Profoto

Profoto is a Swedish photographic-equipment company and brand known primarily for professional flash systems and tools for controlling photographic light. The company was established in Stockholm in 1968 by Conny Dufgran, a photography-equipment retailer, and Eckhard Heine, a photographer and engineer. Its origins combined commercial knowledge of the photographic-equipment market with technical expertise in image-making and lighting, creating a business focused on the needs of professional photographers rather than on general consumer cameras or lenses. The brand’s principal area is studio and location lighting. Its portfolio includes flash generators, battery-powered flash units, camera-mounted or camera-linked remote-control equipment, and accessories that modify the shape, direction, softness, and spread of light. These accessories include speed rings, softboxes, grids or rasters, and related light-shaping tools. Together, the products form an integrated lighting system in which photographers can combine a light source with modifiers and wireless control equipment according to the requirements of a studio, editorial, commercial, portrait, or on-location assignment. Portability has been an important part of Profoto’s product proposition. Battery-powered systems allow photographers to work away from fixed studio power, while retaining the control and output associated with professional flash equipment. The B1 and B2 AirTTL flash units have been associated with this emphasis on mobility and robustness. Profoto has also developed remote-control products that connect to a camera’s flash socket and support functions such as synchronization and automatic through-the-lens exposure measurement. These capabilities are intended to simplify the coordination of camera and flash in demanding working environments. The company’s product development has included systems designed for different production scales, from portable battery-powered lighting to studio flash systems. At Photokina 2016 in Germany, Profoto introduced the AirTTL D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes, together with the Air Remote TTL-S, a remote-control product made in collaboration with Sony. These launches demonstrated the brand’s focus on combining high-performance flash equipment with wireless control and camera-system integration. Profoto has been used by prominent professional photographers, including Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, and David LaChapelle, according to the company’s encyclopedia coverage. Such use places the brand within the professional fashion, portrait, advertising, and editorial-photography ecosystem, although the available reference material does not establish formal endorsements or exclusive relationships with those photographers. Overall, Profoto is positioned as a specialist lighting brand whose value rests on dependable flash performance, portability, system compatibility, and a broad selection of light-shaping accessories.

Profoto was founded in Stockholm in 1968 by Conny Dufgran and Eckhard Heine. Dufgran brought experience as a photography-equipment retailer, while Heine worked as a photographer and engineer. Their combined backgrounds shaped a company devoted to the development of lighting equipment for professional image production. From its early identity as a specialist photographic-equipment maker, Profoto developed a portfolio centered on flash technology and the control of artificial light. The company’s products have primarily served studio photography, while also addressing the needs of photographers working on location. Its range has included flash generators, battery-powered systems, camera-linked remote controls, and accessories for modifying light. The system approach allows users to select a light source and then tailor its quality and direction with softboxes, speed rings, grids, rasters, and related modifiers. Portability became a notable area of emphasis through battery-powered flash equipment. Products such as the B1 and B2 AirTTL systems were associated with the ability to work away from mains power while maintaining a professional lighting workflow. Profoto also developed remote-control units designed to connect with a digital camera’s flash socket and use camera features such as synchronization and automatic through-the-lens metering. This connected approach reduced the need for separate manual coordination between the camera and flash in supported configurations. The company continued extending its studio and wireless-lighting portfolio into the digital-camera era. At Photokina 2016, Profoto launched the AirTTL D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes and the Air Remote TTL-S. The latter was developed in collaboration with Sony and reflected the broader industry movement toward integrated camera and lighting communication. These products represented the brand’s continuing emphasis on high-performance flash, wireless control, and compatibility with contemporary photographic workflows. Profoto equipment has been used during the careers of notable photographers including Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, and David LaChapelle. The available reference material does not specify the precise dates, products, or commercial arrangements associated with those uses, so they are best understood as examples of the brand’s visibility among prominent professional practitioners rather than as documented formal endorsements. The supplied historical material also does not provide detailed information about later ownership, corporate structure, financial performance, executive leadership, or geographic sales operations. Profoto’s documented identity remains that of an active Swedish specialist in professional photographic flashes and light-shaping tools.

• 2016

  AirTTL and wireless-control products are launched at Photokina

  [1]Profotoen.wikipedia.org

  Profoto introduces the D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes and the Air Remote TTL-S at Photokina in Germany.

• 1968

  Profoto is founded in Stockholm

  [1]Profotoen.wikipedia.org

  Conny Dufgran and Eckhard Heine establish Profoto in Stockholm, Sweden, combining retail, photographic, and engineering experience.

A specialist professional-lighting brand focused on reliable flash systems, portable battery-powered equipment, wireless camera integration, and modular light shaping for studio and location photography.

• Battery-powered flash system

  B1 AirTTL

  The B1 AirTTL is a battery-powered professional flash unit associated with Profoto’s portable-lighting strategy. It is designed for photographers who need to work away from a fixed studio while retaining a dedicated flash system and wireless workflow. The product is noted in the reference material for robustness and portability.

• Battery-powered flash system

  B2 AirTTL

  The B2 AirTTL is a portable, battery-powered flash system intended for location photography and other situations where mobility is important. It forms part of Profoto’s AirTTL family and reflects the brand’s focus on combining portable power with camera-linked flash control. The available source identifies the system as robust and portable but does not provide detailed specifications.

• Studio flash · 2016

  D2 AirTTL

  The D2 AirTTL is a studio flash introduced by Profoto at Photokina 2016. It belongs to the company’s electronically controlled studio-lighting range and is presented alongside Profoto’s wireless AirTTL ecosystem. The supplied source does not specify its output ratings, generation history, or subsequent product status.

• Studio flash · 2016

  Pro-10

  The Pro-10 is a Profoto studio flash launched at Photokina 2016. Its introduction formed part of the company’s expansion of professional studio-flash offerings and was presented with other AirTTL-related equipment. The available reference does not provide enough information to describe its technical specifications or current availability.

• Wireless flash remote · 2016

  Air Remote TTL-S

  The Air Remote TTL-S is a camera-linked remote-control unit introduced by Profoto at Photokina 2016. It was made in collaboration with Sony and is intended to support communication between compatible Sony cameras and Profoto lighting equipment. The source associates the product with flash synchronization and automatic through-the-lens measurement workflows but does not document later revisions.

• Photographic accessories

  Light-shaping accessories

  Profoto’s accessory range includes speed rings, softboxes, grids or rasters, and other tools used to shape a flash’s light cone. These products extend the usefulness of the company’s flash systems by changing the softness, direction, spread, and control of illumination for studio and location work.

• 2016

  Expansion of the AirTTL studio and wireless ecosystemProduct launch

  Background

  Profoto was developing professional flash products for both studio and camera-integrated workflows, including wireless control and TTL functionality.

  Action taken

  At Photokina, the company launched the D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes and the Air Remote TTL-S, developed in collaboration with Sony.

  Aftermath

  The launches broadened Profoto’s documented studio-flash and camera-integration portfolio. The available source does not provide sales results or later market outcomes.

  Source

• 2016

  Profoto launches D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes and Air Remote TTL-S at Photokina[1]Profotoen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Profoto introduced the AirTTL D2 and Pro-10 studio flashes, as well as the Air Remote TTL-S developed in collaboration with Sony, at Photokina in Germany.

1. 1Profotoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2保富图发布 Profoto Pro-11 旗舰闪光灯：手机也能用，售价 126800 元itbear.com.cn
3. 3Profoto进军手机摄影领域 发布B10系列两款手机用灯具tech.sina.com.cn