18 Types Of Photography Lighting Equipment You Need To Know

It takes the correct mix of talent, timing, and equipment to get the perfect photography shot.

Knowing which types of lighting equipment are available is the first step in producing stunning images because the lighting is a crucial component of photography.

 In this article, we’ll discuss the various types of photography lighting equipment you need to know to take your photos to the next level.

Continuous lights, strobes, and modifiers are the three fundamental categories of lighting gear used in photography. 

Continuous lights emit a gentle light and are always on. Flashes known as strobes can be manual or TTL. Modifiers also alter the light’s course, intensity, or quality.

Every type of lighting and lighting accessories has advantages and disadvantages. So, prior to purchasing, it’s crucial to grasp how each one functions. 

Types of Photography Lighting Equipment

1. Strobe Lighting

The most popular kind of flash in the realm of studio lighting is the strobe light. When we discuss studio lighting, we frequently consider strobe lights.

A strobe power is measured in watt-seconds, and different studio lighting scenarios call for different flash output levels.

2. Continuous Lighting

 Continuous lights are a steady source of light rather than “flashing” when used for photography. Before you push the shutter, you can see exactly how the light is hitting your subject.

For product photographs or other still-life photography, this is a huge benefit. Nonetheless, flash devices have become more popular than continuous lighting.

 Also, it can be difficult to match the light to other nearby light sources which may have an impact on the image. They can get very heated and are not so powerful.

LED lights have transformed continuous lighting, and they offer a great quality of continual light and don’t heat up as other continuous lighting does.

3. Speedlights

Little flashes known as speed lights are employed outside of the studio. They give forth light or, in the event of natural daylight outside, fill it in.

They are less expensive than strobe lighting and have a weaker power supply. They emit around one-fourth of the power that a typical strobe can.

A narrow beam of light is also produced by them due to their small size. Harder shadows and a more overtly manufactured appearance may emerge from this.

Great studio lighting can be created by combining many speed lights and they also provide a compact, versatile solution that is lightweight.

To offer an on-camera flash, speedlights can be put on your camera’s hot shoe and they should be utilized off-camera and attached to a light stand for the best results.

4. Softbox

A softbox is a modifier and it can be square, rectangular, or octagonal.

Among the most used studio modifiers are softboxes. This is a result of the gentle, diffused lighting they emit.

The majority of photographic genres benefit greatly from the pleasing nature of the light. It may be used for anything, including food and portraiture.

5.  Beauty Dish

An excellent modifier for portrait, beauty, and fashion photography is a beauty dish. You can modify facial features and produce stunning catchlights with the aid of a beauty dish. Also, because of its unusual design, it lights light from all sides.

6. Snoot

This very specific modifier is called a snoot and it enables you to produce an extremely narrow beam of light.

For tabletop photography, it works best when you want to provide focused light on a relatively narrow area.

 Examples include the use of backdrop lighting or emphasizing the burger’s filling.

7. Shoot Through Umbrella

You can shoot into a shoot-through umbrella, which is constructed of translucent material, to provide softer light, but it won’t provide you with the same directionality as a standard umbrella.

Some of these Shoot Through Umbrellas perform the same thing that a softbox does.  This can work really well when it comes to creative portrait photography. There’s a downside though. When filming some images, like those of food or products, the lighting could be excessively flat.

8. Stripbox

A strip box is a softbox that is rectangular and extremely narrow. When a long, narrow beam of continuous lighting is needed, as in liquor photography, it is perfect for photography. 

When positioned behind a portrait subject, it can also provide rim lighting with great effectiveness. And as a result, when employing a strip box, you have more control over where the light is directed.

9. Dish Reflector

When you purchase a strobe light like a monohead, a dish reflector is frequently included. They are a common type of lighting modifier that fastens to your strobe.

They are typically used with a variety of grids and are helpful for a wide range of photographic genres. Also, a dish reflector emits extremely focused, harsh light.

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10. Grids

Grids, which come in a variety of sizes and shapes, are an attachment you may use with other modifiers to provide lighting with a higher level of contrast.

Some of these grids can be attached to a dish reflector or beauty dish because they are made of a hard material, or they can be attached to a softbox or strip box because they are made of a soft material.

In the event of a hard grid, they frequently come in various sizes with a honeycomb pattern similar to the Godox. A grid is used to adjust the amount of coverage, the quality of the light, and the contrast.

11. Umbrella

A popular modifier that doesn’t always offer the finest studio lighting results is the umbrella, which is available in white or silver.

To reflect the light into the scene, it is fired into the umbrella. This facilitates the creation of a larger and softer light source.

The issue with umbrella lighting is that the light tends to leak, making it more difficult to use the umbrellas.

12. C-stands

Century stands are crucial in any studio and are used to mount your camera over your set, put in place your modifiers, hold your reflectors and diffusers, and more. 

To sum it up, every professional photographer’s studio should have a number of C-stands.

13. Light Meter

To adjust your lighting’s strength and get the right exposure, you’ll need a light meter.

You may check the amount of light falling on your scene using a light meter, and this way you’ll be able to modify the aperture or the flash output. 

14.  Color Checker

For individuals that mix their lighting, a color checker is a tool that will assist in getting proper color in their photos. You can use a color checker to ensure that your photographs have the proper white balance.

When using a color checker, take a picture with it in your scene where the light isn’t too harsh but also isn’t in the shadows.

Also, you can match your photographs when you perform color correction in post-processing. Simply choose the correct color from the image with the color checker.

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15. Diffusers

You might also need to diffuse your light source in addition to applying the right modifier and a diffuser is often included when buying a reflector kit.

You can make use of a translucent shower curtain or other transparent material to make a diffuser all by yourself. 

16. Gobos and Flags

Gobo, which means “go-between,” is a device used to alter the shape of a light source. It can also be used to make patterns or to narrow the light.

A set of flags or a gobos kit are available for purchase, however, they can be somewhat expensive. Instead, create your own by cutting out the appropriate shapes from a piece of foam core or black cardboard.

To make a handle, you can connect a wooden skewer, and you can then hold it where you need to move the light.

17. Gels

Gels are a very affordable and practical technique to compensate for color while shooting in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.

You might, for instance, be employing lighting with a range of color temperatures. By applying the proper gel color to your modifier, you may match them.

Gels are able to give your photographs a slight tint without making it obvious that a filter has been applied.

18. Reflectors

The purpose of reflectors is to affect the shadows in a scene. Reflectors come in silver and gold variants and can be of different shapes or sizes.  

 A gold reflector will add a bit of warmth to your scene while the silver will create a brighter scene than can be created with a white bounce card.

You can place the reflector opposite the light to bounce some fill light onto your subject. Also, you can place it on the lap of a portrait subject to soften shadows under their eyes and chin.

Conclusion 

We’ve just seen various photography lighting equipment as well as some accessories.

 Whether you’re new to photography or you just want to take better videos and pictures, you’ll need this photography lighting equipment. 

So, do you already own any of the items mentioned in this article? What’s your experience with it? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments area. 

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