Quote Originally Posted by mjs1973
Yes, I remember people using a "ring flash" for fashion but I don't think they were quite the same. I think they called them beauty dishes and they were much larger and spread the light much more evenly to avoid shadows on a larger subject. A lot of the ring flashes used in macro photography can be adjusted independently of each side to provide a little more control over shadows.
Two different beasts, both used in the fashion/portrait world.

Ring flash: http://alienbees.com/abr800.html

Beauty Dish: http://alienbees.com/22hobd.html