Considering the broad range of options available, knowing which photography lighting kit to invest in can be a serious challenge. To help you navigate this sea of products and what they offer, we put together a list of some of our all-time favorite picks along with the key features you should expect to find in a great lighting kit.
What is a lighting kit?
A lighting kit is a collection of professional lights and illumination accessories—such as light-shaping tools, reflectors, power sources, and stands—that help you light your set for the best production quality. A lighting kit is essential if you work in events such as weddings; it’s also a must-have for more commercial shoots in a studio setting.
What is the best photography lighting?
The best photography lighting largely depends on the task at hand. While natural light is often preferred, many shoots call for at least some additional light sources. A flash, also known as speedlight, is a go-to for photographers because of its portability and usability. Many photographers also use strobes (not as portable) for powerful in-studio lighting.
How do you use a lighting kit?
You use a lighting kit to fulfill your lighting needs, which includes creating a fill light, key light, background light, ambient light, or whatever the scene calls for. The best lighting kit is the one that helps you get the job done. If you need a lighting kit for events, make sure to buy a portable one. If you’re more about in-studio shooting, you can invest in lighting that’s perhaps a bit sturdier and tailored for your set.
Best Lighting Kits for Beginners
Elinchrom D-Lite RX 4/4 Softbox To Go Kit
Living up to its name, the Softbox To Go Kit is an easily transportable photography lighting kit that offers everything a professional needs. Boasting a multi-voltage 400Ws monolight and a 0.35-second recycling time, the flash features an EL-Skysport Transmitter Plus that’s great for reliable manual and wireless triggering.
Smith-Victor KT750LED 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit
Another way to elevate your photography lighting kit? Invest in the Smith-Victor KT750LED 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit. This umbrella-kit collection includes two high-quality 45W LED fan-cooled bulbs with 375W of incandescent and low-heat light. The bulbs also generate a soft, even glow that’s great for portraits, weddings, or product photography. Another reason to invest in this kit? It’s astonishingly easy to set up and break down—which is always a bonus on shoot day.
Smith-Victor KT1000U Kit
The Smith-Victor KT1000U, 2 Light Thrifty Photoflood Intermediate Kit is another great option for improving your photography-lighting arsenal. This kit is particularly great for new photographers breaking into the space; it’s budget-friendly, and includes affordable hand-spun reflectors made from high-strength aluminum. The black finish adds a polished look. You will get your money’s worth, and then some, with this kit. It includes photoflood lamps, sockets, and cord sets, plus the Imaging with Light Guide.
Best Value Lighting Kits
Flashpoint eVOLV 200 Pro TTL Pocket Flash Kit
Running on a removable and rechargeable lithium battery, each fully charged flash in this kit offers 500 full capacity shots. With two different light qualities to choose from, the bare-bulb head offers 200Ws of power generating 360° lighting with directional control from optional reflectors.
Flashpoint XPLOR 300 Pro TTL R2 Battery-Powered Monolight
When it comes to photography lighting, it’s hard to beat the Flashpoint XPLOR 300. This all-in-one light acts like a blend between a monolight and pocket flash. It works at up to 300 watt-seconds (WS) with wireless triggering and high-speed syncing, not to mention a powerful 2600WAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery to ensure you never miss a shot. And, with bi-color LED modeling; enhanced custom functions; and TTL, manual, and MultiStrobe modes, the Flashpoint XPLOR300 Pro is a must-add to any lighting kit.
Elinchrom ONE Off-Camera Flash Dual Kit
Adding the Elinchrom ONE Off-Camera Flash to your photography lighting kit will level-up your visual game. This impressive kit—which weighs just 3.3 pounds—features 131Ws of capacity with must-haves like an integrated Li-ion battery, USB-C active charging, a touch interface, and the ability to produce 725 full-power flashes with one single charge. Whether your photography lighting centers on indoor events or rugged outdoor trips, the adventure-ready Elinchrom ONE has you covered.
Best Lighting Kits for Professionals & Experienced Users
Broncolor Siros L 800Ws 2-Light Outdoor Kit 2
Many photographers aren’t bound by a studio room, but their lighting often is. The Bronocolor Siros offers portable studio-quality lighting without the fuss of cords and wires. With a flash speed of 1/18000 seconds, this powerful outdoor lighting kit has enough power to out-flash the sun.
Flashpoint XPLOR 400PRO R2 TTL Battery-Powered Monolight Kit
Amp up your photography lighting kit with the Flashpoint XPLOR 400PRO R2 TTL Battery-Powered Monolight Kit. This beast of a kit incorporates the fan-favorite Flashpoint XPLOR 400 Pro light, lauded for its 400Ws speed. It features a 0.01 to 1-second recycle time, not to mention an R2 signal reception range of 328 feet, up to 390 flashes on a single battery charge, and 32 channels to protect the signal. Additionally, this light comes with a last-shot auto-memory function to make capturing perfectly illuminated content a breeze.
Profoto B10X Off Camera Flash Duo Kit
Another photo light to bolster your photography lighting kit is the Profoto B10X. This multipurpose off-camera flash works just as well for video as it does for stills, with a continuous light output increase of 30 percent over the brand’s predecessors. It also boasts a faster recycling speed. Another reason the Profoto B10X should be added to your lighting kit? It’s incredibly user friendly. The flash comes with Profoto’s Bluetooth enabled technology, AirX, so you can control this light with ease—and from afar.
Profoto B10X Plus Off Camera Flash Duo Kit
We already know the Profoto B10X is a can’t-beat for your photography lighting kit—but why have just one when you can have two of these photo lights? The Profoto B10X Plus Off Camera Flash Duo Kit comes with two Profoto B10X models, which is great for those working an event that requires multiple light sources (think weddings or even commercial shoots). The B10X photo light might be powerful, but it’s also impressively small—roughly the size and shape of a 24-70mm lens. That means having two of them won’t break your back.
Profoto Pro-11
No photography lighting kit is complete without the Profoto Pro-11, a powerhouse of a flash that can capture the action with bursts of up to 50 flashes per second. It can also freeze those key moments with short flash durations of minimum 1/80,000 seconds. The Profoto Pro-11 works with Profoto AirX, which means you can use this beast of a light source via your phone. It delivers 2400Ws and an 11 f-stop power range (in 1/10 increments); it’s also compatible across numerous flash heads and light-shaping tools from Profoto.
Best Lighting Kits for Product Photography
OrangeMonkie Foldio3 Portable Mini Studio Shooting Tent
Add this amazing piece of equipment to your lighting kit set to create clean images with a professional finish. Plus, its portable and foldable setup allows you to put it together in less than 10 seconds. For smartphone enthusiasts and professional photographers out there, this is a must-have.
Continuous lighting
Illuminate your photography world with continuous lighting kits from Adorama. Our options cater to all levels of skill and experience, so you can feel confident that when the lights go on, you’ll be able to pull out that nifty fifty for your favorite shots. And if you already have elements of a lighting kit but need to round out your setup, be sure to check out our light stands and other accessories.
What are the three types of lighting in photography?
Regardless of which lighting kit you choose, it’s important to understand the three main types of lighting in photography, and when to use them.
Artificial lighting
Created by strobe lights or constant lights, artificial lighting introduces light sources into situations where natural light either isn’t available or isn’t appropriate. Artificial lighting is most often used in studio settings, though you can also use it effectively outdoors.
Natural lighting
The sun is the primary lighting source for natural lighting. On a cloudy day, the natural light is soft and diffused, while on a bright, cloudless day, it produces hard-edged shadows. Most outdoor photography sessions use natural lighting.
Combined lighting
Many experienced photographers prefer the combination of artificial and natural lighting for outdoor or window-lit shoots. You can match the quality of the natural light using the right lighting modifiers. This results in a beautifully lit subject indoors or out.
Softbox vs Umbrella Lighting?
When shooting in an artificial lighting or combined lighting scenario, modifiers like softboxes and umbrellas can help. These add-ons improve the quality of light and help flatter your subject. But what’s the difference between an umbrella and softbox? A brief breakdown below:
Softboxes
Softboxes are positioned between a light source (like a strobe or constant light) and the subject. You can use one with strobe lights or constant lights, letting the light spread evenly. This results in pleasing and even coverage with soft-edged shadows and minimal hotspots. Softboxes tend to be quite large and are more complicated to set up and break down than other options.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas are available in two formats: shoot-through and reflected. Shoot-through umbrellas act as a quick and easy softbox equivalent. They diffuse light nicely, though not as well as a softbox.
With reflected umbrellas, you aim the light away from the subject and bounce it back towards them, using the umbrella as a bowl reflector. Both varieties of umbrellas are compact and easy to set up and break down.
