Octabox, Stripbox or Rectangle Softbox | LIVE with Gavin Hoey

What’s the difference between a stripbox and an octabox? Will light from a rectangular softbox look any different from light from a round one, and does using the “wrong” one really matter? This studio portrait session will tackle all these questions and focus more on softbox shapes.
In this live-streamed photo session, Gavin Hoey tries out three of his favorite softbox shapes, which he regularly uses in his small home studio. He’ll set up different portrait lighting to help explain when he might choose one shape over another and discuss some pros and cons of using different-shaped softboxes.
As always, Gavin will squeeze as many real-world hints, tips, and lighting tricks into an hour as possible. Join the conversation, get your questions answered live, and help steer the session… or watch along and enjoy.
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✘ GEAR USED:
Glow EZ Lock 12x36" Quick Strip Softbox
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Glow ParaSnap 36" Octa Softbox With Bowens Mount
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Glow EZ Lock 24x36" Quick Rectangle Softbox
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Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro II
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Flashpoint R2 Nano Trigger
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OM SYSTEM OM-1
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OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II
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OM SYSTEM 25mm f/1.2
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Flashpoint 10’ C-Stand and Grip Arm
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Glow S2 Round Flash S-type Bowens Mount Bracket
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Sekonic L-858D-U Meter with Module for Flashpoint / Godox
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Manfrotto 5x7' Vintage Collapsible Background, Smoke/Concrete
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#lightingmodifier #lightingtutorial #adorama
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Follow Gavin Hoey on
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Model: Chloe Kerley
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THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

[@mayastep4258]

Adorama, if you're listening, Gavin Hoey is your BEST instructor, bar none!! Take good care of him and his great crew!

[@GavinHoey]

Thank you. Adorama are the best to work with 👍

[@elbitukraine4060]

Completely agree!

[@lilianfabiano3079]

I came here to comment the same! He’s the best!!! ❤❤❤

[@quietset7639]

Watched live and now I'm watching the recording! Because this is how much I love the Hoey's family and Chloe!!. Love you guys. Very great information Gavin on how the modifiers work.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for going extra mile 👍

[@quietset7639]

@@GavinHoey Hello Gavin. I really hope I'm still in time to ask through here. Would you recommend a full frame sensor or APCS for a super small space home studio. I'm struggling to make half body shots with a 50mm canon on a APSC canon R10 Wich I own. Do you believe a Full Frame will allow to shoot without being literally against the wall. My studio y 3 meters y 3 meters. Thank you Gavin for your wisdom.

[@luissalazar2021]

I am always learning from you guys and refreshing on my skills, I appreciate you guys always , thank you for sharing,good job team for creating amazing images .please keep posting!

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks for the kind words. Adorama is packed with talent, so stick around to keep learning 👍

[@lilianfabiano3079]

OMG just what I was looking for! Got this shooting tmrw and will DEFINITELY use the strip box!!! I can’t thank you enough!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@Adorama]

Hope your shoot went well! ✨ Glad you learned a thing or two 😊

[@weztastudio6170]

Oh My god Finally i found this video! Was searching all over the place but it was in Gavin Live sessions,

[@tony.kmullinsstudio818]

Gavin, it is a lot of fun to watch you do a class. I'm glad you still feel nervous sometimes, because I do most all the time, even when I'm just shooting photos of my kids. Very cool presentation, and the model is lovely. Well done.👏👏👏

[@lisapalzer2511]

Hello, i'm a recorded person this time around lol. This was a great tutorial, i learned a lot. Thanks Gavin and team!

[@GavinHoey]

Hello Lisa from the recording 😁

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Hello recorded Gavin and Hoey family. Thanks for sharing.

[@GavinHoey]

Hi Kenneth from the recording 👍

[@robertmccutchan5450]

This is the video I've been hoping to see. I'm trying to streamline everything I do, and after seeing this, I believe the 12x36 strip box will be my go-to light modifier because of its versatility. Actually, I'm kinda wondering why we would use anything else. On a side note, I recently started using Olympus Micro 4/3, and I've decided to sell all of my Canon gear and move strictly to that system. Olympus (now OM System) has shown the world that they are serious about producing high quality professional gear. I bought an Olympus OM-D E-M1 on ebay for cheap just to test the waters, and I'm blown away at what this 10 year old camera can do! So I'm excited to see what I can accomplish with the newer models. Thanks for another great video! I always gain so much from your training videos.

[@debbieshriner1308]

Thank you I love all your videos they are the best!!!! And have learned so much from you.

[@GavinHoey]

Thanks Debbie. Keep watching, there's always more to learn 👍

[@johnclay7644]

informative content thanks Gavin.

[@GavinHoey]

You're most welcome John.

[@eddychan5296]

I would definitely buy gear from Adorama to give a little support, keep hiring such great instructors Gavin, Daniel etc. I learned a lot from them 😅❤

[@Muhammadfathi1]

Dear Gavin, Thank you so much for the usual great videos. As you have mentioned, you're attempting to perform a film noir session in two weeks. I will take this opportunity to remind you of the necessity of showing a various ways of shooting Hollywood glamour portraits such as the great George Hurrell for the gorgeous Hedy Lamar. Thank you so much.

[@jpdj2715]

Excellent lecture (and a few comments)

[@GavinHoey]

Comment is most appreciated 👍

[@adampryke7118]

Excellent as ever Gavin

[@jpdj2715]

Shooting the softbox's light output when you pace them almost touching the wall as in the video is illustrative of light output at very close distance. The ones from the side already show much smaller differences. If you place these soft boxes about 2m from a wall and shoot the light output pattern on the wall then it looks even more similar than here. The purpose of the different shapes is the differences in hardness and softness we can get. With a vertical stripbox you get slightly software light vertically than horizontally, while this is equal with a square or octa.

[@geraldinebryce594]

Just love your videos. Big fan

[@martinblais2197]

OOOOH the black Widow.....Chloe ith sunglasses

[@papo1golf]

hi from Puerto Rico, love u guys!!!

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Usually I like to use a round softboks for portraits, just because I think the round catch light is more pleasing.

[@pothyraja5346]

better days will come yes, i got it

[@josediazh3890]

Muchas gracias.

[@jpdj2715]

The English photographic jargon of "feathering" may not be easy to understand. It originates from the (bundle of) feathers used in households to wipe dust off of delicate/valuable objects. So this is about carefully, lightly, stroking over a surface. The direction of these feather-light light-brush-strokes is almost parallel to the surface we light. This means we do not shine directly at the subject but almost over it - indeed we almost turn it away. If the light source were a point source (in a mathematical/geometry sense) then this would accentuate uneven surface structures (like bad skin). But we generally use larger light modifiers as in the video and these are far from point sources. In a way a softbox of 60cm*90cm (=~=2'*3'=24"*36'") has infinite point sources in its surface area and while the points nearest the lit surface shine over the surface, the ones farthest may project part of their light at a 45 degree angle on that same surface. This then takes the ugliness of a bad surface away again and makes the light soft. We can use this effect in another way: to ~defeat the "inverse square law" [1]. Imagine 3 people next to each other and a large softbox on one side feathering at 90 degrees to the line of people. The person nearest the diffusion panel sees the panel as another area than the one farthest [2] away. The panel may seem larger when farther away and that is how the farthest person is lit by more points in the diffusion panel (front baffle), however the larger distance takes some of that away. The fall-off is nice and gradual and soft and controlled. And if the fall-off is too much then we can try to use a reflector as a fill opposite the feathered softbox. [1] This law starts in perspective class as "square law": if at a distance of 1 you have an area in view of 1*1=1, then at distance two, given the same angle of view, you have an area of 2*2=4 in view. You 2-timed the distance and the area now became 2^2 - we needed to square the increase in distance to get to the increase in area. Imagine at distance 1 you water-spray 1*1=1 in your garden and now go at double the distance and get 4x the area. So you need 4x more water to get it equally wet. The "inverse square law" for flash exposure works with this concept: if you get correct exposure at distance 1 with a certain setting and then take the flash to distance 2, you end up with 1/4 (2x distance is 2-squared=4 area is 1/4 - the inverse of 4) light intensity. You now need to adjust your exposure settings to 4 times more light, one way or another. In exposure correction, 4 times means 2EV as each EV changes 2-times. NOTE that the inverse square law presumes that your light source is a point source. [2] Farther relates to distance. Further to advancement or promotion. They walked farther to further their cause.

[@geraldinebryce594]

Yes heard of feathering, yes heard of soft edge of light

[@GavinHoey]

Glad I'm not the only one. As it's both wrong and opposite to reality I'll wave my magic wand and forget you ever heard the term 🪄

[@jpdj2715]

This Flashpoint has become a seriously mature product. It has a naked flash-tube (mounting different front-ends is optional), and it has "PROPORTIONAL" modelling light. Proportional means that the power of the modelling light is adjusted relative to (proportional to) the flash power setting. Especially when you use more than one of these heads, each in their modifier, you can see how the flash will illuminate your subject before you take the shot. No need to take test shots and chimp. The flash-lit image flash will look brighter and more saturated, but the relative effects of different lights remains the same. My only gripe with it is the 1.8 sec recycling time at full power (that we don't need a lot) that should have been under 1 sec. But, at 1 EV less than full power, you only use half the energy and will end up with much faster recycling.

[@geraldinebryce594]

I use feathering lots to get the look i want, as in shadows of if I want or do not want background dark or light

[@GavinHoey]

And that's exactly what feathering is for 👍

[@PhillipMcCallum]

Morning from Brisbane

[@francoisjacinthe2970]

Hello. François from Québec city, Canada

[@GTGeorgeW]

Gavin Great Video, When will you demo the Flashpoint BFP Optical Spot?? MFR: FP-BFP

[@mayastep4258]

Gavin, you mentioned a Noir workshop, will you have video available for the those who can't attend? Please and thank you :)

[@GavinHoey]

There maybe some BTS clips on my IG story but sometimes, you have to be there 😉

[@kennethcheong4498]

She looks like Elton with those shades!

[@patrickburns7701]

I have that Westcott backdrop.

[@GavinHoey]

As pop-up backgrounds go, it's one of my favourites!

[@pothyraja5346]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jos3zavalar3cillas]

Halo!. You know if are there a modifier on AD200 without require adapter S2 of godox, I mean I want hold the flash with it in its thread because it is an expensive on monopod or tripods. Actuality I use Godox’s S2 but squeeze to flash put it on dangerous. Saludos

[@PhillipMcCallum]

On a show about anything, how do you use a color checker

[@LouCondon-j1v]

I don't have a strip box yet but I saw several photographers shoot nudes where the model was lying on her side and the strip box or boxes were pointing straight down causing shadows to hide certain body parts, you could tell it was a nude photograph but the shadows shaped her figure. Looked very nice.

[@chazM6116]

I had to watch the recording since I was at camera club tonight. Ugh, the ads every 8 minutes were not helping! KZbin is really pushing for us to pay to watch now :( Nonetheless, the content was still great and entertaining as usual!

[@JR-ro5kv]

What grip arm are you using?

[@allezphotography4769]

What Software Does Gavin Use To Tether to the OM-1

[@GavinHoey]

For this session I was using OM Capture to tether and a program called Fast Picture Viewer (professional version) to full screen then and show the exif data.

[@allezphotography4769]

@@GavinHoey Thank you I will take a look at those programs

[@amiraltaha2627]

how about placing the rectangular soft box diagonal instead of perpendicular to the model in order to decrease under the chin shadow?

[@GavinHoey]

Yep, that's another advantage of rectangular Softbox 👍

[@amiraltaha2627]

@@GavinHoeythank you 😊

[@marcoramos7135]

Hello

[@micheletrentini3187]

Too bad those softboxes can't be purchased in EU 😒

[@GavinHoey]

You might have to go to the USA to get the exact Softboxes but those sizes and shapes are not unique to Glow 😉

[@mohamedsandeed5697]

Hello

[@mohamedsandeed5697]

From Germany

[@pothyraja5346]

hello