Beginner

Strobe One-Light Softbox Headshot

Lighting setup

A single mains-powered strobe in a medium softbox at front-45° — the cleanest studio portrait recipe before adding rims, grids, or second lights.

Classic pattern — Loop lighting

Lighting breakdown

1
Softbox Key (Strobe)
A 60–90cm softbox on a mains strobe at front-45° camera-left and slightly above eye level. Feather the bright edge across the face so falloff stays smooth and the background does not blow out.
Medium softbox on studio strobe · 0.85
Softbox
2
Optional
White Bounce Fill
A white board just out of frame camera-right on the shadow side returns soft fill into the eye socket without flattening the nose shadow.
White foam board opposite key · 0.65
Reflector

Base setup

One strobe. One softbox. Learn the studio baseline.

Top view

Complete setup · 1 light · 1 optional

Lights: 1
Contrast: 3:1
Catchlight: Rectangular softbox catchlight
Key position: Softbox 30–45° camera-left
Pattern: Loop
Mood: Soft / Commercial / Documentary
Quality: Soft Light
Subject: Male Portrait
Environment: Studio / Dark Background

Mood variations

No Bounce Fill

Remove the white board opposite the key and the shadow-side cheek and eye socket fall away. The key-lit side holds and the grey background gives up about a third of a stop of bounce.

Final look

Base setup

A softbox enlarges the strobe into a directional source with predictable falloff. Placed close and slightly off-axis it wraps skin softly while leaving a readable nose shadow; a white bounce opposite is all you need to open the ratio without a second flash.

Camera & framing

Exposure

ISO

ISO 100

Shutter

1/160 – 1/200s

Aperture

f/5.6 – f/8

Lens & framing

Lens

85 – 105mm portrait

Camera height

Eye level

Framing

Head and shoulders, full face in frame — chin, forehead, and both ears visible; comfortable headroom; no edge crop

Try these settings → Key : fill ratio →

Key notes

1Use the strobe modeling light to judge shadow shape before you shoot — the softbox edge is your feathering lever.
2Feather the softbox so the bright center skims the face rather than blasting the background; rotate the stand, do not just raise power.
3Keep the softbox within ~1m for wrap; pulling it back hardens shadows and reads more editorial than corporate.
4Add a white foam board opposite only if the shadow-side eye socket goes dead — one bounce is enough; a second strobe is not required yet.