Softbox

Gear

Light Modifiers Explained: Softboxes, Umbrellas, and Beauty Dishes

A bare flash produces a small, intense point of light. Modifiers reshape that light before it reaches your subject, changing its size, direction, quality, and spread. Choosing the right modifier is one of the most consequential decisions you make in a studio setup. Softboxes A softbox is an enclosed box with reflective interior walls and a translucent front panel. Light bounces inside the box before passing through the diffusion material, producing even, controlled illumination.

February 16, 2026

Studio Lighting

5 Beauty Lighting Setups From Soft to Bold: A Complete Behind-the-Scenes Breakdown

I recently watched this Westcott tutorial that walks through five completely different beauty lighting setups — all in one session, same model, progressing from soft natural looks to bold creative effects. It’s one of the best demonstrations I’ve seen of how much you can change a portrait just by rearranging light. Here’s my breakdown of each setup with the key takeaways. The Studio Setup The studio is loaded with Westcott gear — multiple softboxes of different sizes, a large parabolic umbrella, and several FJ-series strobes.

January 16, 2026