What lighting setup do you use the most?

[T E Franklin]

For me, it all depends on the situation I’m photographing. For events where I wonder among the crowd, a Profoto A10 on camera flash with soft bounce attached. If the event host would like more formal portraits of guests, a Profoto OCF two light setup, main and fill, and maybe a bounce reflector if space permits and event lighting demands. I love shooting colorful and well orchestrated food portraits and normally use a single OCF head in a softbox and multiple white foam core boards for fill to get the mood I’m looking for. I am not a professional photographer, don’t have a studio, nor the space for a 3, 4 or more light setup, which is beyond my interests anyway.

 

[RDKirk]

I'm just curious, what lighting setup do you typically use the most?

1 light? 2? 3 or more?

Modifiers?

Regards.

My typical effect lighting for portraits is usually a broad main from a softbox (round or square depending on location, outside or inside, respectively). If I can get a large enough mainlight close enough to the subject, I'll feather it forward and upward. If circumstances force my mainlight to be small or far from the subject or I want a harder light, I'll put it in 45/45 position.

I'll also use with a very soft accent light on the shadow side if the background is dark, or maybe on the highlight side if the background is light.

I'll use an unobtrusive fill if necessary. I may use a light on the background if necessary. I may use a hair light if necessary. In an environmental portrait, I may use additional gridded lights on elements of the background.

 

[Macro guy]

It depends on what I'm shooting. I find that ansnoot with a grid is an invaluable accessory. If I'm doing portraits, I may use a snoot with a grid as a hair light and a 50" deep umbrella as a key light with a brolleybox as a soft fill. Alternatively, I may use a snoot with a grid as my main light and another snoot with a grid as a hair light or even a speedlight with a flag as a hair light, depending on the situation.

If I'm doing macro work then I use 2 monolights with gelled snoots and grids and a gelled speedligh for accent lighting.