beauty dish setup on clients or models with very good skin, because the harder lighting can show off imperfections like wrinkles and blemishes. Below, I share five specific beauty dish lighting setups to get you taking gorgeous images in no time at all: This setup, also known as clamshell lighting, is the most typical way to do a beauty-dish photo. Digital Photo Pro does not accept money for any editorial recommendations. Its also helpful to find a good makeup and hair artist since youll likely be showing off the subjects face in detail. So if youre hoping to shoot still life photos, product photos, or even studio pet photos in addition to standard portrait shots, a softbox is the better buy. Also, to adjust the amount of fill light, youll need to push the reflector closer or pull it away. It dims around the edges to form avignette. This is not an effect that I care for. I used a grid and positioned the dish 45 degrees off the centre of the face. If youre on a budget and dont need the surface area of the larger modifiers in this guide, the Godox Beauty Dish Reflector ($44.70) is a solid, affordable option. A classic beauty dish that creates a classic look for portrait photography, the Profoto White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector features a center disk that blocks out the direct light to prevent hot spots. Serious pros dont skimp on their cameras or lenses so why buy a cheap beauty dish from a manufacturer with no track record of making modifiers just to a save a few bucks? So if you havent already, go out and buy (or make!) In general, it makes sense to use an aperture of around f/8 to f/11 and an ISO of 100, then adjust the lighting power to achieve the right exposure. This means we may receive a commission if you purchase something by clicking on one of our links. The dish comes with a deflector plate, which bounces the light and directs it to the edges, and a front diffuser for softening the light. 2022 Madavor Media, LLC. Below is a more dramatic example of how I used my beauty dish. What now? Learn more about how to improve your photography with Photography Unlocked. And for a more sophisticated effect, try adding a background light or a rim light to make your subject stand out. While it costs more than some similar products, the Profoto White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector is extremely well made and will likely become your go-to light shaping tool for decades to come. I chose to shoot the photo like this because it suited the background. All rights reserved. When the beauty dish is much further away and is the only lighting source, you start to see how the modifier is made. Without a grid, the light bounces into the back of the dish, reflects around the sides and then out the front. First, lets have a look at how you may use a beauty dish without a grid. Some photographers like to add black cards on either side of the subject to create shadows on the sides of the face, but this is optional. Here is one of my favourite techniques when it comes to beauty dish lighting. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. And it provides a soft shadow on the left side of her face. You can also add different modifiers to change how they work. I prefer placing the dish nice and close to the subject. Do, From our earliest days, fairytales have excited and ignited our imaginations. You geta harder light with the grid on I try to soften it by havingthe light source a little closer. They dont tend to appreciate that too much. You should also check out this recent tutorial with five classic techniques for using a beauty dish in the studio. There are a lot of details in the shadows of her wrist and fingers that would simply have been flattened with a hard, direct light. I took the following portrait with the dish, without a grid, and over my right shoulder. This has left a strong shadow across her neck while illuminating the rest of the scene. Also, beauty dishes produce stunning catchlights in the eyes (beautiful, circular highlights that draw the viewer into the portrait), and they produce nice shadows under the jaw line. It doesnt reveal the details of the inner workings of the lighting tool,asyou can notice in the following photo. The portrait below demonstrates this. Next, add a reflector under the chin to bounce light back up into the subjects face. Profoto is a storied name in studio lighting so its no surprise that two of their beauty dishes make our top five. You can expect this sort of shadows. (It literally takes up no more room than a folded umbrella and comes with a carrying bag.) The Godox Beauty Dish Reflector bounces light off a central deflector and then distributes it evenly across the full interior for smooth and pleasing illumination. Depending on the power of your lights, you can use a beauty dish as a main light or fill light. When the light is facing directly into the face of the model, its going to appear harder. This way, you dont notice any of the inner workings of the dish in the photo. Plus, the light falloff is quite rapid, which allows you to emphasize facial features and deemphasize surroundings. I recommend a sandbag to anyone who wants to use a beauty dish on a lighting stand. I wanted to include the legs in there too. Its more consistent. What is the difference between a beauty dish and a softbox? Beauty dishes are popular in the fashion industry, generally for head-and-shoulders portraits that highlight makeup and hair. A strobe lets you control the fill light power, which makes filling in shadows much easier. Theyre my favourite lighting modifiers because they produce awesome results. Sign up for the latest photo news and tips for taking your images to the next level. [ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. We won't share it with anyone, 8 Tips for Breathtaking Forest Photography, 7 Tips for Beautiful (and Meaningful) Engagement Photography, Weekly dPS Photography ChallengeYour Choice, 10 Tips for Stunning Street Market Photography (+ Examples), Upcoming: Nikon Full-Frame Camera and Lenses to Be Released in 2022, Mylio Photos Review: Manage All Your Images in One (Safe!) How to Use Portrait Angles More Creatively: A Visual Guide, How to Use Facial View and Camera Angle to take Flattering Portraits, Comparing a 50mm Versus 85mm Lens for Photographing People, Comparing a 24mm Versus 50mm Lens for Photographing People, 3 Tips for Taking Portraits with a Kit Lens, Best Fujifilm X-Series Kit for Urban Portraits, 3 Ways to Get Killer Portraits Using a Tripod, Photographing Portraits with Classic Lenses (includes Example Images). When used with the separately purchased OCF speed ring, set up is a breeze: just pop the rods in before they are tensioned and then snap them into place. A diffusion sock is included if you want to further soften the light. Thanks for supporting Digital Photo Pro. 7 Steps to Capturing Truth in Your Portraiture, Engagement Portrait Shoots: 7 Professional Tips to take your Engagement Shoots to the Next Level, Personalities and Portraits and Getting Them to Mix, 3 Reasons to Have Your Own Portrait Taken, 5 Tips for Photographing Portfolio-Worthy Costume Portraits, 3 Critical People Skills Portrait Photographers Need, The Essence of Masculinity Portraits of Men, 5 Tips for Doing Portrait Photography in Busy Locations, How to Create Portraits with a Black Background, How Using Props in Portraits Can Make Your Photos More Interesting, How to Take Unique Crystal Ball Portraits, How to Create a Hollywood Film Noir Portrait, How to Create this Fight Club Inspired Portrait using One Light, Dragging the Shutter for Creative Portraits, 5 Secrets for Creating Perfect Silhouette Portrait Photography, Copper, Prisms, and Orbs, Oh My! The gradual and smooth fall-off of light generated by the dish is particularly suited for close-up beauty shots. 2006 - 2022 Digital Photography School, All Rights Just make sure the grid is pointed directly at the subject, or the light pattern will not strike the face correctly. I find this much more exciting than a white wall. Note that youll need to put your camera between the beauty dish and the reflector, which might take a bit of finesse. This is a great beauty dish for getting hair and makeup to look right so dont be afraid to use it to prep your model before a shoot. So youve decided to use a beauty dish and maybe even purchased one. This reflector sends the light back around the edges of the grid. Read our complete guide to photography lighting here. What Size Beauty Dish is Right For Your Portrait Photography? The Switch in the Westcott Switch Beauty Dishs name is for how quickly you can set it up whether youre using studio strobes or portable speedlights (even if theyre made by different brands). loves all types of photography but shoots mostly landscapes, wildlife, and portraiture. When the light is farther away, its angle decreases, and we have more shadows. The best idea is to experiment and see what results you prefer. And then do a photoshoot! You can make the light harder when you use a grid, which youll see below, helping to add to theversatilityof the modifier. (The easiest way to check this? You can also follow him on his blog, Facebook, or Twitter. When you include a grid, a similar thinghappens. It provides just the right amount of shadow on the collarbones, cheekbones, nose and eyes. Designed for portrait or beauty photography, the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector is a good alternative to softboxes, providing light thats more directional but still soft and flattering. Place, 50mm Photography: 5 Reasons Everyone Needs a (Nifty) 50mm Lens. All Rights Reserved. The distance that you place the lighting tool from your subject is also going to create a big difference. You may choose different lighting conditions. ExpertPhotography is part of several affiliate sales networks. Youll notice that, without a grid, the light starts to dim about 18in away from the edge of the grid. Rememberthis is still harder lighting than a softbox. First of all, the beauty dish is a light source that has a parabolic disk attached to it. When the light conditions are warm such as around sunrise or sunset you may want to add a color temperature orange gel over the beauty dish to help blend the strobe with the sunlight. When in use, this Profoto dish creates a classic beauty light effect, with crisp but creamy illumination for eye-catching portraits. Photographing People: To do Styled Portraits or Not? If you want top-of-the-line quality in your beauty dish and dont mind spending a little extra, the Broncolor Beauty Dish Reflector ($560) is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of light modifier. (Pro tip: If you want to use a makeup artist but arent ready to pay for this service, offer them a trade: makeup in return for professional images, which they can use to expand their portfolios.). I also explain when it makes sense to use a beauty dish versus a softbox, so if youre not sure which way to go, I should be able to help you out. So how do you set up a beauty dish for excellent portraits? His biggest passion is sharing his photographic knowledge through workshops and his online photography classes. This time, its been shot with a grid on the front of the dish. Expert Photography 2011-2022. Another premium light modifier from Profoto, the 20.5-inch White Softlight Beauty Dish Reflector ($465) is designed to produce wide, balanced, and soft light along with crisp shadow definition when mounted to a Profoto flash head. As for the technical details: Id recommend a lens in the 85-200mm range so you can zoom in for tight headshots. But when the light reaches the edge of the dish, its channelled forwards instead of going outwards. This will produce fewer shadows. Beginners Tips for Sunrise Portraits : Part I, Getting to Grips with Fill Light in Portrait Photography. Save This Article. The farther away it is, the more the brightness will cover and the softer the light will be. The circular shape of the light is still very much there. Look for exciting shadows and unusual effects. Share your thoughts in the comments below! As much as I enjoy this lighting effect, its not suitable for the photo that I was taking. Note that a beauty dish blocks light in the center of the strobe and reflects it around the entire dish; this ensures a relatively hard, focused beam of light, though its softer than, say, a scrim, a softbox, or an umbrella. I also make sure that the light is just out of frame. Theyre powerful lighting tools, and the effect is amazing. Updated April 20, 2022 So add your beauty dish above the subject pointing down, then position the strobe below the subject pointing up. Need more info? The dish should be close enough to your subject to produce soft light, generally within two to four feet. Or I get much closer like I did in the photo above (and the final photo of the post).
Beauty is in the eye of these studio reflectors. Designed by pro photographer Joel Grimes, the Westcott Switch Beauty Dish ($290) works with dozens of inserts (sold separately) that are compatible with a range of strobes and speedlights, letting you switch rapidly between them for different looks and increased mobility. The harder light makes for a more interesting effect, in my opinion. Remember that the light tends to spread farther when it leaves the tool, which is beneficial for larger subjects. Get full access to articles, free contest entries and more! (And How to Use It for Beautiful Portraits), Tips For Great Indoor Portraits Using Natural Light, 5 Reasons for Doing Natural Light Portraits, Review of the Westcott Eyelighter for Headshots and Portraits, How to Use Angle of Light in People Photography for Added Punch, High Speed Sync Versus a Neutral Density Filter to Overcome Bright Sunlight in Portraits, 5 Creative Portrait Lighting Tricks Using Only Phone Light, How to Use Off-camera Flash to Fix Lighting Problems for Outdoor Portraits, How to Create Awesome Portrait Lighting with a Paper Bag an Elastic Band and a Chocolate Donut, Tips for Using Speedlights to Create the Right Lighting for Outdoor Portraits, How to use a Gobo to add Depth to Your Portraits with Subtractive Lighting, How to Use Hard Lighting to Create a Dramatic Portrait, Portrait Comparison Flash Versus Natural Light, Stealing Light Using Street Lights for Portraits, Five Places for Perfect Natural Portrait Lighting, How to See the Light for Portraits: A Quick Tip for Beginners, Shooting with Available Light Lifestyle Portraiture, 5 Ways to Light Your Christmas Tree Portraits This Festive Season, A Simple Lighting Technique for Couples Portraits, A Portrait Lighting Project for a Rainy Day, Simple Portrait Lighting Setup: Gorgeous Result, How to Achieve Great Portraits with Window Light, A Simple Exercise on Working with Natural Light in Portraits, Small Flash Portraits on Location with Adorama TV, Portraits on an Overcast Day? ExpertPhotography is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. It comes with a slip-on front diffuser to further soften the light if needed. You can also control the spill of light with a grid and further soften the light by adding a sock over the front, like this: If youre just getting started with studio portrait photography, you might be struggling to decide between a beauty dish and a softbox. The beauty dish is a great portable light modifier because its more compact than a softbox, and it wont catch the wind like an umbrella. The first photo is without a grid and second is with one. I like to choose a background and sit the model in front of it by about one foot. Take another look at the photo below. This way, it doesnt fall over into your models face. Heres another method of modifying the beauty dish clamshell setups: Set your beauty dish above the subject, then add a grid, as shown below. This lighting setup is similar to the clamshell pattern I shared above, except you use a strobe in place of the reflector. It provides a natural vignette effect. See how it all works here.]. This effect is the main reason I dont like using beauty dishes in this way. Ask the subject if they can see directly through the grid to the light source.). The beauty dish is one of my absolute favorite light modifiers but it can be intimidating for beginners, and can even confuse serious portrait shooters.