What is a modifier?

What is a modifier?

As a new photographer, you hear many technical terms that you have no idea what they are... one of them might be the word “modifier”…. and then you often think that you don't want to ask because you don't want to seem stupid and rookie-like....

Here is there NO stupid question – I had to learn it the hard way myself so I hope this post helps you just a little bit.

MODIFY…. the word means in all its simplicity: A thing that modifies the light from the light source you put it on, to become something specific. There are INFINITELY MANY different options and I will highlight just a few here, to give you a basic understanding of what they can be used for. Then you can later delve into the nerdery yourself when the passion for light shows up.

Imagine you have a picture you want to make in the studio – you just don't know what light to make for it – because what's best?…

First thought is: What type of photo is it? Is it a portrait, is it a beauty campaign, or are it children's photos or something completely different?

Portraits/families/children: Here I would recommend a soft light and this can be achieved perfectly with what is called a softbox/octabox. It is a "box" you put in front of the lamps, which has 2 white pieces of fabric inside, which dims the bright light and throws it around inside the "box" and spreads before it hits the person - this means that the light has already been doused a little and doesn't hit with a full smash but comes out soft and delicious. Compare it to direct sunlight vs holding a white sheet up in front of the sun... then the light falls much finer and softer.

Why use soft light? Because it suits everyone! Young or old - and IF there are beginning signs of age such as wrinkles etc., harsh light is a really bad gossip and people often do not think the harsh light is complimentary. The hard light is very bright where it hits, but the shadows are also very marked, which does not suit a face with wrinkles. The soft light lays down... well.. softly and does NOT emphasize wrinkles etc., but falls beautifully.

The hard light: When is it used? and how? If you are going to shoot Beauty campaigns, I CLEARLY use one as a golden rule beautydish. The one I use has a white coating inside (see picture) but can also be obtained with a silver coating (it gives an even harder light than the white one). You can buy an additional white sock or a grid which in turn also softens/controls the light to what you want it to be. 

For beauty, the medium-hard light is super nice because it captures the make-up and eyes absolutely fantastic - a highlight in the make-up is captured SO beautifully on the face and really emphasizes details in the facial features and make-up. However, I will be careful with this light source for older models and consider whether the soft light with softbox could be a better idea.

I myself most often use beautydish in white WITH a sock, as I think it dulls the light just a LITTLE. If I want to control the light COMPLETELY specifically, I put my grid on. Having said that, I can also easily come up with shooting ONLY with a lamp - i.e. not putting anything in front... why? to get the enormously harsh "sunlight" with a strong impact shadow behind - it depends a lot on the task/customer's wishes

To soften the shadows under the neck, etc., you can add a silver reflector to reflect just a little, but you can also easily do without it if you want a little drama in the expression.

Zoom Reflector: (the small chubby one with a silver coating) It casts a powerful light, but more concentrated as its scope is smaller than, for example, a beauty dish. HERE, too, you can put things in front that shape/control the light for what you need. There are grids (they are typically called Honeycomb grids) with different densities of holes which affect how much light penetrates. This then affects how much of the light hits the person you are photographing - it can be used with great success for very dramatic effects a la "film noir" vibe.

I myself use it for noooooget beauty and otherwise to illuminate with colored gels - but that is a completely different story and will come later in a separate blog post

Umbrellas: It is very different how different photographers use various modifiers - I primarily use umbrellas as effect lights for colored gels etc. while others swear by using them for portraits etc. 

When it comes to lighting and choosing modifiers, it's usually not a list of facts and an "either-or" situation - you can achieve many cool things using unexpected methods... perhaps you can call it a "both-and" situation instead.

I hope that with this post I have given you the first grain of understanding about light and that you now know what a modifier is - at least the concept 😉 The rest: PRACTICE - TRIAL - ERROR.... I've been through it too. Believe me – I haven't been through all the types yet and I have, after all, been photographing for almost 10 years. Its the WORLD of possibilities.

See the pictures below and look about YOU can spot where I have shot with soft light (softbox/octabox) and where I have shot with medium-hard (beautydish with sock) There is a trick - do you know what it is?

THANKS to our friends at Scandinavian Photo for borrowing the product images - I have the link to their page, so feel free to click on the products and you will enter a CANDYSTORE of toys 😉

If you are in doubt about what YOU need, Rene and his colleagues are SUPER good at providing advice so that you can find out together what you need: CLICK HERE