Every photographer loves to shoot in natural light. But that’s not always an option, especially if you’re shooting indoors. That’s why it’s a good idea to get the right lights for your studio.

Once you start light shopping, you may be overwhelmed by your options. This article will provide a clear understanding of what’s out there so you can decide which Lighting is best for you.

Strobe Lights

Often used in club settings, strobe lights flash on and off to provide a someone dizzying effect. It may be surprising to find that they are the type of light most often used in photography studio settings. They are often timed to the camera, so they activate every time you hit the shutter.

Strobe lights can be battery powered or they can plug into the wall. Battery powered ones are more portable and can even be used outside. Some lights are designed so their flash can be controlled according to the light output you need.

Continuous Lights

Unlike strobes, continuous lights stay on throughout the shoot. They may be preferred over strobes because you can see how light your picture will be before you snap the shutter.

However, these lights can get very hot, and they are also not as powerful as strobes. You can purchase lights that don’t get as hot, but they tend to be quite expensive.

Speedlights

Speedlights are a type of flash light that is not as powerful as a strobe. They work well as fill lights, but their narrow beams can also produce a light that’s hard and artificial.

These lights are relatively inexpensive, and you can buy them in bulk to make for all over studio lighting. They can also be mounted to the camera’s hotshoe to be used as a flash. However, because they tend to produce a harsh light, you may be better off mounting them on a stand next to your camera.

Modifiers

You can also use modifiers with your studio lights. These will change the way the light appears in your photos. Here are some examples of the modifiers that are recommended.

Softboxes: Softboxes come in a variety of geometric shapes and diffuse the light in your picture so it appears softer.

Stripbox: A stripbox is a type of softbox that is long and narrow. It is ideal in photography where a narrow beam of light is required. For example, it’s perfect when used as rim lighting in a portrait photo.

Umbrella: An umbrella reflects light to produce a larger, softer light source.

Shoot Through Umbrella: As the name suggests, you can shoot through this umbrella shaped diffuser to achieve a softer light.

Beauty Light: A beauty light brings in light from all angles. It creates lovely shadows and highlights in portrait photography.

Dish Reflector: Dish reflectors are often sold with strobe lights. They go over the strobe to soften the light.

Grids: Grids are used with other types of modifiers to add contrast and improve light control.

Snoot: A snoot produces a focused beam of light. It is ideal for tabletop photography.

Other Lighting Equipment

In addition to modifiers, here are some other pieces of equipment that will help you get the most out of your lighting.

C Stands: C stands can hold anything from your gear to your lights to your diffusers and more.

Light Meter: A light meter will tell you how much light is falling on your scene so you can make the right adjustments.

Gobos and Flags: Gobos or go betweens can be placed in front of a light to change its shape. They are ideal for cutting down on glare. However, they can be quite pricey. You may be better off making your own from black cardboard or foam core.

Gels: Gels will help you get the perfect white balance, and they can also be used to give your photos a slight tint.

Color Checker: A color checker will help you get the right white balance for your images. To use it, take a shot with it placed in the scene where the light is not too bright or too dim. Then during editing, match your images with the colors on the checker.

Light is one of the most important components in a picture. While natural lighting is ideal, studio lights will help you get the right effect when there is none available. Which will you be using the next time you shoot?

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