Photo & Video Lighting

5 things you should consider when buying photo and video lights

Whether you are a hobby photographer or a professional vlogger, it is important to have access to good lighting so that pictures and videos look as good as possible.

Here we provide a list of several considerations you might make before going out and buying a new light, so you have the opportunity to make the choice that suits your needs.

#1 - What will the light be used for?

The first consideration you can make is where and what the light will be used for.

Depending on whether you work in a marketing studio or if you are a hobbyist traveling outdoors, you may have very different priorities when it comes to choosing lighting.

If you work in a studio, you may have both the space and need for larger lights that can encompass the entire product or person you want to film or photograph.

If you are out in nature, you do not have the same opportunity to carry that much equipment around, as it not only takes up space in the car, but also weighs a lot when you need to carry it.

In nature, there is not always the opportunity to connect devices to an outlet, so it can be good to find a light that uses batteries, ensuring you have power when you need it.

If you are using the light to vlog about various topics, you may not need a very large light, but just one that can be placed on the table without the need for extensive setup.

These are just a couple of examples of how photo and video lights could be used, but there are many more.

So consider what you will use your light for, so you can find the right one that meets your needs.

#2 - What features should the light have?

When choosing the right light for your needs, it is essential to be aware of which features the light should have.

It could be that you work in a studio where you need to take pictures of many different products, each requiring a different position for optimal lighting.

So it might be beneficial to look for a light that can adjust height and angle, as this can be crucial to getting the product right in the proper lighting angle for the picture or video.

Another feature that can be decisive is what adjustment options are available for the light.

It could be adjusting brightness so that you can find the right strength for the image.

It could be adjusting the color temperature, so you can change the light to be warmer, cooler, or more neutral, and generally alter the perception of the image.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors and need light for photography, it can be beneficial to have a light that can use batteries.

This way, you ensure that you don’t have to carry around cables and other equipment, but can just take your camera and light with you, so you can start right away.

It can also be an advantage if the light comes with a remote control, as you often stand at a distance from the light when shooting.

This saves you many trips back and forth, as you can just adjust brightness and colors via the remote control.

There are many different lights with a variety of functions, which can help you in your content production.

So consider carefully which features are essential for your needs.

#3 - Beginner or professional light

Finding the right light for the right image is a science in itself, and it is knowledge that only comes with practice.

If you do not have much experience using lights for photography and video, it might be a good idea to start with a cheaper solution so you can experiment without completely breaking the budget.

After that, if you get hooked on the work, you can invest more in lights at a later stage.

On the other hand, if you are a more experienced user of lights for photography and video, many different types of lights are available that should meet your needs.

Consider whether you are an inexperienced or more experienced user when making your purchase so you can get the best possible experience from the product.

#4 - What type of content will be created with the light?

Consider what type of content you will be producing, as this can significantly influence what type of light best suits the purpose.

For example, you might need to create a series of product photos for marketing in the company.

Here it might be good to have a decent spotlight so you can illuminate the entire product at once.

Potentially, you can also use multiple lights in this case to completely eliminate shadows from the product images.

Another type of content might be recording vlogs, which require different lighting.

If you are sitting at a table in an apartment or office, you might only need a table lamp.

If you are recording outdoors or in the evening, you might need to bring out the larger lights to see properly on the video.

It is also good to have quality lights when taking still images, whether of products or for your Instagram profile.

So consider what type of content you will be creating when looking for the right light for you.

#5 - Is a Vlogging Kit or another light the best for me?

A Vlogging kit is great for the potential vlogger who does not have much experience or is just starting out.

The vlogging kit comes with all the equipment you need to start filming and taking pictures immediately.

In a vlogging kit, you find the actual light, but also a stand and holder for your smartphone, as well as cables and USB plugs that fit smartphones, plus power plugs.

Some of them even come with a green screen, allowing you to insert any background into your videos with minimal effort.

This gives the vlogger all the equipment in one package.

However, if you are more experienced or already have a lot of lighting equipment, a vlogging kit may not be the right choice, as it is a very basic starter pack.

Advantages of LED photo and video lights

Generally, the advantages of LED lights are that they are much more energy-efficient and last much longer than incandescent bulbs.

Another advantage for photography and videography is that they are much more adjustable than incandescent bulbs.

With LED bulbs, you have a much greater ability to adjust brightness up and down as needed, or even completely alter the color of the light.

Color temperature is significant as it determines the color the LED bulbs emit.

The color temperature for light ranges from 0 - 10,000 Kelvin, but the light we typically see lies mainly in the 2,700 to 5,000 K range, as shown in the table below.

Generally, cooler colors are used to illuminate larger spaces and help people maintain concentration for longer periods.

Conversely, warmer colors provide a more warm and comfortable light, which is mostly used in spaces where people want to relax.