And why do I use them for portraits?
Studio lights, as you can imagine, are a light source. They are essentially a torch. Though instead of turning them on and off with a switch, I can make them flash for a fraction of a second with a trigger attached to my camera.
Like any torch, there are many brands and with many different powers of studio light.
Along with the lights themselves, there are different modifiers that can be attached to the light. Modifiers are a little like light shades. They shape the light so the light hits where you want it to be rather than shining all over the place. Modifiers also change the quality of the light. They can achieve anything from the harsh, contrasty light akin to the midday sun in the middle of summer to the soft light of a midwinters day with the sky full of clouds.
So why do I use studio lights?
The simple answer is I’m in control. I have control of where the light shines, how big it is, how powerful it is, its quality and how many lights I use. It’s not that I’m a control freak, it just allows me to control the look and feel of your portrait with a consistency that using natural light does not give me. It lets me create images that capture the best you. Want a summery photo in the middle of a cold, wet winter? We can create that. Want to get snowy Christmas pictures ready in the height of summer? That’s not a problem either. Whether you want a dark, moody image, something bright and airy or anything in-between, it can be created at anytime in any season.
But don’t think that studio lights are confined to the studio. They can be combined with any available light, the sun or interior lighting, to get the images you need.