Buying Guide: Best Studio Lighting Equipment for Beginners on a Budget

Photography is all about working with light—whether by working with existing natural light or by creating the optimum lighting setup—to capture an image that fits the photographer’s artistic vision. But since proper lighting isn’t always available, every photographer needs to have the right lighting equipment on hand in order to take better pictures.

Learning how to work with natural light is the first step for any amateur photographer, but eventually, you’ll need to learn how to adapt to any type of environment and control the lighting to suit your needs. This is a foundational skill that every photographer needs to have, no matter what area of photography you find yourself in later on in your career.

But of course, having the right lighting equipment is crucial.

Beginners won’t usually invest in lighting equipment since some of those studio lighting kits can get quite expensive, but there are actually some cheap lighting essentials that are well within anyone’s budget. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most basic equipment that every beginner should have in order to build the best studio lighting kit for learning and experimenting with different lighting styles.

Best Studio Lighting Kits and Equipment for Beginners:

Diffusers, Filters, and Gels

The cost of lights—whether continuous or flash—can add up quickly. Diffusers, filters, and gels are relatively cheap studio lighting essentials that allow you to alter existing lights for a variety of effects. These items are versatile, inexpensive additions to your arsenal of lighting equipment because they can give every light a much broader range of use. With these items, you get more out of every studio lighting kit than you would otherwise.

Recommended products for beginners:

• Rosco Roscolux Swatch Book ($1.50)
• Rosco Color Correction Filter Kit ($31.88)
• Lee Filters Master Location Pack for Color Correcting, Light Shaping, & Color Effects ($44.25)
• Rosco Cinegel Linear Light Polarizing Filter ($49.50)

Reflector Kit

There is no lighting equipment more versatile than reflectors. They’re compact, affordable, and handy for both indoor and outdoor photo shoots. If you know how to use a reflector, you’ll be able to manipulate both natural and artificial lighting to illuminate your subjects in a way that looks natural and understated. When positioned correctly in the studio, a reflector can turn one light into both the key light and, by reflecting the light behind the subject, the hair light as well.

Reflectors are also great for outdoor shoots since they are an easy-to-use, lightweight instrument that can fit easily into whatever you’re using to carry your equipment.

Recommended products for beginners:

• Glow Portable 5 in 1 42-inch Reflector Kit ($34.95)
• ExpoImaging Rogue 32-inch Collapsible 2-in-1 Reflector ($29.95)
• Westcott Photo Basics 40-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector ($39.90)
• Flashpoint 32-inch Triangular Collapsible Disc Reflector with Built-in Holder ($24.95)

Softboxes

If you’re looking for the best indoor lighting for photography, softboxes are a great choice. It won’t likely be the first piece of lighting equipment you may buy, but once you have at least a single stand and light, having one is a fantastic opportunity to get the best out of your lights.

What are softboxes? They’re essentially large boxes made of thin material that diffuse the light source within it. The larger the softbox, the softer the light. When it comes to portraiture, softboxes are some of the best studio lighting tools at a photographer’s disposal.

Recommended products for beginners:

• Glow Portable 5 in 1 42-inch Reflector Kit ($34.95)
• ExpoImaging Rogue 32-inch Collapsible 2-in-1 Reflector ($29.95)
• Westcott Photo Basics 40-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector ($39.90)
• Flashpoint 32-inch Triangular Collapsible Disc Reflector with Built-in Holder ($24.95)

Chinese Lanterns

Outside of photography, most of us know Chinese lanterns as simple decorative hanging lamps that make your home or backyard look more festive. But for photographers on a budget, these items are actually a fantastic lighting tool for creating soft, ambient lighting during indoor shoots.

Using these lanterns also be a casual and budget-friendly way to explore indoor lighting if you don’t have the means to invest in professional studio lighting kits yet.