Studio Lighting Equipment – What You Should 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’re interested in investing in some studio lighting equipment, there are a few basic things that every photographer should know. With a good set of basic lighting tools, you should be able to shoot in most types of situations and subjects. Here’s a breakdown 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 refers to light that is constantly on compared to a flash that goes on and off. Though this method can generate quite a bit of heat and definitely uses more power, it is a great way to work subtle lighting situations. Since you will be able to see your lights interacting before you shoot, youll have a much better idea of what the photograph is going to look like.

You can choose a simple kit for continuous lighting online for a reasonable price.Many photo stores have a section dedicated to studio lighting equipment, so it is really up to you on how much you want to spend. Look for a flash kit that has light stands, light fixtures, bulbs and a reflective umbrella. Continuous light can be provided by fluorescent, halogen, and tungsten light bulbs which you use is going to be a matter of taste and tone.

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). Flash setups are low on power consumption and even lower in terms of heat generation, and are usually the best option when shooting human subjects for extended periods of time. Flashes are available in either moonlights or flash systems moonlights require only syncing to the camera while power-pack based flash systems will have a central power point to which all the flash heads connect.

Similar to continuous lighting, there are plenty of ready-made flash kits available for the choosing. Be sure they have lighting stands, umbrellas, modeling lamps (these allow you to preview your lighting) and the sync cords required to ensure your flashes fire at the right time. Flashes with sensors that will fire with your camera flash are the easiest to use, but may run a little deeper into your pocket.

It’s worth mentioning that combining these two studio lighting methods is extremely effective in getting great light. This will help you have lots of flexibility in your shooting so you will be up to the task no matter what comes your way. With starter kits starting as low as $50, you should be able to get some decent studio lighting equipment at a low initial investment. And once you get your studio lighting set, then you can try using different types of lenses in the studio like learning how to use a zoom lens or even using a macro lens to get all different kinds of results.

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