Lighting Kit Components

Flash & Bulbs

To get the right lighting, you will first need a light source. These come in the form of flash, a camera piece that provides an instant burst of light. It’s best to stick with a simple model camera flash and work your way up from there. Modern flash will meter the amount of light you need depending on the amount of ambient light present, these can simply be attached to the right camera and will work automatically if you are not sure of how to adjust the lighting for the right snapshot.

They can also come with a manual mode that with the right setting will produce just the right amount of light for your picture. Another alternative is to use a bare bulb which is a strobe head with no reflector, this will allow light to diffuse 360 degrees. They can be used inside light boxes as well and are very effective as background lighting for portraits in a small space.

Photography Reflectors

Photo light reflectors (or ‘umbrellas’) can be inexpensive and are great for lighting effects for portraits. They work by spreading the light over a wider area resulting in a cleaner more diffused lighting effect. An alternative to the umbrella is the soft box.

Stands

All lighting equipment require stands to help support the lights and additional equipment. Stands also enable lighting equipment to be moved around easily and efficiently. Angles that the lights are directed at will be adjustable as well and can make a huge difference in how light is captured by the camera.

Backdrop

Photography lighting kits may also include muslin backdrops that effectively create the right lighting effect in the background and allow for digital enhancements after development. They can be a soft monochromatic tone or a black and white green screen so that the background can easily be cropped out or replaced.

Photography lighting kits start from around $50 and upwards and will come with the basic equipment necessary for taking great photos with adequate lighting. The more expensive the kit,  the better the lighting effects will often be.

If you are a beginner, start with the basic kit and move your way up. Ensure that you have a good camera that can capture images effectively with or without lighting equipment.