HOW TO USE A SOFTBOX

Uses for the soft box fall predominantly into two categories: Key Light, as the principle light source, and Fill Light, as a secondary light to reduce contrast. Although any style of light source can be used for key or fill applications, the use of a harsh light for fill renders a poor result. Soft boxes, on the other hand, are perfect for fill light because they don’t cast harsh shadows.
A soft box is a term that describes an enclosure that surrounds a light source on all sides and diffuses the light that escapes from it. Early soft boxes were large plywood boxes with an open front and tracks along the top and bottom where various diffusion flats could be slid into place. Today, soft boxes are built of lightweight materials, come in all sizes, and are very portable.
The various sizes of soft boxes, and the various distances at which they can be effective, adds up to a lot of possible combinations and choices. Any time different sizes of soft boxes affect the same subject. Note that the soft box is very close to the subject in all the shots. This helps us to see the differences in performance between the various sizes.
Most commonly, there are square, rectangular and octagonal soft boxes (close to circular). Although quite subtle, each shape has its own characteristics. In the close-up of this same bride.
Excellent results are also achieved with smaller octagon-shaped soft boxes, which is a favorite for portrait, event and editorial photographers because it delivers a similar effect when used close to the subject, and a more defined effect when used further away. In both cases, the light is soft and produces attractive results, which are superior to open flash for most subjects.
Anytime soft lighting will produce a better image than hard lighting. The examples are too numerous to mention, but they include portraiture, wedding formals, product photography, editorial shooting, and just about any other situation with human subjects.
This is the best way to use a softbox.