I’m trying to learn flash portraiture, and because I’m just starting out, I’m resisting GAS by doing it on a budget, using off-camera speedlights only. The flashes I’m using are a Godox TT685 and 2 vintage Vivitar 283’s triggered with SL-2 optical slaves. The light modifiers are 2 Godox softboxes on 7’ light stands for the key and fill lights and a DIY 14” snoot tube fashioned out of drawing paper, lined with crinkled aluminum foil. A gray bedsheet serves as my studio backdrop. I use a 43” round reflector occasionally. I’m having fun practicing off-camera flash lighting and would love to get criticism, advice, suggestions, any tips and hints on improving my speedlight portrait technique from all those UHH’ers who are so good at studio portraiture in general. I would enjoy learning about particular equipment that you all find very useful for this genre.

Regarding the photo submitted, I think the light on the subject’s face should be a bit softer. The softboxes, equipped with double diffusion layers, were about 4’ away, and the flash power was about ¼ at 28 mm Zoom setting. How does one avoid the highlight sheen on the cheek, forehead, and other facial prominences, ie, get softer lighting? Do I use a wider zoom setting on the keylight flash? Do I feather the keylight more or raise the keylight more?
Thanks much for your input.