Lighting guide
Let's talk lights!
Knowing what lights to choose can be overwhelming, and completely confusing at times. We understand!
Here's a guide to make your decisions easier for your next rental.
We'll go over strobes vs. continuous, modifiers, and amount of lights
strobes vs. continuous led
Flash Strobes
Constant LEDs
PROS
Can freeze movement such as kiddos, pets, or athletic/dance shots
CONS
Most flashes have a max shutter speed. Meaning you can't go over a certain shutter speed. i.e. 1/250th
PROS
You can see exactly what your light looks like.
CONS
Super bright & can hurt your subjects eyes
Greater control of your environment
More complicated to shoot wide open like at f/2.8
Easier for beginners
More motion blur in photos. Can't freeze subjects as well
Sharper images
Can't shoot video using flash strobes
Can transition from photo to video easier
They get hot.
Can overpowers any unwanted ambient light
Needs a trigger/sync device & DSLR or mirrorless camera
Easier to shoot wide aperture (i.e. f.2.8)
Images aren't always as sharp/are noisier
what about modifiers?
Modifiers make all the difference! Generally, the larger the modifier, the softer the light, however, the shape, material, and depth can change the mood
7' parabolic umbrellas
light domes
lanterns
beauty dish
strip boxes
bare bulb/reflector dish
how many lights do i need?
The amount of lights can vary depending on what look or style you're going for. While there's many ways to arrange your lights, here are some visual examples of common setups to give you a better idea of how many lights it'll take to achieve your look.
We recommend beginners start with a one light setup.
One light setup
Two light setup
Three light setup
Four light setup
Five light setup