FAQ
What Is A Snoot in Photography?
A snoot in photography is a tube-shaped lighting modifier. It fits over a flash or continuous light and narrows the beam of light coming from a flash or continuous light source. Think of it like a tunnel or spotlight attachment—it concentrates the beam into a narrow, focused spot.
Instead of spreading light broadly, it directs illumination to a specific part of the subject—like the eyes in a portrait, a product detail, or a background accent. This gives photographers precise control over where the light falls, helping to create dramatic contrast, deep shadows, and strong highlights. A spotlight snoot is commonly used in portrait, product, and artistic photography to isolate areas of interest and add mood or emphasis. Many spotlight snoots also support grids or gels for even finer control.
What Is A Snoot Used for in Photography?
A spotlight snoot is perfect when you want to highlight a precise detail—like a subject’s eyes, a musician’s hands, or the texture of a product. With its tight beam, a spotlight snoot minimizes light spill and adds dramatic focus, helping you create bold, visually striking images.
How to Use A Snoot in Photography?
1. Keep the flash or light about 2 to 4 feet (60–120 cm) from your subject
2. Use a spotlight snoot length between 6 to 12 inches (15–30 cm)
3. Set your camera aperture between f/5.6 and f/8
4. Angle the snoot slightly off-axis for natural highlights
5. Use grids or honeycomb inserts inside the snoot to tighten the beam
6. Test with and without diffusion
