Studio Lighting Equipment – What You Need To Know
Discussing the wide variety of lights and the infinite number of setup combinations in a photography studio could be the subject of a book. And in fact, there are several books dedicated to this specific topic. However, if you want to invest in studio lighting equipment, there are a few important things that every photographer should know. With a good set of base tools, you should be able to adapt to most shooting situations and subjects. Here is a run down on the most common types of studio lighting.
Continuous Lighting
These are the types of lights that you may associate with making a movie. Continuous light simply refers to light that is always present in the studio (as opposed to a flash which is there and gone). Though this type of lighting uses a lot more power and creates more heat, it’s a great way to have subtle lighting. Since you can see the way your lights interact before you shoot, you will have a good idea of what the photograph will look like beforehand.
You can choose a simple kit for continuous lighting online for a reasonable price.Most photo stores on the web have a section dedicated to studio lighting equipment, so from there it’s mostly an issue of what you’re willing to spend. Look for a flash kit that has light stands, light fixtures, bulbs and a reflective umbrella. Continuous light can be provided by halogen, fluorescent and tungsten light bulbs. There is no one “better” bulb as your taste and tone will dictate your choice.
Studio Flash
As you may have guessed, this bracket of studio lighting equipment is dedicated to setups that utilize a flash (often seen in fashion shoots). With flash setups requiring low amounts of power and generating even less heat, they are usually the best option when shooting human subjects for extended periods of time. You can get flashes in either moonlights or flash systems. Moonlights require only syncing to the camera while power-pack flash systems will have a central power point to which the flash heads connect.
Similar to continuous lighting, there are plenty of ready-made flash kits available for the choosing. Make sure they have umbrellas, lighting stands, modeling lamps (let you preview your lighting) and the needed sync cords to ensure your flashes fire at the exact same time. The easiest flash to use are flashes with sensors as they fire with your camera but they are more expensive.
It’s worth mentioning that combining these two studio lighting methods is extremely effective in getting great light. This will allow you infinite flexibility in your shooting process and ensure that no matter what subject or style is required, you’ll be up to the task. With starter kits starting as low as $50, you should be able to get some decent studio lighting equipment at a low initial investment.
About the Author
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com and loves framing pictures. Shop online and see our selection of hinged multiple opening frames by visiting us at www.yourpictureframes.com or calling 1-800-780-0699.
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