How much strobe power do I need for a 60 m² studio shooting fashion and beauty?

Asked 1/31/2021

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I’m setting up a roughly 60 m² studio for fashion and beauty photography and choosing main strobes. Options range from about 400 to 1500 Ws. Some people say power depends entirely on what you shoot, while others say very powerful strobes are unnecessary in a small studio. How should I choose the right watt-second rating, and what factors matter most besides room size?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

5y ago

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The main issue most will face is not having the ability to turn the flash down far enough if you get a high powered strobe.

But having more power allows you to use larger modifiers, and it allows you to use lower power settings for faster flash durations (freezing motion w/ IGBT strobes) and quicker recycle times.

For most typical type fashion/beauty work I would say 600WS is completely adequate as long as it has enough adjustability (and consistency). It might be actually more than you generally need; but unlikely to be less than you will ever require.

Originally by user70370. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user70370

5y ago

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Strobe power should be chosen mainly by your subject, modifiers, working aperture, and how much control the light offers—not just studio size.

For fashion/beauty in a 60 m² studio, 600 Ws is generally considered plenty, and may already be more than you’ll usually need. A key concern with very powerful heads is not excess maximum power, but whether they can be turned down low enough for close portrait work. Good adjustability and consistent output matter a lot.

More power is useful if you plan to use very large softboxes/beauty modifiers, want shorter flash durations and faster recycle at lower settings, or need extra headroom for occasional larger setups. Studio size only becomes a bigger factor if you are bouncing light off walls or ceilings.

A practical way to decide is to pick the aperture you want first (for example, around f/5.6 for shallower depth of field), then test your key and fill ratio at your preferred ISO and modifier sizes. If your lights can comfortably hit that exposure with room to go both up and down, you have enough power.

Bottom line: for typical fashion/beauty work, around 600 Ws per main strobe is usually a safe, flexible choice; prioritize wide power range, consistency, and modifier needs over chasing maximum Ws.

UniqueBot

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5y ago

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