White vs Silver Beauty Dish - Which should you use?
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- There’s often a lot of confusion when it comes to whether to use a silver or white beauty dish, but depending on the one you select, can drastically change the outcome!
I hope to demystify that with you today in this video. 😃
A little background on what a beauty dish is first:
A beauty dish is a light modifier that doubly reflects the light source -- first into a reflective panel in front of the flash head, and then into the dish back onto the subject. This creates a mix of both soft light with a pop of contrast.
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I often love using beauty dishes in my work because of the stunning quality of light they can produce, which is perfect for my style as they create a little more pop and contrast.
While this video discusses using the Profoto brand of beauty dish -- as they call it the Softlight Reflector -- the concepts discussed here are universal and you can pick up just about any brand beauty dish.
👉️ The differences
A white beauty dish produces a softer and smoother quality of light with a little less contrast.
A silver beauty dish produces a more specular quality of light that brings out more of the highlights and details which ultimately produces more contrast.
Something to keep in mind is because of the way the silver beauty dish concentrates light, it produces nearly a stop brighter than the white beauty dish. This makes it a good choice for example when trying to balance with sunlight, where you might need a little more kick.
The silver beauty dish also is going to make it look like the light falls off more quickly as well.
👉️ When to use what
If you're shooting portraits - particularly of everyday people -- a white beauty dish is going to be a bit more forgiving as it has a softer quality of light and doesn't bring out every detail (think wrinkles, lines, blemishes texture).
The silver beauty dish brings out more detail, which can create a more contrasty look. This could be ideal for focusing on skin related portraits that focus on texture, or highlight an athlete with dramatic lighting because of the contrast and secularity.
👉️ What about diffusion?
You can add diffusion material (aka a sock) over your beauty dish which cuts down the on the specularity of the light and also softens the shadow transition.
Now these aren't hard and fast rules, you can use either or, it really depends on your taste. For most, I think the white beauty dish works unless you're stylistically attracted to the attributes that the silver beauty dish produces.
Remember at the end of the day it's about having the right tool for the job!
I hope you enjoyed this video, if you did, please throw it a like and be sure to subscribe with notifications to be alerted of the next one. 👍️
Drop a comment below and let me know if you use beauty dishes and which one you prefer.
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Gear used in this video 📸
Profoto (Softlight Reflector) White Beauty Dish: adorama.rfvk.net/NJNOV
Profoto (Softlight Reflector) Silver Beauty Dish: adorama.rfvk.net/mVvmO
Profoto Umbrella Small - adorama.rfvk.net/dvR1j
Profoto White Reflector - adorama.rfvk.net/g7DKg
Profoto 20 Degree Grid - adorama.rfvk.net/nvn0A
Profoto D1 - adorama.rfvk.net/azKqR
Profoto D2 - adorama.rfvk.net/qvB7y
Canon 5d iv - adorama.rfvk.net/3aJnn
Canon 24-105mm lens - adorama.rfvk.net/KG0ne
Savage Seamless Paper - Beige - adorama.rfvk.net/zkmEr
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Website: lindsayadlerphotography.com
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Facebook: / lindsayadlerphotography
Twitter: / lindsayadler
Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Learn to Master Studio Lighting: lindsayadler.photo/msl-you
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
![3 Foolproof Beauty Lighting Setups [That use my favorite modifier!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ziFLl6LAcB8/mqdefault.jpg)
Lindsay!!! BIG THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!! Thank you for all you do
As a general rule of thumb I usually use the white on the females and the silver on the men. Especially for men they want the harsh contrasty Black and Whites. And I definitely like the white on women because of the softness and the tendency to cover up small blemishes
Thanks for the sample classes. Great work!!
I picked up a silver Elinchrom 70cm Silver Beauty Dish! Your video was definitely one that influenced my decision... really love the look, and since getting it I have been really happy with it :)
Some of the most coherent videos I've seen so far on youtube. Concise, inspiring, clear content and no waffle.
Aw thank you for the nice words!
Thank you for clearing my confusion, Lindasy. The only thing lacking is a side-by-side of the silver beauty dish without and WITH a diffuser sock. :-)
Thank you for this excellent video/tutorial. I have a silver beauty dish & now understand a lot better how to manage it after watching this. I will also be using the sock a lot more often, especially when I see really strong highlights on my subjects.
Really good video I’ve watched 100’s trying to figure the simplest of questions out. Good job and thanks!
Thank you for including that diagram Lindsay.
"those that can do, those that can't teach" -- you break this idiom because you can do both so well.
Your photography is stunning, and you are a natural teacher and presenter. We are so lucky!!
This video helps me a lot like your previous videos.
Thank you very much, Lindsay Adler.
Love working these amazing videos with you. Great Job!!!
I use a collapsable silver beauty dish. It is my go to light modifier for outdoors, like you said, because of the additional output from the silver interior. If I need a softer look, I just add diffusion. In the case of the collapsable, it actually has the option for 2 layers of diffusion, so I can soften the look even more. I find it so versatile and such a wonderful modifier for when I want punchy light.
AJ Johnson which collapsable one do you have?
robin peer I have a 34” and 42” Glow brand silver collapsible beauty dishes from Adorama
@Bradley C Price Hi there and many thanks for that tip, this beauty dish looks very professional, not easy to get in europe but i will try...
Excellent video, explaining the concept and showing the differences very clearly!
I am about to buy one and needed to know how much they differ.
Great video Lindsay, thank you.
Very informative! This is what im looking for! great explanation! and u showed how u setup ur lights, thank u!
I miss my beauty dish. Youre right, its definitely a go to modifier
Probably the best explanation I’ve heard online thus far. Thanks for the info.
Wow, thanks! :)
Hi Lindsay, Thanks for the great comparison! I learnt a lot, God bless you!
I use a white interior 45" beauty dish, modeled after the Mola for portrait work and I love it.
For the longest time a silver beautydish was my go to for most portrait shoots :)
Looking to buy one now and this video answered my question perfectly!
Thanks for this Lindsay. I prefer a Elinchrom 44cm white beauty dish in the studio. On location I take a Elinchrom Portalite 56cm Octa which is originally silver lined, to which I'm added a custom-made white liner, giving me the best of both looks in compact pouch when collapsed.
great vid as usual, I only have a silver beauty dish at the moment and like the look of it, but plan on getting a white dish as well.
Good info as usual. I've been enjoying your tuts. Makes me want to explore portraits even though that's not my niche. 😃
Great stuff. I've got a beauty dish with a grid... great for carving light!
Great video. I used to have both. I liked the silver with a sock the best. However, just like you said, everyones skin couldn't handle the silver so the white got used more often.
Thank you, I use silver but I also want the smooth transition so will get me a white as well
YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST 🙏🏻thank you thank you
Hi Lindsay, My beauty dish is Mola Settie 28 inch white. Depending on circumstances and intent I will sometimes use the white diffusion. Other times when wanting to increase contrast will add several strips of silver tape to the inside of the dish. Use Broncolor lamp heads that have some amount of in and out adjustment with the bulb but that seems to have a minor effect. Have at times placed a large diffusion panel in front of the beauty dish which gives me the control of where the hot spot on the diffusion panel will be....more control that if using a soft box which entire surface is lit evenly. What I have not yet used is a grid but I am thinking to soon get one.
I have both Profoto beauty dishes and I never realized the light fall off difference between them until this video. So cool
Yea I thought that was super interesting too!
I’ve a 76cm silver beauty dish which I tend to use with a sock and grid on over the sock to get a more directional light.
Thank you very much Madame for the video... it is very helpful...
i just love her work so much
Thank you so much!
I use only white beauty dish, it is nice too know about all the differencies.
I have used two to four strobes mostly when I did Fashion Jewelry photos when sharing a model at an event. The last time I used a beauty dish is when you were teaching at an event a while back.
Great comparison! You don't see these compared that often. I use the white BD, but now after some experience using the white, I may have to check out the silver now as well! thanks!
Nice video. Beauty dishes to me are a bit like your favorite meal, just can not have once. I have several beauty dishes. I find that I use silver to white almost equally, however it really depends on my business focus. I recommend to my clients to only use powder base foundation/makeup. I have encountered some unflattering hotspots with oil based makeup. The other thing that comes in handy is a boom arm. Beauty dishes are typically position above the head. Depending on you setup, a slide arm extension can work as well. Thank you for the video - great content.
I use always the silver beauty disc often with a sock or grid.
Many thanks, Lindsay, for this video.
GOD bless you.
Thank you for the kind words. Glad that you enjoyed it!
Mola Setti...amazing
Great video. Thank you.
Thanks Lindsay 😀
thank you for the lesson!
Thanks for watching!
I had an old POS one that I would paint white or silver, depending up what look I was going for. Not something I could do while on location, however. Kinda partial to the silver look, personally.
I love my profoto white beauty dish - I've used it with the Westcott eyelighter - great results!
I noticed you're using a profoto light with a glass cover - is this a significant improvement?
I often used white beauty dish with grid 😀
Great Information !!
I bought a 27" white PCB beauty dish. I can't wait to use it, though I do want to get a sock for it
thank for explaining :-)
This video came just at the PERFECT time, im probably buying a beauty dish in a week and i didnt know *visually* how the white was different from the silver.
Thank you for the video!!!
Glad it helped :-)
Which one did you go with? How do you like it? I’m deciding between the two now!
This is the best video on lighting I've ever seen. So enjoyable to watch and so much understanding conveyed. You're amazing! Thank you. Subscribed :-)
To answer your question: I don't have a beauty dish yet but I want to get a white one.
In your comparison images; using the white dish I noticed the way the light rendered detail, my eyes were drawn to the subjects eyes.
And using the silver dish the detail rendered the whole face with detail, so I didn't look at the subjects eyes as much and found myself tracing her cheek bones and lips on repeat.
So my take from this is that silver details the whole face which would be good for promoting make up or sensual/tactile imagery that's bodily focused.
And white shapes the face's form nicely but doesn't render distracting detail, leaving the viewer to connect with the eyes of the subject more, which is more personable and a communication of spirit/personality/feelings for me.
Well that's a first impression take anyway!
So glad that you enjoyed it! :)
Love your videos
You are amazing Lindsay. I simply love all your CZcams videos.
Thank you so much!
@@lindsayadlerphoto
Can you do one white interior and one silver?
Secondly is it better to have the file diffuser bigger than the key diffuser?
Silver for me. Thanks
Thanks for the explanation. I've always wanted to know the difference, searched online and in books but only got the answer here and today.
Being a newbie to using light modifiers (stripboxes, octaboxes and beauty dishes) and not knowing what was more suitable to the kind of images I wanted to get, I got a silver beauty dish which produced brighter and harsh portraits that I disliked but I had no clue as to why. I'll dial it down 1 STOP from now on and put a sock over it.
I think you may already know this, but your wording confused me a bit... if you add the sock, there's no need to reduce the flash power. You may find that moving the dish a little closer helps, too, since this will soften the transitions even more.
@@sjv thanks for pointing it out, I meant OR instead of and.
Lindsay, your hair is gorgeous.
Also,
we noticed you have a Lav on. Which Lav microphone are you using? The audio captured here sounds absolutely fantastic, we need one of those.
Not really sure! My video guy handles all that.
thanks for the info. but I really wnated to know how aim the light with it.. put the blind spot in the middle.. or use it as specular light
I think this is mostly a style choice, but it also depends on where you place the dish to begin with. For direct overhead, I prefer raking the light across the face so the spot just misses the front of the nose, leaving some of the light for a kick to a reflector below the model's face. In this setup, the dish is typically closer to the model than if you're setting up at 45 to the subject. For that setup, I like to move the dish further away to fill in the spot, so the dish is centered right in the middle of the subject's face.
Do you have a preference for placement?
2:36 Masterful product placement! I gotta get that thing sometime this year!
Only if you are shooting film. If you are shooting digital it's better to go off of the histogram.
@@chadwickerman I disagree. I know chimping is a popular thing these days, but I prefer the accuracy and speed that comes with a meter when setting my lighting ratios.
Hello Mme,
Very interresting video, thank you.
When I look at time 4:09, the gorgeous highlights done by the modeling light and then the result at 4:12, very beautiful,
I'm wondering how far (approx) the beauty dish was from the model ?
In the description of the gear used, it seems it was a 20.5" beauty dish.
So In your experience, how far can this size be placed to still have decent size highlights (to your taste) ?
I'm new with this wondefull modifier. It's the first light modifier that makes me like highligths.
Like really falling in love with them and understand how important they are (on portraits).
Thanks a lot and keep on with the nice videos
😀😀
which is the best for taking senior portraits
I was thinking the white would be more versatile and a honeycomb can always be added to increase contrast. Would you agree? And along those lines, would you be more inclined to use a 20 degree or a 40 degree honeycomb on a beauty dish.
I generally prefer white for the reasons you gave. I even like for umbrellas and soft boxes.
Yes, the right tool for the job depending on the job>:D
@@lindsayadlerphoto Hey Lindsay. I have a lighting question. Shoe Fashion. I just got my first assignment of this type. How would you light shoes? This is to be casual looking with a model and only approximately ankle high.
Hi Lindsay, Thanks for the explanation between the white and silver beauty dishes. I always love your videos! One question, have you used the collapsible beauty dishes and if so how do they compare to the metal ones? I have the Profoto OCF Beauty Dish (White, 24") that I use with my B1 and I have been thinking about getting a metal one. But, if there really is not much difference I would rather not spend the money for one (or spend it on something else...LOL) could you comment on this or better yet do a comparison video between the two. Thanks for what you do! ~ Jim
I mean, I definitely prefer the hard one because I still think the shadows have more pop/contrast. But of course it is not portable at ALL. So its a trade off for sure.
I generally prefer a white beauty dish for the softness and of the light that it produces. Though I can see with the right subject, a silver dish also has it's place,
Whenever I shoot something shiny that I want shinier :D
Thanks Lindsay. Can you perceive any difference between a beauty dish with a sock and an octa of the same size? It seems like diffusing the dish would remove any difference since the front panel of diffusion is determining the light quality.
The beauty dish outputs more power and is more sepcular even with the sock.
Thanks for showing the differences! I'm using a silver beauty dish not for any particular reason. It's producing more focussed light. But I also love the softness of the white one. I only wonder if size (45 vs 70) of the dish will make a big difference? What's your advice on this?
Absolutely! A larger dish will absolutely create softer light!
I use a silver beauty dish to double the power when my AD200 could not get enough power if the sun is behind my subject and I need a darker sky.
And the white diffuser indoors when I wanna have a little softer light.
Try using ND-Filters
@@Dave0000000815 That won't increase the power of the key light. It will reduce the amount of light that reaches the sensor/film.
@@Charlie-tl4dv It helps to get you out of HSS and therefore your flashes have more power. In HSS they do not use their full power. The fire multiple times during one exposure.
@@Dave0000000815 That is pretty interesting. I will have to give this a go. Thanks!
I literally learned everything about beauty photography from lindsay it only took a month to learn everything I cant believe I actually took the images I took
You can find her courses on creative live
So glad I could help! :D
Hi Allison. Thank you and subscribed. I’d like to incorporate off camera flash into my outdoor animal photography. For example a closeup of a dog within a scenic landscape under strong sun. Would you recommend the white or silver beauty dish for this application?
Who's Allison?
Amazing video! How does silver+diffuser compare to white alone?
I'll have to test it!
Super ,Very Nice ,Congratulations,***
நன்றாக இருக்கிறது👌👌👌❤️❤️❤️வாழ்த்துக்கள் .........
What is your feedback regarding the new folding beauty dishes that folds like octaboxes? Have you tried it?
Great video
Using a beauty dish with a grid and adding on top of it a diffuser, will cancel the grid effect or minimize it?
No it doesn't cancel it because the light is still being channels it through the grid, it just diffuses it, aka makes it softer.
@@lindsayadlerphoto
But diffusion is achieved because light hits in different angles or is it not?
Thank you for this video Lindsay!
I have a question that i've been wondering for awhile...Just wanted to ask-- if i have a silver beauty dish and have a diffusion white sock over it-- will it essentially have the same look as a white beauty dish? (minus the loss of power from diffusion)
So, there are a couple of variables. If your diffusion sock is thick, then it will be pretty similar!
@@lindsayadlerphotoawesome thank you!
I usually use a white beauty dish for portraits but have recently begun to add a ring flash (at reduced power) just to get that unique catch light in the eyes and it can fill in the shadows so you don't need a reflector - I rather like the results. Have you ever tried this?
sure have! Actually Chris Knight (my bf) uses this a lot. I just fine ring flashes a bit more difficult to work with since I am quite mobile. But the results are great! Instead I usually use an umbrella or beauty dish as fill.
i love to create contrast... prefer silver beauty dish and umbralla...
silver is the best!
I was shooting with a silver beauty dish for about 4 years however, my coils broke and I could not find replacement parts. I just purchased a white beauty dish but do not like it as much. Maybe I haven't found my "sweet spot" yet? I am hoping once I use it more that I will develop a love for it. Sigh...we shall see!
I switched from silver to white when I changed to Profoto gear a few years back, and I missed the silver terribly. I just ordered my silver one for my profoto lights!! I just love the harder light. So much more interesting to me, personally.
@@laurapartain2147 I agree!
Which one is better white or silver
Hey Lindsay, great tutorial here, We met at PDN @ Javitz a few years ago. Are you going to be there this year ? Or better are they having it this year ? and also your brows are legendary ! a la Liz T.
There aren't any events this year unfortunately, everything has been canceled for in person and moved online for the most part.
Thanks for the tips! One recommendation.... You should have both cameras close to each other and always look at the camera that is doing do close ups. Otherwise, it is too obvious that you are not talking to the camera/audience. :) Or if you prefer to separate them... look always to the camera that does the close ups. Thanks again!
Thanks for the tips!
@@lindsayadlerphoto No probs! I forgot to say too... to make the frame sizes having more difference (medium shot and close up)... if you prefer to don't have them together, have them at least 60 degrees difference. Otherwise, it would feel like a jump cut. :)
very nice video
Lindsay,
How are you lighting the filming of this video? Are you using a beauty dish as your main light? Or is the a 3 ft softbox? We're assuming theirs another gentle hair light camera left and one directly behind you to light the background. Are we going in the right direction with those guess?
Can't really recall it was a while ago. My video guy handles it.
Lindsay Adler Photography got you. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Will pick your brain at WPPI ❤️
White for most things but tend to use the silver when using gels.
oh yes that too!
White has been my go to dish but what about shadow control with a beauty dish, white dish with white reflector and silver dish with silver reflector?
All combos work it just depends on the look you are going for.
Great video. What is the difference between 16 inch and 28 inch beauty dish?
bigger is softer and more coverage of light
Hi, Lindsay. Using the white beauty dish you can earn the specular and constrat on postproduction. Is that possible?
It's a little harder because the specularity is mainly higher with the silver beauty dish. It depends on how it was lit, if you can increase the contrast, whites etc and 'fake it'. If that's what you mean.
🔥🔥🔥
Hi Lindsay; is 50cm your preferred size for a white beauty dish to use for portraits? do you also have/use 40cm and 70cm?
Yes that is my preferred size. I don't generally go much larger or smaller than that. If I need a tighter more focused light I use grids or zoom reflector/barebulb
I have a white beauty dish, but have a can of spray paint and ready to make it silver.... Still deciding.
I am actually buying a beautydish this friday! I am in doubt though of white or silver..
Wait for next Friday. It might be on sale lol
@@scothu Thanks! I do life in the Netherlands and Black friday is here way less then in America. I am going to ask, I def need the beauty dish tomorrow, but the rest could wait
@@MultiRinse only one time a year here :) but they do stretch out sales for a week usually
@@scothu I did end up buying both the Beautydish softlite white in 44cm and a 50 by 130cm stripsoftbox! If you want to see my work check it out on instagram.com/rinse_bommerson :)
Where do you buy the metal stands for the lights
Any camera store sells light stands. I use Manfrotto.
So in this session you're using a continuous light in the beauty dish and strobes at the same time?
That's called a modeling light.
Great video, I want to buy a beauty dish, what size would you recommend me, thank you 😁
Depends. I typically use a 20.5''.
@@lindsayadlerphoto Thank you so much.
Ahem. I "carry" a 70cm white hard, 85cm white collapsible, 45 silver collapsible, 31 silver hard, 31 sunfire hard, and 65 and 85 "Multiboxes" (Collapsible softboxes with optional beautydish deflectors). Which one I use depends entirely on the usage. Am I shooting a full body shot or just the face and shoulders? What kind of skin? If I'm going for the 31cm, does the subject have warm or cold undertones in their skin? (The silver being very flattering on a cold "Nordic" kind of skin, while the sunfire one being as magical as golden-hour light on a warm undertone skin). Can I quantify my choices to make a simple rulebook for what to use? Not really. 99% of my modifier choices are based on intuitive leaps when I see the subject/subjects, room, "atmosphere", activities, whatnot. I just "know". And please don't ask me how. ;)
I’ve recently started to use a beauty dish for portraits. Lindsay, what would be the best strategy in terms of distance from beauty dish to subject? Is there an optimum distance for best results?
The closer you get, the better. I you go far away, the beauty dish will act more as a softbox.
Here's a representative sample from Lindsay Adler's invaluable "Creative Studio Lighting Guide" (pg 48)
LIGHT 1 (Beauty Dish)
Distance from subject: 22 inches
Distance off center: 7 inches (to the right)
Height above eye level: 13 inches
Power (Fstops): F/8
The closer the beauty dish the softer the light. :D
How size of the beauty dish impacts the effect? Is it better to have a bigger one like more than 40 cm?
A smaller one is going to be more focused like any modifier that is smaller. There might be more light fall off with a smaller one.
I have a silver beauty dish I was given as a gift. I’ve tried it a couple of times but I’m not sure I like the quality of the light from it. I have considered using high temperature enamel spray paint to make the inside white instead. Has anyone ever done this? I’m nervous to do it Incase I ruin an expensive piece of kit but at the moment it sits in its box under the bed in the spare room unused.
Try just using a sock over it. That will help immensely (sock means diffusion material)
Hi Kathy, I did just that and spay painted my silver one with mat white. The paint is very even and gives a good light. I don’t think enamel paint is the answer unless it’s mat.
Hells No Kathy! Since it was given as a gift either
1. Use a white sock to soften it like Lindsay says
2. Sell it and buy the White version of the Beauty Dish you have
Kathy, also be sure the beauty dish is close to your subject. In general you want it as close as possible, especially with real people (non-models). The beauty dish should be just outside the frame of your camera. The farther any light gets from the subject, the harsher it becomes.
Nice, informative piece. I only wish you'd amplified your comments a bit more about positioning the beauty dish to optimize the hot spot.
I go into that more in my master studio lighting course: lindsayadler.photo/msl