What Is a Softbox and How Is It Used in Photography?

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You might recognize softboxes as being the big, ballooning hoods that professional photographers use to buffet the light coming out of each strobe. But don’t need to have a professional studio in order to light things up with a softbox. Read on to learn more about how softboxes make every moment feel like haute couture.


What Is a Softbox?

A softbox is nothing more than a housing unit used to control and enhance a source of light. They come in all shapes, sizes, and brands, and they’re awesome in pretty much any scenario where you’re using any type of artificial light source, such as a strobe, or even something like a Mole kit.

Softbox light is excellent both on its own and as supplementation to something practical onscreen—the bright light from a computer monitor in a dark room, for example, or for a pensive moment near a wide, curtained window. They’re versatile, that much is for sure, but, more importantly, they’re also nearly universally flattering.

Any face, any object, any part of the body, anything at all looks fabulous under softbox light. There’s not much to these simple and effective lifesavers, and that’s part of their charm. Still, despite their simplicity, they leave a lot of room for experimentation, partly due to the fact that you really can’t go wrong with one.


We know—it sounds like we’re overselling these things. Are softboxes worth the hype? What makes them so great, anyway?

Distance Between Light and Diffusion



A small softbox studio.

Ask any newbie who’s ever tried to shoot photography with unmolded lighting with a piece of diffusion slapped on, right at the head. We’re completely guilty of this—it’s a terrible, lazy look, and it rarely results in a compelling photo. What’s the best way to improve a source of light, even just a lamp without a lampshade?

The closer a piece of diffusion is to the source of light, the more the “shape” of the light will resemble the original “light cloud” from the source unadorned. Think about a single, very powerful lightbulb with nothing covering it, light shooting out from the filament at all angles.


Wrapping it in wax paper so that the diffusion is close enough to touch the bulb will diffuse the light, but what it will not do is change the direction of lightfall of the wedge that hits the subject directly. You’ll be left with the same omnidirectional point of light, just much dimmer and much less punchy.

Now, picture yourself taking the same diffusion, flattening it out with a frame, and walking it back from the light source on-axis relative to the subject. The light that makes it through the frame will be collimated to some extent.

You may notice two minor issues with this thought experiment. Firstly, the fact that a single lightbulb’s throw probably wouldn’t be strong enough to penetrate a frame five or more feet away. This first problem will be solved by using a stronger unit, leading us right into our second conundrum.


The bigger the light, the more the ambient levels of light in the room will rise, diluting the composition of the photo by taking attention away from the subject that we’re trying to light selectively. Thankfully, that’s where the rest of the softbox comes into play: the housing, which prevents light from spilling out where you don’t want it.

Containment of Spill



A few strobes with softboxes.

We light photos and videos deliberately in order to carve a composition out where, before, there’s just an ordinary space, or even just complete darkness. The key to any softbox lies less in its ability to diffuse light attractively and more in its ability to contain it and to compel it forward—more firepower, with nothing wasted out the back door.

Doing this not only allows you to utilize smaller lights without losing one ounce of gusto, but it also embellishes larger lights, resulting in a look that feels much bigger than it would otherwise. Some softboxes include metallic foil lining on the inside for even more impact. We won’t get too into the mechanics of thermodynamic absorption, but even a white inner lining helps you maximize your results by propelling every lumen forward.

There is no question as to whether or not you should invest in a softbox—the only decision you need to worry about is which one to choose.

What Is the Best Type of Softbox for Beginner Photographers?



A woman being photographed with a softbox light.

With the above in mind, we have a few different axes against which we can compare and contrast pretty much any type of softbox. Smaller softboxes may, in some cases, be capable of a longer throw, but not always—the smaller the wattage of the source, the less firepower you have to work with, which almost acts as a sort of limiting factor.

We’re getting into the weeds here, but if you’re thinking about buying a softbox, these are all different factors that you’ll want weighing in on your final decision. Larger softboxes may be able to deliver ambiently in a much bigger space, for example, but they’ll take more time and labor to erect and more space to store after all is said and done.


Softboxes are so much more than just photography accessories. Be on the lookout for all the following as you mull your purchase over:

  • Shape: The shape and the size of the softbox dictate plenty about how it will perform; a huge, wide, flat softbox might be used as a canopy overhead, illuminating a large amount of space, while a smaller, longer softbox would be much more suited to portrait photography and things of that nature.
  • Material: The vast majority of softboxes of every price bracket are made of fabric, usually canvased across a few wire arms; hardshell softboxes and other oddities like them exist, but they’re usually heavier and kind of a pain to transport and to reckon with in the field.
  • Accessories: Some softboxes only come included with one single diffusion panel; others bring lots of options to the table, including things like nets and even softbox grids, which allow you to domesticate the light even further.
  • Included Lights: We’ll be honest: the best softboxes assume you already have a fixture to work with—our advice is to invest in the light and the softbox separately, but if you’re on a budget or in a pinch, a softbox kit with a light included may also be one option to consider.
  • Additional Equipment: In many cases, your new softbox will be mounted on something called a speed ring, which is attached to the light fixture itself; in addition to this, you’ll also usually need a stand if you don’t already own one—extras like flags, sandbags, and other equipment may significantly up your game.


Of course, the ambitious among us are already devising a way to build their own DIY softbox. Luckily, we’ve got a tutorial on that, too. No matter which way you spin it, though, you shall not be disappointed. When you’re shooting with a softbox, your results are guaranteed.

Every Photographer Needs a Softbox

We’ll admit it: our own softbox is cheap as all-get-out, and it still gets the job done right, every single time.

Don’t believe us? Grab one the next time B&H or Samy’s is having a blowout—softboxes truly are the gift that keeps on giving. We promise that the right one won’t ever let you down.



Basic studio lighting usually involves the use of one or more strobe lights.

How to Use a Strobe Light to Shoot Better Photos


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