So you bought a two Head Lighting Kit - Part 1

Hi everyone! If you’re just getting started with studio lighting or transitioning from speedlights to studio units, I thought I’d share a few examples of what you can achieve with a basic lighting kit. There’s more to come, but let’s kick things off with a couple of images to show how easily you can change the mood of an image and offer your clients more options.

Many photographers start with a two-head kit, and when choosing your kit, think not just about your current skills but also about what you aspire to achieve. Will your choice of kit grow with you on your journey? Getting familiar with your lighting equipment is as important as knowing your camera. With experience, you’ll spot subtle differences between modifiers and notice when third-party modifiers may have slightly different colour temperatures.

For these examples, I used the Elinchrom D-Lite 2/2 softbox kit. These heads are modestly powered at 200w/s but are more than enough for most small studios. The 66cm Portalite softboxes are a great introduction to softbox work. They have one diffuser over the front of the box, but Elinchrom offers a small deflector set that can add more softening or contrast. These small round deflectors come in silver, opaque, translucent, and gold. They fit into the umbrella socket in front of the flash tube, forcing the light back into the softbox for a more even spread.

Image 1

For the first image, I used just one head with a Portalite softbox. The flash head was slightly elevated above the sitter and positioned around 45˚ to my left. This setup provided excellent modelling with soft shadows and gradual fall-off.

Image 2

For the second shot, I decided against the usual key/fill light scenario. Instead, I positioned the key light on the opposite side and placed the second head with a Portalite to the left of the camera, slightly behind the subject. The key light metered at f/8, and the second head at f/11. This setup created more depth and contrast, resulting in a slimmer-looking face.

Background Note

The background is lighter in Image 1 due to the softbox position. In Image 2, the key light was feathered away from the background, producing more contrasty light on the subject and reducing the light falling on the wall.

Stay tuned for more tips and examples to help you master studio lighting!

Credits

Photography: Steve Howdle

Model : Joe Buxton

Makeup Artist: Sarah Taylor