[jfrancho]

HDRI allows you capture more DR than the camera can in a single scene by compressing and remapping contrast via bracketed exposures. It doesn't really increase the DR, per se. It's an appropriate tool when lighting is out of the photographer's control. Since lighting is controlled in a studio setting, this tool wouldn't necessarily benefit the the phtoographer. If an area is improperly lit, the photographer adjusts the lighting. If you look above, that is the purpose of the fill light, to make sure that the shadow areas aren't clipped.