A beauty dish is a photographic lighting device that uses a parabolic reflector to distribute light towards a focal point. The light created is between that of a direct flash and a softbox, giving the image a wrapped, contrasted look, which adds a more dramatic effect.

There are many uses for a beauty dish, but its basic function is to provide a focused source of light for photographers.

The beauty dish is used in portrait and fashion photography, because it is the best modifier for concentrating light on a subject and creating a better image than other modifiers. Because the beauty dish wraps the light around the subject it gives the image a better contrast and highlights angles that other modifiers wouldn’t be able to highlight, which is why most fashion photographers use them for their models.

The same goes for portrait and sports photography.

This one is appropriate for Profoto or Bowens adapter rings.