Nowadays, there are a lot of choices when it comes to softbox modifiers. But what exactly are they, and what do they do to shape the light?
We’re going to give you the lowdown on these lighting modifiers and the kind of lighting effects they create:
- Parabolic softbox
- Lantern softbox
- Umbrella softbox
- Octagon softbox
- Rectangle softbox
Let’s dive in and find out what these handy softbox modifiers are best for, and which ones are great for beginners.
What are Softbox Modifiers?
In a nutshell, softbox modifiers alter the diffusion and softness of light, depending on their size and shape. Some soften the light for smoother shadows (or to remove most shadows), while others can create a more contrasty and dramatic look.
A softbox in its simplest form is exactly what the name suggests — a box with a diffusion panel of fabric at the front to soften and spread the light. The larger the softbox, the softer and more even the light becomes.
Parabolic Softboxes
Parabolic softboxes are like a hybrid of the traditional umbrella lighting modifier and a softbox. They have the classic umbrella shape but are deeper and often include an optional front diffuser and grid. This deeper design helps funnel and focus the light more efficiently.
For soft light, a white diffuser is used as the front cover of the parabolic softbox. For a crisper, more defined look, the diffuser can be removed so the silver interior creates more punch and contrast. If you want even more control, adding a grid to the front helps narrow the beam of light and reduce spill.
These softbox modifiers are great for portraits, beauty, fashion photography, interviews, and film or video shoots.
A great example is the Spectrum Pro Collapsible Deep Parabolic Softbox 70cm (27.5") Bowens Mount, which offers a deep parabolic design for better light control while remaining collapsible and easy to transport.
As the sizes get bigger, each parabolic softbox gives off a wider amount of light spread, but if you have a smaller strobe light, it makes sense to use a smaller parabolic softbox instead of a large one. To give you an idea of how to use a parabolic softbox in a shoot, here’s a lighting setup:
Because parabolic softboxes come in different sizes, the larger the modifier, the wider and softer the spread of light will be. If you're using a smaller light source, a smaller softbox often makes more sense to keep your setup balanced.
Lantern Softboxes
Lantern softboxes are spherical or lantern-shaped modifiers that spread light in almost every direction. This creates a soft, natural and evenly distributed light.
Because of this wide light spread, lantern softboxes are commonly used for interior shoots, real estate photography, interviews, and video production where you want to light up an entire room evenly.
They’re also easy to reposition depending on where you want the light to fall. Like other modifiers, larger lanterns create a wider and softer spread of light.
The Spectrum lantern softboxes come in 65 and 80cm sizes:
- Spectrum-Pro Collapsible Softball Lantern Softbox 65cm (Bowens Mount)
- Spectrum-Pro Collapsible Softball Lantern Softbox 80cm (Bowens Mount)
Here is a lighting diagram to show how a lantern softbox can be used:
Umbrella Softboxes
There are two main types of umbrella softboxes: shoot-through and reflective.
Shoot-through umbrellas are made from white diffusion fabric and are placed between the light and the subject. The light passes through the material, softening and spreading the light for a gentle look. This is great for portraits, fashion, and baby photography.
Umbrellas are one of the easiest lighting modifiers to set up, which is why they are popular with beginners and studios alike.
Reflective umbrellas, on the other hand, bounce the light back towards the subject. These are usually lined with silver or white fabric. While still soft, reflective umbrellas produce slightly crisper light and lose less brightness compared to shoot-through umbrellas.
The Newborn & Baby Lighting Kit comes with two soft white diffuser umbrellas, two silver umbrella, two light stands, 2 bulbs, 2x bulb holders, 1x backdrop stand.
Here’s an idea of how to set up shoot-through umbrellas for a baby or child’s photography shoot:
Rectangle Softboxes
Rectangle softboxes are one of the most versatile lighting modifiers. They can be used on their own for dramatic lighting or combined with other lights for more advanced setups.
Using two rectangle softboxes allows you to create a balanced two-point lighting setup. A good example is the Illuminate Mate II Double Rectangle Softbox LED Lighting Kit, which includes two softboxes and LED lights that are ideal for portraits, content creation, streaming, or product photography.
Another great option is the Dual Spectrum Lumilite 60 COB 60W LED Light with Softbox Bundle, which provides strong continuous lighting paired with softbox modifiers for softer and more controlled light.
If you want to add more dimension to your lighting, a three-point lighting setup works well. The Volkwell Triple Rectangle Softbox Continuous Lighting Kit allows you to create a full three-light setup for more depth and separation in your images or videos.
Rectangle softboxes are among the simplest modifiers to use, but are popular with all kinds of photographers because of their versatility. You can use rectangle softboxes for almost any type of photography from product right through to headshots.
...and this is how they can be used to create even more dimension with three-point lighting:
Octagon Softboxes
Octagon softboxes, often called octaboxes, are similar to rectangle softboxes but have an eight-sided shape. This produces a softer, more rounded light spread.
One of the main advantages of octaboxes is the natural-looking catchlight they create in a subject’s eyes. Instead of the rectangular reflection you might see from a rectangular softbox, octaboxes create a rounder reflection that looks more natural in portrait photography.
For beginners, lighting kits can make things easier since they include everything needed to get started.
The Directional Twin Octagon Softbox Lighting Kit is a great example of a complete setup with two lights and octagon softboxes.
Another option is the Octagon Kreator Kit Double Dimmable LED Bi-Coloured Octagon Softbox Lighting Kit, which gives you adjustable brightness and colour temperature for more flexibility when shooting photos or videos.
This is an idea of a double octagon softbox setup:
Both octagon and rectangle softboxes can be used for many types of photography, but octaboxes are especially popular for portraits and beauty photography.
Final Thoughts
There you have it - the different types of softbox modifiers and what they can do. Here’s a quick recap of the types of photography each modifier is best suited to:
- Parabolic softbox - portraiture, flat lays, fashion, and product
- Lantern softbox - portraits, interior, and real estate photography
- Umbrella softbox - baby and child photography, portraiture, and fashion
- Rectangle softbox - fashion, portraiture, food, product, e-commerce
- Octagon softbox - especially good for portraits, but also fashion, food, and product
Here’s a final tip for using softbox modifiers, regardless of their shape - The closer the softbox is to a subject the softer the light will be. Move it further away and the light will become more contrasty and shadows will become harsher.
