I use the Profoto Softlight beauty dish with grid and diffuser with case from Temba in car. Its light and easy to carry, just a little large but im okay because the results are amazing and stand better against the wind outdoors. Using B1X with bulb, next will get the glass plate to switch it from the metal one for better light output from the center for better catch light. I tried the westcott when i was using orlit lights in the past. The switch on the beauty dish to change modifier mounts broke off upon arrival. I returned it and still managed to slide some Orlit lights in it. But i like Profoto take on it and have no problem bringing it with me wherever i go. Alot of my clients love the look and said they have never seen something like this before. Anywhoo both are awesome cheers!
Thanks a lot for taking the time to COMPARE the different setups of using the foldable soft box. The With Plate/Insert and Without photos really demonstrate the effects of each well. Greatly enjoy watching your vids. Very instructional. Very helpful. Thanks to Grace as well. Beautiful model.
Absolutely! It's always crucial to compare because you never know what you prefer until you try it. Very glad you enjoy this video and my other videos - thanks for letting me know. Really appreciate having you in the TSL community. :)
2 years ago I purchased a used metal beauty dish w/o insert (used merch). Made a makeshift insert, but never used it. I have a Glow brand collapsible one and use it ALL the time with and w/o grid. After your video, I realize, "Duh...I don't need the metal one anymore!" Thanks for this video...did not hit me that I had duplicate beauty dishes. Out with the old one!!📸📸👌🏽👌🏽
Hi TSL fam! So excited to bring you a Laws of Light on mastering the beauty dish! Let me know if you've shot with a beauty dish before. Has anyone used old of the old ones like I show at the beginning of the video?
Whatever you can use a strobe, you can use a speedlight. Just make sure that you have an adapter for the speedlight. Remember that you if you use it outdoors, speedlights cannot overpower the sun. Many strobes you can.
The Slanted Lens Hi Jay P. I have both the metal Profoto Softlight Reflector and their fabric OCF BD in white. I use them with my B1’s, and I actually prefer the metal, but I’ve never actually done a side by side test. The first 3 images here are BD. johnmaclean.com/CORPORATE/1 Keep up the great lessons and stay safe! PS - your work back in the 80s was always very inspirational to me. We’re probably close in age and I was assisting a lot in L.A. back then. Wish I had the chance to work with you on those “looks Photoshopped but isn’t” images! 😉
Love my 16" beauty dish that I carry in my off-camera flash sessions. Not foldable but It is my favorite speedlight modifier. Give me that intermediate light between soft and hard (without diffuser). Nice to see a video about this underrated modifier. BTW: I use it at left, at right, in front, not in a classic way but the results are great. Hope to see more Graceanne here. Cheers!
That's awesome to hear Pedro! Really cool that you've played around with different angles and directions and have got awesome results. Tag me in some of your images on Instagram or Facebook so I can check out your work! @theslantedlens :)
This is so timely - I just put my beauty dish on a light to experiment with it last evening. Mine is exactly like the hard one you have - but that is fine since it only fits my studio lights anyways. Might look into that portable one for my Travelites though. Another great vid!
Oh wow! Funny timing indeed! Thanks for the kind words, Tim. That's awesome that you're experimenting with yours. What studio lights do you typically use?
@@TheSlantedLens There is a nice collection of Speedotrons here - the old battery pack and seperate head type. I bought my studio from a photographer I used to assist for so there is quite the collection of gear here - thus why I'm just getting around to the beauty dish. flic.kr/p/2iHXztE The room to the left has a table top set up with three more packs.
Do you think that the white insert vs the silver insert makes a difference? Also does the white insert turn yellow over time? I have one ready to purchase but not much information on the questions I have anywhere.
Yes, the silver makes it about a stop brighter and it's also a little more directional/harder. Not sure about the yellowing as I haven't had it very long, but I'd be really surprised if it did because Westcott's quality is pretty darn good.
A beauty dish is is a hard light and it is made for beautiful skin. They do make a sock you can put on it to soften it. Or put some kind of diffusion in front of it. Good luck!
I've found that gear that's inconvenient to use will often stay home. That said I've heard amazing things about Mola beauty dishes. Stay healthy Mr. Morgan! =)
Does it come with a white insert cause that is the first thing I would like to change, although it is ribbed, is the reflective insert cause it will create the hotspot you try to loose.
Truth is that Graceanne is going to look beautiful with a beauty dish, an umbrella a hard light or whatever you light her with. Next time use Joel as the model to see really how well the dish works. -All kidding aside, it was a great video, a very beautiful model and a very nice product from Wetcott.-I liked it much better when used as a beauty dish 3 ft. away from her with the disk inside.
I personally like the metal beauty dish with a grid and about 4 to 5 feet away and play a strip box underneath the disk to get a bull body shot but with a dish look
@@TheSlantedLens Almost 300$ for the dish - ok, maybe. But do you really think 150$ for the grid is a fair price? Personally, I think it's a kind of robbery) It's net cost is under 30$ or something like this.
Nice explanation of the beauty dish. I love my old metal dish, but yeah, traveling with it is not an option. This Westcott is ridiculously overpriced. There are a bunch of folding beauty dishes out there of equivilant quality, for nearly a third of the price.
@@TheSlantedLens I don't doubt that the Westcott is made well, but there are others out there, made with comparable quality. Paul C Buff has a bombproof collapsible dish for $99 that does the same thing, built just as tough and will last just as long. Just saying.
I know I think differently, but I need to understand the math and science with anything I do. Calling something beautiful doesn’t describe the light, it describes the reflected light off your model as captured by your camera. The grid is a simple subtractive device that limits the angle of light by passing it through tubes. The angle of light is easily calculated knowing the size of each opening and thickness of the grid. The reflector disc removes the direct light from the light source to the subject. The difference between direct light and reflected light is both surface area and power because there is loss with reflection. Knowing this, how is a beauty dish any different than a small softbox with two layers of diffusion and a grid with a small offset from the front diffuser? The right answer to that would be catchlights...
@@TheSlantedLens Now I have to set up a testing board to find out... I don’t trust testing on models, they keep moving. Back when I was at NESoP I did some testing with lighting which turned out to be testing of students. I shot a model with two lights and had them describe the difference in lighting. Most of them found one light to be a more “beautiful” light. I only used one light, I had the model turn her head a bit... My point was that what a modifier does is math and science, the results from using a type of modifier should be understood, not seen as a mystery.
With that insert/front diffuser on the beauty dish the dish is acting as a softbox and produces the same spread an quality of light as any softbox. It loses the qualities of a beauty dish. That's just the physics of light.
There are two things a play here, the insert and the cover on the front of the beauty dish. If you put the insert in then it is a softer light than a softbox. If you take the cover off and leave the insert in then it has a more directional light like the beauty dish. If you take the insert out and leave the cover on then it works like a softbox.
Luminar just ruins all photos....way too nuclear and unnatural (unless you tone down the opacity quite a lot). The only useful feature it has is the sky replacement tool.
Fun opening! These tutorials are helpful but it's also because you make it easy to connect that the learning goes down easy.
So great to hear. I appreciate that!
I use the Profoto Softlight beauty dish with grid and diffuser with case from Temba in car. Its light and easy to carry, just a little large but im okay because the results are amazing and stand better against the wind outdoors. Using B1X with bulb, next will get the glass plate to switch it from the metal one for better light output from the center for better catch light. I tried the westcott when i was using orlit lights in the past. The switch on the beauty dish to change modifier mounts broke off upon arrival. I returned it and still managed to slide some Orlit lights in it. But i like Profoto take on it and have no problem bringing it with me wherever i go. Alot of my clients love the look and said they have never seen something like this before. Anywhoo both are awesome cheers!
I have been using the Westcott for 6 months and it has worked flawlessly. Profoto is a great modifier but it is VERY EXPENSIVE.
Just the video I’ve been looking for J.P! Finally an informative video by an experienced photographer who I have lots of respect for.
Awesome, thank you! We are trying to bring you good information. Thanks for your support!
Thanks a lot for taking the time to COMPARE the different setups of using the foldable soft box. The With Plate/Insert and Without photos really demonstrate the effects of each well. Greatly enjoy watching your vids. Very instructional. Very helpful. Thanks to Grace as well. Beautiful model.
Absolutely! It's always crucial to compare because you never know what you prefer until you try it. Very glad you enjoy this video and my other videos - thanks for letting me know. Really appreciate having you in the TSL community. :)
2 years ago I purchased a used metal beauty dish w/o insert (used merch). Made a makeshift insert, but never used it. I have a Glow brand collapsible one and use it ALL the time with and w/o grid. After your video, I realize, "Duh...I don't need the metal one anymore!" Thanks for this video...did not hit me that I had duplicate beauty dishes. Out with the old one!!📸📸👌🏽👌🏽
Glad you figured that out. Hope you get some stunning images!
Was looking for a portable beauty dish and this looks great...also the model is beautiful. Great video all round.
Glad you like it! We love that Westcott beauty dish!
Hi TSL fam! So excited to bring you a Laws of Light on mastering the beauty dish! Let me know if you've shot with a beauty dish before. Has anyone used old of the old ones like I show at the beginning of the video?
The Slanted Lens I really need this disk for my projects
@@MakbrOs I highly recommend it! :) What projects are you working on?
Whatever you can use a strobe, you can use a speedlight. Just make sure that you have an adapter for the speedlight. Remember that you if you use it outdoors, speedlights cannot overpower the sun. Many strobes you can.
The Slanted Lens Hi Jay P. I have both the metal Profoto Softlight Reflector and their fabric OCF BD in white. I use them with my B1’s, and I actually prefer the metal, but I’ve never actually done a side by side test. The first 3 images here are BD. johnmaclean.com/CORPORATE/1 Keep up the great lessons and stay safe! PS - your work back in the 80s was always very inspirational to me. We’re probably close in age and I was assisting a lot in L.A. back then. Wish I had the chance to work with you on those “looks Photoshopped but isn’t” images! 😉
Can i use it with speed light?
Yes you can! They have an insert for a speed light.
Love your video, I’m very new with flash and didn’t understand what is fall off? Thanks
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
Great tutorial, I'll get this beauty dish
Send us an email and I can send you a discount code.
Would you compare the silver vs white?
That is definitely something we should do! Thanks!
Thank you for the video! It's always good to see side to side comparison in details.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for your support!
Do you use the diffuser on the front of the Wescott beauty dish? If so, when?
I use the diffuser when I want a softer light and I don't use it when I want a harder light.
I will pick the old school speedotron any day over the new one
Used those Speedotrons for a lot of years!
i like this explanation a lot.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
Love my 16" beauty dish that I carry in my off-camera flash sessions. Not foldable but It is my favorite speedlight modifier. Give me that intermediate light between soft and hard (without diffuser). Nice to see a video about this underrated modifier. BTW: I use it at left, at right, in front, not in a classic way but the results are great. Hope to see more Graceanne here. Cheers!
That's awesome to hear Pedro!
Really cool that you've played around with different angles and directions and have got awesome results. Tag me in some of your images on Instagram or Facebook so I can check out your work! @theslantedlens :)
@@TheSlantedLens With pleasure, my friends! See you guys in my Insta.
I'll take that old Beauty Dish 😁
It still works for some things.
@@TheSlantedLens sooo are you going to send it to me?😁
This is so timely - I just put my beauty dish on a light to experiment with it last evening. Mine is exactly like the hard one you have - but that is fine since it only fits my studio lights anyways. Might look into that portable one for my Travelites though. Another great vid!
Oh wow! Funny timing indeed! Thanks for the kind words, Tim. That's awesome that you're experimenting with yours. What studio lights do you typically use?
@@TheSlantedLens There is a nice collection of Speedotrons here - the old battery pack and seperate head type. I bought my studio from a photographer I used to assist for so there is quite the collection of gear here - thus why I'm just getting around to the beauty dish.
flic.kr/p/2iHXztE
The room to the left has a table top set up with three more packs.
Do you think that the white insert vs the silver insert makes a difference? Also does the white insert turn yellow over time? I have one ready to purchase but not much information on the questions I have anywhere.
Yes, the silver makes it about a stop brighter and it's also a little more directional/harder. Not sure about the yellowing as I haven't had it very long, but I'd be really surprised if it did because Westcott's quality is pretty darn good.
@@TheSlantedLens You replied quick! Thank you for answering my questions! I am definitely going to get the white insert!
Question I have a 16 in beauty dish why do I get bad shadow when shooting
A beauty dish is is a hard light and it is made for beautiful skin. They do make a sock you can put on it to soften it. Or put some kind of diffusion in front of it. Good luck!
@@TheSlantedLens o added a light to the background and now it’s fine thanks
I've found that gear that's inconvenient to use will often stay home. That said I've heard amazing things about Mola beauty dishes. Stay healthy Mr. Morgan! =)
Jesse Starks it’s so true! Glad to hear you’ve got some awesome shots from it! Hope you are staying healthy as well. Keep on clickin! :)
By the way, the hard one he didn't use in this video is made by Speedotron not Mola
Does it come with a white insert cause that is the first thing I would like to change, although it is ribbed, is the reflective insert cause it will create the hotspot you try to loose.
The insert does not create a hot spot. The dish itself comes in silver or white. If you don't like the silver insert you could paint it white.
Please sir, what light are you using with the beauty dish
The FJ400. An awesome light by Westcott!!!
I'm new to your channel, love how you explain the details and that, it's not right or wrong but how you want to use it. Thanks for your passion.
You are so welcome! Glad you joined us. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Love the setup!! Great tips
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Without the insert, isn’t it just a normal softbox?
Stan KMT yup
Yes. The shape may be a little different.
clicked for the lady.
stayed for the lady.
Thanks for watching! Keep on clickin!
Thank you!
Appreciate your support. Thanks for your comment!
Nicely explained and shown, Thanks.
Steve Schnetzler thanks so much Steve!
The model is cute and pretty...😊
Thank you. Oh, you mean the girl? LOL.
Hi I love these types of sessions that teach and explain about different gear items. I would also love a session on light meters. Just a thought.
Lee Sadiki thats a great idea!! You may just see that on the channel really soon! Thanks Lee
I think you used the deflector plate reversed, I think the textured side should face the strobe to make the light spread more even...;)
That makes sense. Both sides have their uses.
Hi!!! What about a video with the westcott Raja Deep 80 or any of the same family
We will be reviewing some modifiers from Westcott. Not sure that is in the mix. We will see.
Thank you for this post.
You're welcome. Thank you for watching!
Awesome presentation
Dominick thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
so helpfull
Glad you think so! Thanks for watching!
anytime you want to sell that speedotron beauty dish, give me a heads-up...those things are awesome...
deltadave44 I thought it was a Mola?
They are pretty awesome, but hard to haul around.
Great video would of like to see you compare images hard vs soft dishes also silver vs white, one more thing feathering your dish the benefits.
Gregory Sargeant, there is no benefit feathering because then you see the direct bulb.
Great suggestion! We will add that to our list of ideas!
Beauty dish ($290) + Grid ($150) + Bowens Insert($30) + Speedlite Insert($65) = Total $535 WOW
Yeah, good photo equipment is pricey. But it is an investment that will last a long long time!
I have the 34” Glow BD and don’t believe I paid more than $80 with double diffusion, Bowen’s mount, and grid. Works great!
Total b.s…….If you take care of reasonably priced stuff, even cheap stuff, it can last years. Kids are not playing with your soft boxes are they?
Truth is that Graceanne is going to look beautiful with a beauty dish, an umbrella a hard light or whatever you light her with. Next time use Joel as the model to see really how well the dish works. -All kidding aside, it was a great video, a very beautiful model and a very nice product from Wetcott.-I liked it much better when used as a beauty dish 3 ft. away from her with the disk inside.
Haha! Very true! We were thankful to get to work with Graceanne on this shoot. Glad you appreciated the lesson and saw a setup you thought was best.
Who’s the model in your vlog?
Her name is Graceanne. We put her name and Instagram at the beginning of the video. :)
@@TheSlantedLens She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
great video,
Thanks so much!
Nobody’s gonna buy it. Not true. I just bought a 28” metal beauty dish for the studio. Love. What it does over the collapsing versions.
Yes, those are great for the studio but not practical for on location and travel.
I personally like the metal beauty dish with a grid and about 4 to 5 feet away and play a strip box underneath the disk to get a bull body shot but with a dish look
Nice. Thanks for sharing your approach!
Shame on Westcott for selling this beauty dish at this price! There are identical products out there for 1/3 the price.
It's a very nice piece of equipment. Not all modifiers are created equally. Thanks for watching!
@@TheSlantedLens Almost 300$ for the dish - ok, maybe. But do you really think 150$ for the grid is a fair price? Personally, I think it's a kind of robbery) It's net cost is under 30$ or something like this.
@@yakovlevpaul yeah the grid price is insulting
'Dish' is right!
It gives you beautiful light!
Nice explanation of the beauty dish. I love my old metal dish, but yeah, traveling with it is not an option. This Westcott is ridiculously overpriced. There are a bunch of folding beauty dishes out there of equivilant quality, for nearly a third of the price.
A thing to consider is the quality of the product and the longevity. The Westcott gear is well made!
@@TheSlantedLens I don't doubt that the Westcott is made well, but there are others out there, made with comparable quality. Paul C Buff has a bombproof collapsible dish for $99 that does the same thing, built just as tough and will last just as long. Just saying.
Looks more like a Wescott commercial.
I know I think differently, but I need to understand the math and science with anything I do. Calling something beautiful doesn’t describe the light, it describes the reflected light off your model as captured by your camera. The grid is a simple subtractive device that limits the angle of light by passing it through tubes. The angle of light is easily calculated knowing the size of each opening and thickness of the grid. The reflector disc removes the direct light from the light source to the subject. The difference between direct light and reflected light is both surface area and power because there is loss with reflection. Knowing this, how is a beauty dish any different than a small softbox with two layers of diffusion and a grid with a small offset from the front diffuser? The right answer to that would be catchlights...
The disc does make a difference. Try it and see.
@@TheSlantedLens Now I have to set up a testing board to find out... I don’t trust testing on models, they keep moving. Back when I was at NESoP I did some testing with lighting which turned out to be testing of students. I shot a model with two lights and had them describe the difference in lighting. Most of them found one light to be a more “beautiful” light. I only used one light, I had the model turn her head a bit... My point was that what a modifier does is math and science, the results from using a type of modifier should be understood, not seen as a mystery.
Lets talk about the price $259 for Westcott, way to pricey , make it more affordable and I'll order today ..
Just get a better job.
You get what you pay for. Price equals quality equals lasts longer!
Came here for the thumbnail
Hope you watched the video and learned a thing of two!
Damn soft
Thanks for watching. Keep on clickin!
Forgot to say thank you to the model..
Yep. She did a great job!
With that insert/front diffuser on the beauty dish the dish is acting as a softbox and produces the same spread an quality of light as any softbox. It loses the qualities of a beauty dish. That's just the physics of light.
There are two things a play here, the insert and the cover on the front of the beauty dish. If you put the insert in then it is a softer light than a softbox. If you take the cover off and leave the insert in then it has a more directional light like the beauty dish. If you take the insert out and leave the cover on then it works like a softbox.
Luminar just ruins all photos....way too nuclear and unnatural (unless you tone down the opacity quite a lot). The only useful feature it has is the sky replacement tool.
If really is personal preference. It has a lot of flexibility to adjust to however you want it.
great video
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment!