The vast majority of studio strobes have modeling lights built in, which most of us think of as being useful for showing how the shadows are going to fall when we take a shot, but they are useful for more than just that. This quick and helpful video will give you three reasons why you should always use the modeling lights on your strobes.
Coming to you from Jeff Carpenter with Readylight Media, this great video discusses three reasons why you should use the modeling light on your studio strobe. Of them, I think the most overlooked is the effect it will have on your subject's pupil size. Strobes fire too quickly to reduce the size of your subject's pupils in time to be captured by your camera, and since you probably have little ambient light in your studio when shooting, they are normally quite large in that environment. As a result, the size of the subject's irises are reduced, and you lose color in their eyes. By using a modeling light, you can bring back a lot of the subject's irises and that great color. Check out the video above for lots of helpful tips from Carpenter.
And if you really want to improve your lighting, check out Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley
Why not outline the three reasons in the text of the post?
I didn't watch the video, so I don't know if this point was brought up. But one huge advantage to using a modeling light, along with managing pupil size is faster and more accurate focusing, depending on how your lights are positioned.
- Dilate pupils
- Helps with focusing
- Showing where the shadows falling ("giving you a great representation on what going to happen with the photo")
I'm not sure if this video was successful in what it was trying to accomplish.
Thanks.
Personally, the focusing aspect is the biggest reason I like to use modeling lights.
Not sure if dilating pupils are always desired. It would only help with focusing if you're either focusing manually or if your camera's AF system is not that great. Most modern AF systems can focus down to -3-4 EV, so not a big deal, and if you're using a mirrorless manual focusing with the EVF is cake (another reason to dump DSLRs LOL). The one only real reason for me to use a modeling light is the obvious, so you can see how you're lighting the scene, which is the reason for modeling lights in the first place. Typically when I shoot on location, I use speedlights, and I gaffer led flashlights to them just to have a "modeling light" so I can set my lighting up.
Yup, those things were highlighted in the video.
Why a video?
Most of us are visual :-). I know I am. However, you have a point, a short summary of the video would help to determine if we want to watch it or not.
Good point, shrinks the pupils. Does the pupil not react to the light of a strobe that fast?
I don't agree with most of this, but it depends on what the pictures will be used for. For my work (men's magazines, adult), I've always wanted bigger (more dilated) pupils (rather than constricted/contracted). Multiple studies have revealed that in my target audience anyway, dilated pupils are more attractive and give the viewer the impression of interest, openness and trust.
If your camera is on a tripod, the focus shouldn't be hunting anyway unless your model is moving (in the example she was clearly not). Also the modeling light doesn't have to be turned all the way up like that. Having said that, I've never had a problem focusing without modeling lights on or a dimly lit studio.
Last point - ok, you can get somewhat of an idea of how the light will interact with your model.
-2, +1.