Alien Bees Beauty Dish or Softbox????

I was already to buy a softbox to accompany my Alien Bees, but I saw some portraits shot with a Beauty Dish and was most impressed.

I'd like some soft, complimentry light for "intimate" (glamour) portraits. What are the pros and cons of the dish and softboxes?

Thanks in advance!

Hank,
I have softboxes ( of various sizes ) and the beauty dish. I think of the BD as a 22" round 'softbox'....when used pretty close in. Back it out farther away, and as you'd expect, it gets harder.

I have the PCB BD (white) and 47" Octabox, Giant Softbox. If your model has great skin, the BD is really nice and can give you lighting not possible with the softboxes. I think the center deflector has something to do with it, but you get really nice intense light without hotspots. On the other hand, a large softbox can make any skin look beautiful and allows you to cover more of the full body without having to get as close with the light. I would say get softbox first, then beauty dish next- well actually might as well buy both cause you know you want them! Throw in a grid for each too!

If you want "soft" light, your going to want a softbox... A beauty dish will give you much harder, more contrasty light.