Hello!

I was wondering how to get a "soft window lighting" effect in studio? I'm going to guess you need at least a large softbox but is there anything else to it?

Example: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/319122323569131248/

Thanks in advance!

IF there is a white wall or you have 4x8 feet sheets of poly you can point a normal reflector at the surface which then becomes the light source.

That appears to me to be a two-light setup.  There's a highlight on the rim of the hat (left side of the image) and a main light that softly lights the other side of the hat.

The main light looks to me to be a softbox -- see the soft shadows & gradients on that side of the hat and the highlight on the leather band in the hat.  I think that's a medium-large soft box, positioned just slightly higher that the rim of the hat, possibly pointing down -- I'd guess that the softbox is fairly close to the model, just out of the image frame.

The fill light is not a softbox -- probably just a reflector.  It's probably higher, pointing down, and probably positioned a bit behind the model.

My guess.

A large softbox is probably closest to window light but you can get similar light with any number of techniques. Among others --

- Aim a light through a large sheet of diffusion material. If you don't have access to professional materials a cheap plastic shower curtain works very well and is a pretty good size - roughly 6x6 feet

- Bounce a light off a large reflector. This can save you in a small room where you don't have space for a softbox or even a standard diffusion setup. You can bounce off a white wall or put a reflector against the wall. Generally put the light high up and aimed somewhat down so the angle coming off the wall is toward your subject.

Finish off with a reflector fill on the opposite side if desired.

Light to subject distance makes a big difference. The closer the light (or the larger the diffusion material) the softer the modeling. There is no real rule, but a starting point might be to have the distance from diffuser to subject (diffusion sheet, softbox front or reflector) about half the measure across the diffuser, and usually not more than 1:1. i.e. - for a 6-foot softbox try having the front of the box 3 to 6 feet from the model.