Monolights... How much power do I need?

rsi1986

I am thinking of doing model portfolios. I would like to buy two monolights to be used with softboxes. My question is how much power do I need for a good full body shot? Thanks in advance.

Art Scott

In a small studio you could get away with a little as of a Guide Number as 160 (F16@10ft)....but you will want at least 3 lights so you can light the background and also get creative with the background by adding color with gels.....I prefer a 4 light set up: 2 in front and 2 in back...1 flooded the background and 1 lit the background and spilled out on the subjects hair....I would do this for modeling ports so if blue spilled out on a darkheaded model it looked modern......I played with colors a lot that way.....

I am not into rectangular softboxes...so I most shoot with octa - umbrellas...I just prefer their catch lights and I use either white or gold...just my preference.

I think retangular softboxes are fine for sommerical product photgraphy but I do not like a rectangle in a round pupil....again just my preference.

Take a look at this glamour photogs site: PETER GOWLAND A major shooter for various mags including playboy and major tool calendars and such....

Good luck

ziggy53

Partly, you also need to consider recycle time and whether the light qualities vary with output level. Repeatability and actual output vary by individual flash, so take the time to verify repeatability and calibrate your units with an actual meter rather than trust "rated" output.

Softboxes, especially double-diffused boxes, absorb a fair amount of light. That needs to be considered.

Other considerations are how you might use the lights in the future and what f stop you intend to use. More powerful lights allow more versatility with light modifiers but if they can't be throttled back, they might be too much for large aperture work. (You can use scrims to help reduce the light output, but do you want the bother?)

If you can rent lights, or even rent a facility with lights, you could probably answer your own questions rather quickly.

I very much agree with what Art said in that softboxes are not the answer to every lighting situation, so plan on some extra modifiers like umbrellas, diffusion panels and reflectors.

ziggy53