Studio Photography: Equipment

The equipment used in studio photography is very important as different set ups and lights can affect your photos.

Basic Lights:

• Lights in studio photography have two bulbs in them. 
• The bigger bulb is the main light bulb and stays on throughout the studio session.
• The second bulb is the placed around the main bulb.
• This creates the flash when a photo is taken on the camera. 

Spill Lights:

• Creates a harsh beam of light.
• This is often used for lighting the background as when it's aimed at a subject it creates a harsh light.

Backdrop:

• The backdrop for your photographs should be plain. 
• A white backdrop helps to make your subject stand out when the camera flashes.

Soft Box:

• A soft box is a lighting device that softens the flash from the camera when a photo is taken. 
• The box in enclosed around the bulb, with black walls and a diffusing material at the front to soften the light. 
• The insides are lined with reflective material to channel the light in one direction.

Umbrella Lights:

• In an umbrella setup, the lights are facing away from the subject.
• The flash reflects from the umbrella and bounces back onto the subject.

Beauty Dish:

• A beauty dish is a lighting device that uses reflector to distribute light towards a focal point. 
• It is mainly used in fashion photography.
• The light created is between that of a direct flash and a softbox. 
• This gives a dramatic effect and makes people look more beautiful. 

Reflectors:

• Light reflectors bounce light back onto the subject. 
• They can come in a variety of shapes a colours.
• They get rid of shadows.
• If the model holds a gold reflector under their chin, they will gain a slight glow where the shadow was before.
• They can be white, gold, black or silver.

Flash meter: