From Strobes to LEDs

I’m used to studio strobes, large Norman power packs, Broncolor, Alien Bees, and Elinchrom. I’ve used many, and I’m very comfortable with adjusting them to my needs. The problem with studio strobes is that if you want to modify them, it takes space. The softboxes are broad, deep, and unforgiving. 

Moving into a new house presented some challenges with my studio. 

The vertical space was about a foot lower or more because of the drop ceiling, and the horizontal space was about 2-3 feet shorter. Initially, I was going to get shallow softboxes and mount strobes into the drop ceiling. But the most shallow of softboxes didn’t work. 

I remembered Ryan Fisher from Lasting Image Photography uses LEDs sometimes, so I googled LEDs for studios. During this process, I stumbled upon Joe Edelman, an Olympus Visionary’s series on LED lighting. (Go check it out. It’s packed full of insight and recommendations). Edelman had suggested the Savage Edge Lit Pro, but they were pricey for something I wasn’t sure I needed ($300/per). 

GODOX LEDP260C

In comes Godox with the LEDP260C with an affordable 12”x9”
Panel with some excellent ratings.  ($90/per). You can change the color temperature from 3300K to 5600K, you can change the brightness, AND they’re only about 2” thick.

Now the journey of modifying the light like a strobe, but using these edge-lit ‘soft’ LEDs. So far, so good, I’m going on a trip of exploration, as many of my photos require the backdrop to be completely black. Here’s to the start of this journey, I’ll keep updating with new findings and struggles. My first hurdle is the light spill, I believe my next hurdle is the harsh light coming from them even though they are ‘edge-lit.’ 

First Studio Trials to make sure I can capture what I previously did with strobes: