How to light using a strip box.
Learn some handy techniques for creative lighting setups using a strip box.
Strip boxes are the secret weapon of many portrait photographers: They enable you to light a subject’s entire body with a single light. These long, skinny softboxes are the perfect addition to any studio-lighting kit because they make full-length lighting setups a breeze.
Four unique ways to use a strip box in your next shoot.
Try out these different techniques to master strip box lighting at your next studio shoot:
- One strip box facing your subject at a 45-degree angle: Placing a single strip box at a 45-degree angle in front of your subject will add nice contour shadows and give your subject’s face and body definition.
- One strip box behind your subject at a 45-degree angle: This setup creates a beautiful “rim light” effect that separates your subject from the background and gives them a subtle glow.
- One strip box directly behind your subject: This creates a classic silhouette effect, and the strip box's narrow profile is perfect for hiding it behind your subject.
- Two strip boxes, one in front of and one behind your subject: By using two strip boxes, both at 45- degree angles, but placing one in front of and one behind your subject, you get beautiful key-light and rim-light effects using just two lights.
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