Think outside the softbox

The softbox might be the most popular Light Shaping Tools there is. But just because it’s so common doesn’t mean that you can’t be creative with it.
To prove this we asked light shaping guru Andrea Belluso to do four different fashion setups using only softboxes in an out of the box kind of way.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Andrea came up with four unique solutions. He used the softbox as side light, he used the softbox as top light, he used it to create a hard light, and he used it as back light. None of his techniques were ordinary, but all the results were extraordinary.
How did he do it? Watch and learn.
Watch more videos: www.profoto.com...
Learn more about Profoto: www.profoto.com
See more of Andrea’s work: www.belluso.com

[@maikeparis27]

the shots are properly awesome, I need to learn more from this guy!

[@christinen9001]

Love this video. Andrea’s enthusiasm is amazing.

[@benrei3687]

Why does that guy remind me of the Austin Powers in the fashion photography scene? I wouldn't be surprised if he said "Yeah Baby!" or "Oh behave!"

[@ruffprophetproductions]

LMAO i was thinking this

[@bmjunior4174]

First thing I notice, just like in the movies

[@skurt2752]

😂😂😂

[@zefmarkaj123]

Haha thats a good one! 😂 But i think he is just very articulated / communicative or expressive and having the same accent as Austin. A brilliant photographer and a good sales person

[@NicoEss]

hahaha I came to the comment section to see if anyone else thought this. First comment lmao

[@hybredentertainment2201]

I find it funny how people say other people's work suck. You can see that he is a top level photographer because he has his own style. People hire styles. Anyone can be a photographer, but very few will stand out

[@busternineshoes]

At 6.33 when you see all pics side by side. If a defined style is under exposed to over exposed, then that is his style. Pic 3 is ok...

[@gregorylagrange]

@@busternineshoes He doesn't have any setting apart style. Access to the wardrobe and acting like a fashion photographer, people will project uniqueness into it.

[@jessieblue1419]

Nah anybody can be a camera very few can be photographers.

[@QCamera88]

So happy to see you again!! You are my favorite light instructor! Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

[@RyanLImagery]

Is this a joke? it's like the stereotypical attitude of a photographer in a comedic film. "Lovely, yea, beautiful, more more more, stronger, yea...Got IT" lmfao I was expecting to see the photographer hanging from a zip line, or sitting on someones shoulders for different angles. I'm surprised Zoolander wasn't the model!

[@MatSmithLondon]

I love *detailed* work, experimentation, and shaping of light. Personally I find a lot of use in moving the light source back or forward (and of course finding the PERFECT angle) - or changing to a smaller or larger softbox to harden or soften the light, but as for masking softboxes it's not something I've done before and probably not something I'd spend a lot of time experimenting with. Maybe if I had the gear in a studio one day - and wasn't ridiculously busy with an editing deadline - I would do some comparison tests between a narrow masked light and a non-masked light. Of course, there will be a difference. But I just wonder how much of a difference to warrant keeping various pieces of fabric with velcros compatible with different lightbox sizes in safe places and remembering to take them with me on jobs that I don't lose them etc... or that I would have quite enough creative vision to ever say "yeh - that DEFINITELY needs the narrow mask". The best way I have right now to narrow the shape of the light is to move it nearer the model. Which does, I suppose, make the light softer. Which may not be the desired effect. Anyway, thanks Andrea - this was thought provoking.

[@josephchan4198]

This is great for a clothing brand updating their E Commerce site every once a while or trice a year.

[@ruffprophetproductions]

also people get caught up in the person being the subject but i think Andrea's goal here was to highlight the clothing for the brand not the model

[@adamharris5003]

They missed the whole point

[@cr8momentsldn51]

You know he's a jedi when he doesn't even look at the pictures... "yep I've got it"..🙈. My mortality has been reinforced by this video

[@tonypmedia]

(snap snap snap) ... "Got it, thank you", passes his camera back to his assistant ... (Looks in Jedi as the camera pans and zooms slowly towards him)

[@cr8momentsldn51]

@@tonypmediaaccuracy 💯🤣🤣🤣

[@SS-on3yk]

good talk, bad results

[@jboydvisuals]

Can always fix in post good ideas, just maybe need to adjust and reposition after test shot

[@ajvisual]

Great job Andrea, you are a real salesman. You have figured out how to make horrible photos sound like they are one of a kind masterpieces.

[@lslx7120]

Everybody produces opinions.....everybody walks up to the microphone & speaks

[@dani_da_vision]

Exactly!!!!!

[@MohamedOsamaAmr]

well said

[@intervideo23]

Felt that the model was just awkward. Wasn't too impressed with the lighting. Did enjoy the playfulness with colors, however.

[@AshishBalkhande]

There's a difference in how something is achieved technically and using that technique to get output creatively. For me, he is technically strong but not creatively

[@przemekzet3319]

10 points for talks - 2 points for final results

[@aurorahiraeth5896]

This guy austin Powers’s that set. Pretty overrated photos for such a huge production. This goes to show anyone can be successful at photography.

[@denimobi9825]

I thought the same thing, dudes on the fucking floor acting like has taking some legendary shit.

[@ac-hq9zb]

👍👍👍

[@ac-hq9zb]

It's all about the personality.

[@hofra01]

Zane Spang anyone can be successful at photography, oh don’t make me laugh.

[@Napoleon-Blownapart]

Dude certainly talks a good game but the results were a bit 'meh' to my eyes.

[@AllanPhotography]

Agreed. I would have expected better results for a profoto showcase. I think I get better results in my home studio with nowhere near as much equipment. What do you think? www.allan-photography.com

[@Neopulse00]

What do you mean "meh?" This guy made this on the fly with a few lights and with something you don't see everyday. He made 4 different looks with 4 different fashion outfits probably in less than an 60 mins. That's efficient if you ask me. The client would be a happy guy.

[@Dan____]

@Allanphography I think his light has more intrigue, and I'm not just going "I'll shit on everything because it's youtube comments", but your lighting for the most part, is lacking in tact, it's functional, it gets the job done, but has no mood, it tells no stories. What are you trying to say with your light?

[@AllanPhotography]

+Daniel Shortt most of the shots in my portfolio aren't about a story. The lighting in the shots is there make the subject look their best. There are some exceptions in there though. I just found that the lighting in this video wasn't very flattering at all. Each to their own though :)

[@AllanPhotography]

+ignorethesewords thanks for your input. :).

[@lesaston2439]

Also known as 'The light shaper'? Oh my god - the arrogance is beyond belief.

[@timonuche]

Les Aston but he said the ducking truth, I mean look at those photos. Damn

[@AndreaBellusoOfficial]

Overwhelmed by the love! ;-)

[@do-or-die5822]

He is not arrogant.. He is confident See his live presentations He will blow your mind away He is the best in the industry

[@MarkSRiddle]

Please tell me you are not being serious, you had 3 Profoto B2, a lovely professional model and a shotgun to shoot with and you came up with a dark "underexposed" photo, sorry sir it was not a silhouette but a dark photo. You lost me on the first preview.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

OK so here’s the reason for using soft box’s shooting clothes they don’t put hotspots on the outfits !

[@pixelbasedlifeforms]

Didn't like any of these lighting choices. First one was a bit interesting, but evet that looks a bit underexposed.

[@lslx7120]

sure thing...u may nt like but if the peeps who are handing the cash are pleased with it, u go home happy

[@jaimeduncan6167]

pixelbasedlifeforms it's a conceptual job, the idea is that you tune it to your taste. The statement needed to be bold to show what he was talking about. Add light, get a secondary soft light in the face of the model in the hard light one or whatever sues your taste. As a long time teacher I support his choose of simplifying the examples yo the bare minimum for them to work

[@blackjohnny0]

Exactly. Honestly i dont like fashion genre. Probably about 80% of photos in this genre is pure shit. Other 15% are classics like Herb Ritts and last 5% maybe modern creative people.

[@jjbenz9633]

blackjohnny0 when they hand ya a nice amount of cash for having created what you describe as sht, suddenly it just dont seem like sht no more lmao

[@feralmode]

Ls Lx sounds to me like you’d be happy creating shit work

[@Jemp2099]

Wow this photographer is remarkably good at taking bad pictures with good equipment. Perfect example on how expensive equipment doesn't make the photographer.

[@alvinchristianto7136]

yet high end brand and pro foto hire him? your argument pretty much invalid already

[@Jemp2099]

If people think that just because he got hired he is good, even though we are all looking at mediocre results, then the goal of hiring him got fulfilled. For me, your comment is a perfect example on that. He is indeed good at saying big words with poor quality photos, I give you that.

[@MatSmithLondon]

Absolutely agree. Getting hired doesn't mean you're good. It means you show up, you talk the talk, you play the part. Not suggesting that's true of this photographer, whose work I don't know - it's a general comment directly in response to Jorge's.

[@hoomanmesri4633]

I know, comment section is a place to talk free... but be really careful when you talk about something you really have no damn Idea, First. Second, the person behind that camera doesn't even f... care about those gear. If you don't know, which apparently you don't, In high cost fashion shoot mostly photographers prefer to rent the proper equipments based on the client need, the cost of the project, and the usage. Third, be very careful when call someones work bad if you don't have a right logic to back it up. Knowledge is the key to all your questions.

[@AndersonLasso]

very well talked, but WTF whit the pictures???? I hope not to be a photographer like this! his work just sucks!

[@denimobi9825]

More more more more, fantastic... wtf

[@michaeltrenner6767]

At first I wasn't convinced either .. also thought "that expensive gear to make THAT photos". But after looking at Andreas website I have to say .. yes he is a professional. You can see that these set of 4 shots are not matching well in the video and therefore they doesn't look good side by side. In fashion photography you are allowed to be unconventional and break the rules. That goes for storytelling as for light settings. Okay I don't like the last one, for that burned out white light at the models arm, or the first underexposed one. If they stand in that row above, or looking at them separately they doesn't spark - but if I look at the whole set of pics on his website, I like them. That speaks for the editing process and the kind of presentation at the end. In a nutshell ... I think Andrea is a fine photographer - just look behind the curtains or at his website.

[@chinnywanders]

Last one is overexposed and If I'm an EIC of a magazine i wouldn't use it. Shadows and highlights create depth and they're not a pain to look at. I'd go for 1 and 2

[@heckmannoleg]

Hi. Andrea long time no videos. The scheme with the hard light I liked the most. I also love the hard light. Attachment OCF of course you can use with the device D1, just in any case do not turn on the pilot light otherwise it will melt)))

[@glapioniii3361]

its amazing that those that have the most critical comments on how someone should shoot have the least to show or nothing at all to back it up

[@AndreaBellusoOfficial]

I know, well, someone once said, the more haters you have, the more successful you are... I base my success not on what others think, or on how much money I make, or what car I drive, but on how happy I am, and I can gladly say that I know I am much happier than any of the haters. And I am also glad for the haters, I would rather be hated than be ignored ;-) For any of those that have attended any of my hundreds of classes around the world will know that what I am trying to create is a space of collaboration and inspiration in the international photographic community around the world and stop competition among photographers (which does not really exists and it's just a lie). So I realise that there is still a very long way to go to create such a generative community. Not that it matters, there will always be those that prefer to destroy rather than create more for everyone... Thank you for your support!

[@nelsonclub7722]

Groovy Baby - love me; love me - gorgeous - thats it baby - Soooooo Austin Powers - hilarious!!!!! (also shit pictures)

[@jennifercaabasyourcatropa7589]

Nice

[@EricMesa]

Really shows how the subject matters. You'd never want hard light on a woman because of wrinkles, but since he's doing fashion, a) the women are less likely to have wrinkles and b) the clothing is more important and the hard light is better for the clothes, as he says

[@lslx7120]

good sir this is why only young folks are normally the ones in fashion..

[@aniketkamthe2091]

Most of the pics are underexposed and burned out...not pleasing my eyes!!

[@armansheikh6659]

the last picture is definitely a bad picture. you can see the part of model's hands and face is completely blown out.

[@f1fort3]

probably his assistant metered the light with his full body over the source of light wich was behind the model, lowering the output on the reflective side or he just said "fuck it, I already have a name, let it be conceptual" ahahhahaha

[@darinburch9043]

Don't listen to this dude

[@AndreaBellusoOfficial]

Thank you! Interesting point of view ;-)

[@AdamEX1]

Everybody does not use soft boxes and these photos are barely even passable for editorial and are def not fashion. For a guy shooting on a phase one you’d hope for something actually creative. But its as standard as you can get.

[@michonn2]

To be honest none of these pictures are spot on but I know this guy is talented from other videos

[@matscornegoor9449]

Awsome!! I really like the photo with lights from the top.

[@sungphoto]

Andrea is absolutely brilliant with light. It’s wonderful how different these looks are with a few relatively affordable modifiers

[@dukenu100]

Goes to show, what one person thinks is a mistake...another thinks looks great. The last look with all that light 'spill'' onto her arms would be 'wrong' according to some.

[@wiktoriaf3388]

I just have a feeling that he butchered the outfits. The clothes are beautiful and in the photos they don't look that great.

[@calvindo82]

Those gears cost a fortune to own them. ;(

[@tertulioustert478]

Calvin Do up in northamerica one unit goes for twenty two hundred- the b1,yikes

[@studiomonitor]

Nice gear, nice communication skills, nice studio, amazing model, amateur results. sorry but we all know that in fashion you don't need to be a great photographer, is more about style and the way you sale your work. anyone who sees this photos whiteout knowing the autor can say they are 6/10

[@Guenounovitch]

the "thank you got it" at the end validate every clichés about fashion photographers

[@aegyomobrecords9506]

awesome video..lmao so many haters that don't even have any fashion portfolios lmaoo.. easy to hate when u ain't even in the game

[@josephchan4198]

I hope to see another great campaign or jewelry model in the future. Great work!!

[@kelb89]

Sheesh people actually like this type of work? The lighting is horrible imo, trying a little to hard to think outside the box lol.

[@Esaminatore]

1:56 - very good VERY GOOD thank you... G O T I T ---------------> a shitty underexposed image.

[@emil6434]

2nd and the 3rd personal favorite for sure! Really brings out the model, and the image just really POPS! Even tho I'm not a fan of shooting indoors, but if I will have to, I'll try the 2nd and the 3rd method for sure!

[@josephchan4198]

I just got some ideas for men project. Well wait to fall to test it due to budget.

[@keen2243]

拍的真的很一般

[@fitfatal]

must be good, even Ana Shortspin is in the background.

[@swashy8933]

I only like the 3rd hard light one. The others are meh

[@ichal05alone2]

Over cost for get pict like this..

[@archanajha4458]

The model is good. She is giving supurb poses. The camera equipments are higher end. The lights and accessories are classic. But narration is wrong, confusing. When you keep the strobe light source further away from model, do you get hard light on subject?. Logic seems missing. You have to pay attention on what you say.

[@DirtRated]

More like "Think outside the budget."

[@mycroft983]

Why did profoto put this out? He should get some tips from Gavin Hoey. It is very difficult to do lighting quickly if you dont have the time he should have made sure before putting this out as I am sure he very capable mot of the time.

[@amitu22]

Wish I had that much money to spend on equipment s. Otherwise I can also move like that.

[@archanajha4458]

Hehhehee.....yup

[@USFreedom]

This evil genius is a cliche in a box.... I'm shocked he didn't tell his model to "make love to the camera" while mini me ran around making fart noises...

[@peter_shadow7559]

The worst thing in the world is the comfort zone. This is a creative concept, it is not a mathematical process that only consumes one result. I don't think this guy has got where he is because he followed the rules. Keep creating and allow yourself to get free out of the everyday "politically" "right" thing.

[@jessieblue1419]

Instagram: instagram.com/jessiebluephotography

[@fotovrieze]

Yeah lovely good good beautifull ect ect ect ect Talking to model HAHAHAHA It's all about HIM !!!

[@mmur123]

i wish i was as confident as this guy and his shitty photos

[@mcmullen_photo]

So, you make a softbox a hard light by moving it further away...and removing the diffusing material?

[@bobrob8839]

Michael McMullen you make any light a harder light by moving further from the subject. He was demonstrating that even with something designed to soften the light, you can get harder qualities from it. Thinking like this speeds up workflow as you wouldn't have to remove the softbox and put on a reflector to get a similar quality of light.

[@mcmullen_photo]

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying for me. :)

[@siddology9378]

Study inverse square law helps you to understand hard light and soft light

[@casafilms]

@@siddology9378 No it really doesn't. Inverse square law is only about the falloff in the AMOUNT of light. Nothing to do with soft vs hard.

[@lauwyn17]

I think 5:01 was the best one honestly the rest are just... soso

[@trlb5671]

agreed

[@bala1000mina]

Thank you so much for the very informative and helpful tutorial! Good luck!

[@josephchan4198]

The photographer has great people skills. Remind me when I worked with models when younger.

[@5olano]

imo the lighting in these images is horrible.

[@serdia26]

o kadar ekipmanı bana ver senden daha iyi fotoğfar çekerim

[@josephchan4198]

Good refresher course on Fashion, and Portrait. Hope to see more in the future. Great work!!

[@tabeabussmann]

Why is this guy not looking in the camera while speaking

[@ferhankhan801]

one and two far too dark and final way over, only number 3 was decent the rest were shit.

[@rideoutlondon]

I guess it’s his niche... Hard shitty light look

[@rideoutlondon]

I guess it’s his niche... Hard shitty light look

[@josephchan4198]

I will have to check your videos and website again. Thank you for giving back to community and wish you great success this year and next.

[@profoto]

Make sure to keep watching as we share more amazing videos from photographers around the world.

[@keissvenier1383]

shit!!!!!!!

[@USFreedom]

Dr Evil...

[@josephchan4198]

I attended a few phase one seminars for fun. Awesome people.

[@Integritydesign]

i liked the 2nd one.. and I love those mag/gels that just snap right on to the strobe heads.. cool.

[@moovieman693]

2:02 a little dark? No? 🤔

[@socialmediatutorials967]

beautiful model

[@ruffprophetproductions]

idk what yall are talking about these shots were fantastic especially the top shot one. i think a lot of people were expecting super crazy results cause of the phase one and the profoto lights but tbh he's using those because he has the budget. im sure you could create the same shots with speedlites but capitalism, eh?

[@denimobi9825]

You don't know shit about photography then.

[@vadimyakus]

I moving more towards hard lights instead of using soft boxes myself too. There is nothing better than a large, hard and even source of light (preferably indirect one) for fashion or glamour types of shoots. The only thing that is needed in this case is a decent MUA for sure :)

[@justanailartlover1599]

Great video, any tips for using gels and mini soft box on a speed light and also a small square 96 mini led lights , with either a white or orange differ cap, I could add a gel,sheet to it, I have 2 of those and a speed light, and I'm buying some gels today at some point, so any tips for that set up with a intro dslr camera , with a 50mm f1.4 portrait lens ? I do have a zoom 75-300mm f3.5 and a 18 - 55mm f3.5 lens ? So any tips are welcome for using gels with these lights and flashes at home ? I'm a novice

[@fkwstudio]

This is awesome work.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

Model name????? 🤤

[@IshmaelW]

doodoo

[@lwpweb]

the model is walking very close to the strip light back and forth, are you using TTL Mode, or how do you manage the light intensity durng shooting...???

[@Marckymarc71]

0:37 ...with a hand-held light meter.

[@guidoavelino8958]

goofy ahh

[@josephchan4198]

Still the best video. Thanks.

[@profoto]

Super happy you love the video, Andrea Belluso did a fantastic job

[@FrancescaEmmaphotography]

hi, thank you so much for such an interesting video, love your work, im doing a shoot soon requiring a hard light, what size soft box would you recommend, what settings and also what distance? many thanks in advance

[@MartinV.]

Great Video

[@ekolli]

Andrea Belluso👏

[@christophsauer2857]

Great work. One question: How you create the different background colors like blueish in the first pic or purple in the other?

[@nickyhillz]

you literally shoot a gelled light on the white background in whatever colour you're looking to get

[@ivonned32]

The second one was great and the third one was interesting, just a bit underexpose. The fisrt one was awful.

[@antonc108]

And his assistant is shia labeouf

[@Eudawg101]

Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, WOOOOOW!

[@brandonrudich7324]

Very nice, thank you! By the way, who's the model?

[@aranu157]

I take it back, i didnt like any of the lights, not just the first one...3rd was the most interesting but it wasn't polished in anyway. If you need post to save you that much...well don't need any lights. Let me know if you want a new person to be your profoto ambassador guys

[@feralmode]

Aranu agreed he’s quite mediocre I wonder why they use him. They’re a premium brand why are they using a bargain basement photographer?

[@ArnoldMontes]

And you guys are???

[@feralmode]

Arnold Montes more talented than you

[@ArnoldMontes]

anchorbuildings oh yeah your right. I forgot your showcasing lights for profoto too and I’m not

[@feralmode]

belluso ha ha not a chance mate, I like profoto’s gear but these videos are always a bit cheesy. you’re aligning yourself with Lindsey Adler and the like. Hardly ‘glory’. If anything I’d say it devalues your brand although the money must be nice. Good for you, best of luck, ‘light shaper’...p.s. a light shaper is a tool.

[@ali_films]

if you can afford these lights then this video isn't for you..

[@patrickmorgan4006]

I have those lights. You are correct.

[@BurlapandLight]

I use the OCF line on my D1, so you can use them if your on a budget.

[@josephchan4198]

Still my favorite.