How to create great portraits with beauty dishes!

Despite using Beauty Dishes for years, I've never felt entirely confident that I was using them correctly! In this video, I am going to test them out thoroughly in order to better understand how they work!

I'll share the results of my tests and then I am going to guide you through two multi-light setups using beauty dishes. That way you'll know exactly what to do the next time you use one!

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Lighting
Elinchrom FIVE
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnmmUpjV1
Amazon https://amzn.to/3Um6V61
B&H https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ

Elinchrom Softlite White Beauty Dish Reflector (27.6", 64°) Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnv9Msdmw
B&H https://bhpho.to/3etOUn6

Elinchrom Softlite 27" Reflector (Beauty Dish) 64 degrees - Silver
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1d2j1ArzC
B&H https://bhpho.to/3MMhJcl

Elinchrom 27.6" Softlite Beauty Dish Grid
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1dZilGosF
B&H https://bhpho.to/3R2dsnN

Elinchrom 17.3" 80 Degree Softlite Reflector, White
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1d43hYbih
Amazon https://amzn.to/3MLhHlb
B&H https://bhpho.to/46nZpNM

Elinchrom 17.3" 55 Degree Softlite Reflector, Silver
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1d6cEoZM1
B&H https://bhpho.to/3ul23Xm

Elinchrom 17.3" Softlite Beauty Dish Grid
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1d1jM2swR
Amazon https://amzn.to/40JEJ1n
B&H https://bhpho.to/3QZKbdk

Elinchrom Indirect Litemotiv Strip Softbox (13 x 69”)Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnml5FQG0 Amazon https://amzn.to/33NTasn B&H https://bhpho.to/44b7B43

Elinchrom 8.3" Standard Reflector with 30 Degree Grid
Adorama https://howl.me/ckXfvvRu20T
B&H https://bhpho.to/4731i3t

Elinchrom 8.3" Barndoors Kit
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1dEuEAQjR
Amazon https://amzn.to/3R2IZoD
B&H https://bhpho.to/3MMEooY

Elinchrom 8.3" Grid Kit
Adorama https://howl.me/ck1dCSPTlvr
B&H https://bhpho.to/49CXIPo

Camera
Canon EOS R5
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnaWpm8UM
Amazon https://amzn.to/3vPGmeb
B&H https://bhpho.to/3VbPdUw

Canon BG-R10
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnaWADdkp
Amazon https://amzn.to/2OUmRQY
B&H https://bhpho.to/3niVtNI

Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnaWYcCHb
Amazon https://amzn.to/3tHbPxm
B&H https://bhpho.to/3L6f1Na

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnaWOwhRU
Amazon https://amzn.to/3vkEWbE
B&H https://bhpho.to/426bKEM

Video
Canon Cinema EOS C70
Adorama https://howl.me/cjCnaWADdkp
Amazon https://amzn.to/3vkvy7X
B&H https://bhpho.to/44dCV23

Nanlite Compac 200B Adjustable Bicolor LED Panel
Adorama https://howl.me/cjFTJEu8k2N
Amazon https://amzn.to/3mXYzUP
Nanlite https://nanlite.pxf.io/x93BBk
B&H https://bhpho.to/42v0bap

Nanlite FS-150 AC LED Monolight
Adorama https://howl.me/cjFTK70WWcG
Nanlite https://nanlite.pxf.io/b3zLLB
B&H https://bhpho.to/3NFmZQg

Before we get started, I just want to give you my disclosures. Elinchrom did provide me with some of the gear that I am using today, and I have written about this topic for their website, but they did not pay me to make this video and they don’t have editorial control over the content. Beauty dishes from different brands will probably work substantially the same, but I would encourage you to preform the same tests, which I am about to show you, with your gear. But after watching this video, you will know what to look out for and expect when using beauty dishes, socks and grids.

If you want to help support me make more videos like this, please click on the links in the description to check out and possibly purchase the gear that I am using today. I would also really appreciate it if you like, subscribe and sign up for the bell. In addition, I will be using the terms reflectors and beauty dishes interchangeably.

If you have ever heard anything about beauty dishes, you've probably encountered the adage that diameter equals distance. It's a handy rule of thumb: position the beauty dish from the subject's face at a distance equivalent to the modifier's diameter. So – if its 27” across, place it 27” from their face. While I've followed this principle over the years, I often wondered if I was really doing the right thing. I’ve asked manufacturers what they thought the distance should be, only to be told “do whatever looks the most beautiful.” Other people have sworn that 1m is the optimal distance.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
03:58 - Cross Section Test
07:21 - Bare Dish Results
08:34 - Grid Test
08:48 - Diffusion Sock Test
10:05 - Catch Lights
10:18 - 70cm SIlver Distance Dest
11:37 - 44cm SIlver Distance Dest
12:37 - Coss Section Test Conclusions
14:47 - Retouching
15:14 - Small Spaces
17:56 - Film Noir
27:51 - Conclusions