Are you looking for the best photography lighting equipment?
It can be hard for a beginner to understand the vast and complex world of lighting equipment for photography. But I’ve tried my best to explain all of that as simply as possible.
This article is all about photography lighting setups. You can choose your favorite from 12 of the best photography lighting kits out there. So, let’s not waste any more time!
Why is Lighting So Important in Photography?
Lighting is one of the most important factors in photography. It determines the mood, tone, and overall vibe of the image. In order to get the best vibrancy, emotion, radiance, and character for the image, you must use different types of lighting techniques.
How to Choose the Best Lighting Setup for Photography?
By manipulating the lighting, you can create any type of photo you want. The best lighting setup depends on the type of photography you want to produce. For example, some experts may prefer strobes, while others like to use flash.
Let’s get to know them one by one.
Strobelight
Strobe lights produce light similar to camera flash but much brighter and more powerful. It can emit lightning bursts with an output of 100 to 1000 watts since an AC adapter powers it. Even so, you have the leverage of not waiting for the flash to catch up with your shooting.
Strobe Power Packs
These packs lessen the weight of the flash heads by running them on a single power source to produce the most versatile lighting.
Speedlights
These ones are known to be lightweight, affordable, and portable. They can be used to disperse light beside softboxes and umbrellas. Speedlights are best for action shots and still images.
Battery Powered
The battery-powered lights are useful in situations where there is no power supply. The batteries could be B1 or B2 made of lithium and can be used wirelessly.
Monolights
Monolights are self-sufficient studio flashes, and you don’t need extra power generators for them. They also have a PC cable that you can connect to your camera. They are ideal for soft looks and can do more with the accessories.
Continuous Light
Continuous lighting is popular in ecommerce product photography, so you can see how the image will be portrayed before snapping. This type of lighting set is cost-friendly, experimental, and beginner-friendly.
External Flash
External flashes require lighting diffusers to minimize red-eye in shots. They are also good for creative angling and rotation.
Top 12 Best Photoshoot Lighting Equipment for Photographers
Let’s look at my list of the best photoshoot lighting equipment for photographers so you can make your pick.
1. Flashpoint 320M 150 Watt AC/DC Monolight Strobe
This beautiful monolight strobe can be powered by both AC and DC and has a built-in slave unit. On top of that, the portability and easy usability make it one of the best food photography lighting setups.
Specifications
Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.4 x 9.2 inches
Weight: 8.05 pounds
Manufacturer: Flashpoint
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● The power is enough for beautiful portraits | ● It may not work in some countries |
| ● A battery pack is included with the purchase | ● The reflector may not be of standard size |
| ● The size, weight, adjustment controls, and other attachments are superb | ● The tube protector is difficult to assemble |
| ● Both lights can be used from full to 1/32 power | |
| ● Well geared for the budget price |
2. Neewer 2.6M x 3M/8.5ft x 10ft Background Support System
This studio lighting setup is sturdy, portable, and provides great value for money. In my opinion, it’s a perfect choice for portrait and video photography!
Specifications
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 91 cm; 13.45 kilograms
Weight: 13 kilograms; 400 grams
Manufacturer: Neewer
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● Easy to setup and use | ● Mind you, the backdrop is see-through |
| ● The background system is adjustable | ● The light bulbs are not so powerful |
| ● It is suitable for beginning photographers | ● Lack of instructions may slow down the setup process |
| ● You get a lot for the money |
3. Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT
There are a lot of important components included in this latest version of Canon speedlight, even some powerful batteries! Expect 100 to 700 flashes, 1.1 to 1.5x fast firing, and incredible wireless flash shooting from this photography lighting setup!
Specifications:
Dimensions: 4.8 x 3.1 x 5.6 inches
Weight: 1.29 pounds
Manufacturer: Canon
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● It’s perfect for hobby use | ● Staying power is that impressive |
| ● Multiple adjust abilities make the device useful | ● It may overheat and shut down upon constant use |
| ● The ETTL is amazing! | ● It also takes too long to charge |
| ● You can use the flash for burst and remote shots |
4. Bolt VB-11 Bare-Bulb Flash
This professional lighting equipment excels in a shoe-mount flash in a compact and portable form. You get a full 360 degree specular light and are compatible with numerous other light modifiers, such as filters, umbrellas, and grids.
Specifications
Dimensions:8.1 x 3.5 x 2.8 inches; 205 x 90 x 70 mm
Weight: 1.5 pounds, 0.68 kg
Manufacturer: Bolt
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● You can adjust the power settings from 1/1 to 1/128 | ● You need to take three light measurements for constant lighting |
| ● Even adding multiple accessories to it is possible! | ● The radio control is vulnerable to damage from the usual handling |
| ● Triggering components include a 3.5mm cable, PC sync cord, hot shoe, and remote control | |
| ● Throw multiple flashes in a row with added versatility and control |
5. Lume Cube 2.0 Professional Lighting Kit
Looking for the best camera lighting equipment for the outdoors? You’re looking at it right now! Excellent manual controls, video conference lighting, wireless shooting, and a bunch of cool lighting accessories for enhanced performance. It can’t get any better than this.
Specifications
Dimensions: 9.49 x 7.6 x 3.23 inches
Weight: 1.63 pounds
Manufacturer: Lume Cube, Inc.
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● Useful accessories, decent brightness, good battery life, and perfect sizing | ● The high price may put you off |
| ● The device is versatile even in wet conditions | ● Flashlights are difficult to position for mushroom macro or bugs |
| ● It can handle continuous use without overheating | |
| ● It’s best for creative colored backlighting |
6. Godox AD200Pro TTL Pocket Flash Kit
Godox is a beautiful portrait lighting setup with multi-flash models, a high capacity lithium battery, and a 2.4G control with a range of 330 feet! With every purchase, you get a charger, carry case, and a PERGEAR diffuser.
Specifications
Dimensions: 10.3 x 9 x 4.2 inches
Weight: 4.29 pounds
Manufacturer: 4.29 pounds
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● Color temperature is spot on | ● The device is not weather sealed |
| ● It gives versatility with modifiers | ● There is no comprehensive instruction manual |
| ● It is lightweight, affordable, and durable | ● You may have recycling issues after 200 shots |
| ● You will love the group mode selectivity, channel triggering, and HSS |
7. Elinchrom D-Lite RX 4/4 Softbox
Want the best lighting setup for photography, especially fashion? Go no further. Coming with versatile softboxes, you will get hooked to Elinchrom to expand your career!
Specifications
Dimensions: 34.6 x 11.6 x 6.5 inches
Weight: 22 pounds
Manufacturer: 22 pounds
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● Phenomenal lighting for fashion photography | ● You have to buy a diffuser separately |
| ● There is no waiting time for the flash to recycle | ● Some plastic parts may put you off |
| ● The dual voltage is beneficial for travelers | |
| ● It has excellent performance, is lightweight, and portable |
8. StudioFX 2400 Watt Softbox
The sturdy and adjustable studio lighting equipment is a perfect partner to DSLR cameras. In fact, you get everything you need in this stage equipment and lighting kit. There is no need for extra tools.
Specifications
Dimensions: 35 x 13.39 x 12.01 inches
Weight: 32.8 pounds
Manufacturer: StudioFX
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● You will get a lot of room for a larger backdrop | ● The chords provided are too short |
| ● The lights are super bright and aren’t prone to overheating | ● You may have difficulty assembling the side lightboxes |
| ● The design is proficient, sleek, and portable | |
| ● Helpful instructions and easy assembly |
9. Dynalite Baja 600W/s Monolight Light Kit
Dynalite can be considered as one of the best lighting equipment to take on locations with rechargeable and removable batteries that can support 400 full-power flashes. The color temperature is 5500K +/- 200K.
Specifications
Dimensions: 10 x 4.7 x 13.7 inches; 255 x 120 x 347 cm
Weight: 14.06 kilograms
Manufacturer: Dynalite
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● The batteries are powerful | ● Plastic construction may feel flimsy |
| ● Color accuracy is top-notch | ● The latch of the speed rings are of poor quality |
| ● You can shoot indoor and outdoor | ● The modifier is wobbly |
| ● The device is powerful, versatile, and easy to use |
10. Lume Cube RGB Panel Pro
The LED panel of Lume Cube is quite powerful and can be used in low-light situations for maximum output. For a basic studio lighting setup, this is your go-to.
Specifications
Dimensions: 7.99 x 7.24 x 2.28 inches
Weight: 1.14 pounds
Manufacturer: Lume Cube
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● It comes with continuous shooting options | ● You may find the hardware hamstrung |
| ● The brightness and colors are incredible | ● The app UX is difficult to control with spelling errors |
| ● It has a smooth, sleek design and comes with a diffusion plate | |
| ● Bluetooth capability makes controlling easy |
11. Interfit Honey Badger 320Ws Compact Flash
This photoshoot lighting setup has a 7-stop flash power with an intense 300 tungsten watts, which makes it an ideal choice for high-quality photo and video shoots. The recycle time is as fast as 1 second and the color temperature can reach upto 5600 K.
Specifications
Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 8 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
Manufacturer: Interfit Photographic
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● Fortunately, the fans are quite | ● The sync cord fails to connect with the camera |
| ● It doesn’t overheat and works great with the remote | ● Lights may feel flimsy when raised too high |
| ● The device has multiple settings and a super-fast charging ability | |
| ● The price is also on the reasonable margin |
12. Godox AD200Pro TTL Flash Kit
Coming with interchangeable flash heads, this photography studio lighting setup has powerful and clean light spread. It is compatible with numerous brands for TTL, multiflash, and outdoor flash.
Specifications
Dimensions: 10.3 x 9 x 4.2 inches
Weight: 10.3 x 9 x 4.2 inches
Manufacturer: 10.3 x 9 x 4.2 inches
| Reasons to Buy | Reasons to Avoid |
| ● It is affordable, lightweight, and durable | ● This device is not weather-proof |
| ● Decent battery life | ● You may encounter recycling issues after 200 pops |
| ● The power output is enough for portraits | |
| ● With the right trigger, you can take shots at 1/8000 shutter speed |
Photography Lighting Setup Tips: Photographer Should Know
Here are some very important product photography lighting setup tips you should know as a photographer.
Use Natural Light Source
There are a bunch of lighting gears available for quality photography, but nothing beats natural light sources. You will notice when you are shooting at night that the colors are too off.
Make Sure Perfect Lighting Position
To have the perfect images, the lighting should be positioned to light up the model’s face evenly without letting unwanted shadows fall over it. Having a window behind the camera will let the light fall on the face and produce a good image.
Understanding Kelvin and Light Color Temperatures Scale
Color temperature describes the light appearance of the lighting source, and it is usually denoted with Kelvin.
| Color Temperature | 2700K | 3000K | 5000K |
| Light Appearance | Warm white | Warm white | Cool daylight |
| Ambience | Comfortable, inviting | Warm, welcoming | Invigorating |
Background Matters
Don’t expect a photograph to come out perfectly when the backdrop is poor. Pay attention to what’s behind the model. Keep the place organized and relatable to the theme of the shot.
Lighting Stand
How you position your lighting stand can affect the mood and ambience of the photograph. The light stand can be raised to spread light from above. It can also be adjusted below or in the middle for a different effect.
Use Color Gels
Color gels are also known as color filters that add more life to the photograph. You can use them for color correction as well.
Create a Three-Dimensional Effect With Lighting
The three-dimensional effect is created by manipulating light and dark with appropriate lighting. In this type of effect, you will notice a bright place, dark place, highlighted areas, and shadow.
Avoid Light Spill
Sometimes the light falls on areas outside the main subject of the photograph; this can be minimized by using the right tools, target subject, height, and location.
Difference Between Hard Light and Soft Light
Hard lights are very dramatic, edgy, athletic pictures, street photography, landscape, and for masculine outlook. However, this type of light can illuminate skin perfections like acne and wrinkles. It also creates hot spots and shiny areas.
Soft light is the opposite of hard light which is more universally flattering and gradual. There is no dramatic effect, uncomfortable shadows, and highlights. For example, the golden hour portraits use soft lights.
Find the Perfect Lighting Position
Finally, it’s crucial to have the right lighting position to create the right theme, emotion, and story to the picture. Bigger lighting always creates better photos. The subject must face the light source and keep the light source at eye level.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Photography Lighting Kit Questions
Now, I’m here to answer some very common questions that you may have about the photography lighting kit.
What is a Lighting Kit?
A lighting kit is generally described as a set of lighting tools used to enhance photography and videography subjects.
How Does Light Affect Camera Quality?
Lighting is super crucial to creating the best image. It creates the mood, atmosphere, tone, brightness, and darkness of the picture. It enhances the white balance, composition, and exposure of the camera.
What is HMI Lighting in Photography?
The HMI lighting is Hydrargyrum Medium-Arc Iodide lighting that uses ultraviolet rays with a blue hue. This lighting usually is 5600K. It’s four times more powerful than incandescent light. On the downside, powering it up makes a loud noise, so the crews have to be notified about it.
How Does Lighting Affect a Photo?
Bad lighting won’t create a good photo. You will need to use various techniques to create the perfect lighting so that the photo can tell a story.
How Can I Improve My Photography Light?
Firstly, you have to invest in high-quality photoshoot lighting setup equipment.
Secondly, learn to use them properly.
Thirdly, experiment with different techniques on images. Fourthly, learn from other professional photographers.
Conclusion – Photography Lighting Setup for Photoshoot
There are many different terms in the photography lighting world; I have explained the most vitals of them in this article.
Photography is not a task of becoming a professional photographer overnight!
As it’s a creative skill, take your time to understand your needs and pick out the best lighting equipment from my list.
However, my job is done here, so I’m taking off—best of luck with your journey. See yaa!
Author Bio
Amy Grace
Amy Grace, a devotee writer of Clipping Path Studio, has long experience in the commercial photography field. Merging competency and skill in her profession, she has nailed the task up to the mark and has helped a lot of entrepreneurs create their brands. Aside from photography, Amy is involved in photo retouching work as well. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram.
