Softboxes and lighting umbrellas are both popular light modifiers used in studio photography and videography. They both work by diffusing and spreading light from a light source, but differ in their design and the type of light they produce. Softboxes produce soft, directional light, while lighting umbrellas produce broader, less directional light. The choice between a softbox and studio umbrella light for photography depends on the types of photos and video you're shooting, the look you're trying to achieve, and the size of the space you're shooting in.