When it comes to professional looking photography, using studio lighting sets apart the pretenders from the pros. Studio lighting is available in a wide variety of configurations and price points, from basic two-light kits with umbrellas that cost $300 to mutli-light setups where the power supplies alone are $5,000. Configuring the lights is an art that can take some trial and error, depending on where you are setting up, but there are some basics that can improve the overall results.
Soft Box
To get the softest, most even lighting, use a softbox on the main light. Placing the light closer to the subject will give softer results as well. Using umbrella reflectors casts a harder light and can result in more glare. Softboxes give a softer, more realistic cast to the illumination. Softboxes are available in a variety of sizes and price points (see Resources). Bigger softboxes also provide a better cast of light from subject to background.
Lights
Lights are available in a large number of configurations and power outputs (measured in watt seconds). Monolights are a good entry level point, offering a lot of flexibility, usually an adjustable power output and multiple f-stop measures. They are also designed so that when one fires, it can trip the others. For instance, the main light, with softbox, can be placed next to the portrait subject illuminating the face, and a secondary light can be placed near the subject, casting light down to illuminate hair. When the main light is triggered, the secondary light will also fire. Triggering the lights is simply a matter of running a trigger cord from the camera to the light (or power pack, for more advanced systems).
Another option is the hot light; hot lights are always on, making composition easy and accurate, since the photographer knows in advance what kind of lighting shadows will be cast. Hot lights have gotten much better over the years, and do not run as hot as they used to; they are used commonly for video applications. However, the light is cooler, closer to a tungsten output (3200 Kelvin) than daylight (5400K). Monolights are able to provide daylight illumination, which can give better results in a portrait studio.
Backgrounds
Muslin backgrounds are probably the best choice, as they can be reused again and again. Good quality muslins will run $100 and up, and are generally made of a heavier fabric. Some photographers prefer to use seemless background paper instead of muslins, so that they can avoid having and folds or ripples show up in the background. While it is possible to simply tape the muslin to the wall, better results will be achieved by using a background stand that lets you draw the material tightly and avoid folds showing. Background stands can be adjusted to a variety of heights and widths.
Tags: main light, better results, give softer, price points, secondary light