If you’re interested in improving the quality of your photos, don’t run out and buy a better camera. Not just yet, anyway. Too many people assume that the difference between a photo that is not so hot and a professional quality photo is due to the equipment that is used. The fact of the matter is that a camera is just a box that holds the film and lens in proper relation to each other. That’s an oversimplification of course, and it applies only to film cameras. However, much the same is true for digital cameras in that making better pictures often has more to do with everything other than the camera.The difference between the photos the pros create and those shot by amateurs is vast, but the amateur usually does not realize what those differences are. For starters, creating great photos is largely in the preparation. After all, it only takes 1/100th of a second or so to expose a photo. It’s all the things that lead up to that moment which are important. So, what are these things that have nothing to do with the camera that will help you improve your photos? The setting, costumes, make-up and hair styling, posing, and lighting. If you get these things right you can make magazine quality photos using very inexpensive camera gear. I’m fond of saying that a pro photographer will make better pictures with a $5 disposable camera than an amateur will make using a $5,000 Nikon, and it’s true.

This article will focus on just one of the things I mentioned above: lighting. One of the tell-tale signs of an amateur-looking photo is something we call “hard” light. Hard light is also used by professional photographers but in a controlled manner. Amateurs need to first learn the difference between hard and soft light in order to make proper use of it.

Simply stated, hard light casts strong, harsh shadows. Soft light does not. Soft light is advantageous when working with models because it is more flattering. It is less likely to reveal flaws in the model’s skin. It is also easier to work with because it requires less to adjust and control it.

Hard light is created when the light source is small, relatively speaking, to the subject. You can easily do an experiment for yourself to see the difference between hard and soft light. In a darkened room turn on a single bare bulb in a lamp. Make sure there is no lamp shade or fixture covering the bulb. You want just the bare bulb. Walk around the room and notice the strong shadows cast by objects in the room and the harsh quality of the light. Now, have somebody hold a piece of thin white fabric in front of the bulb so that the light has to pass through it before illuminating the objects you just examined. A handkerchief might work or even a rag. Notice that the shadows are much less harsh.

You see, when you filter the light from the bulb, the effective size of the light is now the size of the fabric instead of the bulb itself. You have made the size of the light larger, relative to the subject. Light is coming at the subject from more angles filling in shadows, making it softer.

Another example is that of a sunny day versus a cloudy day. When there are no clouds and the sun shines directly, and everything it hits casts a strong shadow. Whether it’s a car, a tree, or a model. Now imagine that the clouds roll in and cover the sky. Those shadows all but disappear. Even though the sun is huge, it is a relatively small light source because it is so far away. When the clouds roll in the light from the sun is filtered and the whole sky becomes the light source. The light is coming from the whole sky rather than one small spot in the sky (the sun). This is hard light versus soft light.

On-camera flash so often used by amateurs produces hard light. It is not flattering to models most of the time. Skillfully used hard light can be great in some circumstances, but most amateur photos of nude models would take a giant leap forward toward the professional end of the spectrum by controlling the light and making it softer.

Professional photographers use softboxes to create soft light in the studio. A softbox is a large empty box made of fabric. Except for the front surface, which is a translucent white material, all the other surfaces are usually black on the outside and reflective white or silver inside. The flash is placed inside the softbox. This is similar to the experiment above where you hung a cloth in front of a light bulb.

Softboxes can be costly but some are quite affordable even for the amateur. Many photographers have made their own from materials such as plywood and bed sheets. The hard part of making this concept work is often the light source. Softboxes are commonly made to fit professional light heads. Some, however, may be made or adapted to accept on-camera flash units. The bigger problem is having enough light power left after the material of the softbox absorbs some of the light. It is possible to put multiple flash units into one softbox, or to use several softboxes and flashes. Professional flash packs and flash heads can get pricey very quickly, but you may wish to visit a photo supply shop that caters to professionals just to see the kind of gear they use.

A more economical alternative to the softbox is the photographic umbrella. These are specially made to reflect light. They can be pretty inexpensive, even with a light stand to hold it. For a couple or three hundred dollars a photographer can set up two or three umbrellas and flash units capable of producing very professional-looking results. The light quality of an umbrella is usually harder than that of a softbox of the same size, but umbrellas still represent a big step toward the pro side of photography.

Jury-rigging softboxes and lights is beyond the scope of this article, as is an in depth discussion of lighting techniques. My intent is really to alert you to the concept of hard vs. soft light and acquaint you with ideas you may wish to explore. There are many books that cover the basics of lighting and they can usually be found at photography stores and libraries. If you want your photos to be better, there’s no way around it, you’ve got to change what you are doing and do something better instead. This requires educating yourself and I hope this article has provided a little motivation toward doing just that.