Shooting Gorgeous Soft Light with 1 Strobe (and a Giant Butterfly) | Dani Diamond
Dani Diamond knows how to create magic in the studio without overcomplicating things. In his latest session at our warehouse, he demonstrates how to achieve soft light using one strobe, an 8-foot scrim, and a V-Flat. The setup is simple, but the results are stunning.
"You don’t need a ton of lights or crazy setups to create something beautiful. Keep it simple, focus on your subject, and let the light do the work."
The One-Light Setup
At the heart of Dani’s process is an 8x8-foot butterfly scrim that acts as a massive diffuser for his strobe. By placing the strobe roughly two and a half feet behind the scrim, the light spreads evenly across the surface, creating soft, flattering illumination.
A V-Flat completes the setup, positioned with the white side in a V shape to bounce light back onto the model and into the background. This reduces harsh shadows and adds balance to the scene. Dani explains that this method ensures a fail-proof way to create soft light using one strobe, making it ideal for any studio photographer.
Gear and Settings
For this shoot, Dani uses a Flashpoint XPLOR 600 PRO strobe (Godox AD600 Pro) set to 1/32 power. He pairs this with a 50mm f/1.2 lens, shooting wide open at f/1.3 to achieve beautiful background blur. His camera settings are dialed in at 1/320 shutter speed and ISO 100, prioritizing clean, well-lit shots without relying on high-speed sync.
Dani shares why he loves working with a wide aperture:
"I’m a total bokeh snob. I want that creamy, blurred background – even in the studio. It’s rare, and it makes the subject really pop."
Why This Approach Works
The scrim’s size is key to achieving soft light with only one strobe. It ensures even light coverage, creating a natural and flattering look. Dani also highlights the importance of positioning – moving the strobe further behind the scrim softens the light even more as it spreads across the entire surface.
The V-Flat enhances the effect by bouncing light where it’s needed most. One side reduces shadows on the model’s face, while the other side lifts the background tones for a cohesive image. Together, these tools create a balanced, professional look without overwhelming the photographer or the subject.
Breaking Studio Norms
Dani’s approach challenges traditional studio norms. While many photographers favor narrow apertures for sharp focus, he embraces shallow depth of field to make his subjects stand out. This combination of soft light and a creamy, blurred background gives his studio work a fresh and modern feel.
The Takeaway
Dani’s session is proof that stunning studio photography doesn’t require complicated setups. By mastering the basics – a scrim, a single strobe, and a V-Flat – photographers can create beautifully soft light using one strobe, no matter their skill level.
Dani’s advice: step away from the tutorials, set up your scrim, and start experimenting. The magic is in keeping it simple.
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