I share the philosophy of Joe McNally that small lights can easily be combined to create a larger source, making speedlights versatile. For this reason I love speedlights but I know that a day will come when I’m going to have to graduate to studio strobes.

Well! A few weeks ago I got a taste of what it’s like to use a beauty dish with an Alien Bees, courtesy of Chistopher Colyard. Thanks Chris! … It was more complicated than I imagined. The one saving grace was that we were in a studio and not outdoors; where there are many more variables to take into consideration.

Let me just say “I still love speed-lights” and I know that studio strobes are in my future, I just have to use opportunities like these to learn so I won’t be totally ignorant when graduation day comes.

Model: Akilah Blissett
MUA: Elisha Carberry
Partner in Crime: Chistopher Colyard
Retoucher: Gabre Cameron