Learning artificial lighting is something that every portrait photographer should do, as it frees you from relying on the sun and enables you to explore creative avenues that simply are not possible with only natural light. However, lighting modifiers can be quite expensive, so knowing which is right to start with is important. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced photographer discussing why an octabox should be your first choice.
Coming to you from Kayleigh June, this great video tutorial discusses why photographers should consider an octabox for their first lighting modifier. The nice thing about octaboxes is that they are relatively affordable as far as modifiers go, and they are highly versatile, making them something that will stick with you as you continue to advance as a photographer. They are very forgiving and produce quite flattering light, including good catchlights, have a lot of customization options through the use of diffusers and grids, can usually be packed down to quite a portable size for working outside of the studio. Most professionals own at least one octabox. Check out the video above for the full rundown from June.
If you would like to continue learning about how to light a portrait, be sure to check out "Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!"
My most versatile mod is actually a Paul C Buff Soft Silver PLM, a parabolic umbrella that can produce very contrasty light with soft transitions (if you use a big one) and then turn into a soft-light box with the simple addition of a diffusion cover. It's very efficient, making it an excellent partner for a speedlight. It's very quick to set up. And, thanks to its parabolic shape, the tight cone of light coming out of it (without diffusion) makes exposure fall-off with distance negligible. This really helps when photographing small groups of people, because the person farthest from it gets almost the same exposure and the one nearest to it. Plus, it's well-made and quite affordable.