How to Hook Up Soft Light Boxes for Home Photos

A bare lightbulb will throw light all over the place. Your soft box will direct it where you want it.

The fantastic quality of light from a soft box is well worth the extra effort of setting them up. Unlike an umbrella or a plain light, a soft box not only creates a soft quality of light but can be directed exactly where you want it.

Photography is all about the light. You must either learn how to use the light available to you or create the exact light you need to create the perfect exposure. This is what a soft light box can do for you.

Things You'll Need

• Speed ring
• Rods (4)
• Soft box body
• Inner baffle
• Outer baffle

Instructions

1. Fold out the sleeves in the speed ring that the rods go into, to a ninety-degree angle. Place the speed ring on the floor with the sleeves facing up.

2. Place the rods into the sleeves with the cushioned ends pointing up. Open up the soft light box body and place the hole over the rods with the reflected side on the inside facing the rods.

3. Place the cushioned end of a rod into the pocket in one corner of the soft light box body. Next place the opposite rod into the opposite corner of the soft box body. Place either of the other two rods into its corner. Grab the fourth rod firmly and, bending it slightly, push it into the fourth pocket.

4. Release the rod gently. Grasp two opposite rods and gently push them down until the sleeves are parallel to the ground. Push down slightly and the sleeves should pop into place securely. Next do the same thing with the other two. It may take slightly more force to get these flat and locked.

5. Take the small inner baffle and attach it, using the Velcro inside the box. Place the outer baffle over the outside edges of the soft box body, and secure it with the Velcro tabs. The soft light box is now completely assembled and ready to attach to your studio lights.

Tips & Warnings

• Rather than lift the assembled soft light box and place it on your light, place it face down on the floor with the speed ring facing up. Place your light into the speed ring and twist. Now you can pick the whole assembled unit up and easily place it on the light stand.

• Be careful when disassembling the soft light box. Slowly pull the first corner off the rod to avoid injuring or tearing the soft box body.

References

• Owen's Originals: Assembling a Soft Light Box