Whether you're a professional photographer or an amateur videographer, one key component determines the quality of your projects: lighting. Having adequate lighting in your setup will help ensure that all of your images look breathtakingly professional. Lighting will also help fuel your creativity through what you choose to illuminate and what you choose to keep in the dark. We recommend the MountDog Photography Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit as it comes equipped with two 95-watt bulbs as well as an adjustable softbox and tripod.
Best Overall: MountDog Photography Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit
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Great for both amateur and professional use, the MountDog Photography Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit comes equipped with two 95-watt daylight bulbs, one softbox with a bulb socket, one 80-inch tall light stand, and a convenient carry case. This kit is excellent for illuminating portraits and keeping videos clear and bright.
The softbox measures in at 20 by 28-inches and is made to perfection with its reflective silver nylon fabric and white screen. This helps minimize light loss and maximize light spread. With this softbox, you can soften or amplify your lighting, setting the tone for your entire project. However, some customers mention that the light does not reflect as brightly as expected.
Rest this softbox in the included tripod stand to make adjusting the lighting even more simple. This stand's height can be adjusted from 27 to 80 inches. To take your lighting needs even further, the softbox's lamp holder can also be adjusted up to 210 degrees. This allows you to illuminate or conceal portions of a portrait or object perfectly.
This MountDog lighting kit comes equipped with two 95-watt bulbs as well as a fully adjustable softbox.
Best for Experienced Users: Emart 600W Photography Photo Video Portrait Studio Day Light Umbrella Continuous Lighting Kit
If you're looking for a complete lighting kit for your studio, the Emart 600W Photography Photo Video Portrait Studio Day Light Umbrella Continuous Lighting Kit is a brilliant choice. This kit comes equipped with everything you need to film engaging videos and take breathtaking photographs.
With three 45-watt full-spectrum energy-saving CFL bulbs paired with three single head photo lighting sockets, two 33-inch reflector umbrellas in black and silver, two 33-inch white translucent soft umbrellas, two 83-inch photography light stands, one 33-inch photography light stand, a bulb case, and a heavy-duty carry case to store the entire kit, this kit is fully prepared to work. However, some customers have mentioned that although the light stand is a wonderful feature, it can feel a bit flimsy when stretched to its limits.
The variety of equipment included in this kit makes this kit excellent for creating the perfect ambiance during your photoshoot or video shoot. Whether you are photographing products, portraits, or creating marketing videos for social media, this kit has got you covered.
With four reflector umbrellas and three 45-watt CFL bulbs, this photography lighting kit is excellent for experienced users.
Best for Beginners: StudioFX 2400 Watt
An excellent choice for beginners, the StudioFX 2400 Watt is a three-piece photography lighting kit. It is comprised of three main softboxes, three light stands, and three light-heads. This kit is extremely straight forward. It makes it easy to figure out what each piece of equipment is used for and how to set it up. That makes it fantastic for anyone who is just starting in their videography or photography journey.
The softbox units measure at 16 x 24 inches and come equipped with their own diffusers and built-in control panels. That allows you to adjust the brightness of your set with ease during your photoshoot. Each softbox includes four 45 watt fluorescent bulbs, which are excellent for digital photography and DLSR cameras. A great feature of these bulbs is that they have low heat. You don't have to worry about them burning you or giving off excess heat on a hot day as some other bulbs can.
The three-light stands feature a sturdy three-legged base and are adjustable from 53 inches to 84 inches. You don't have to worry about them tipping over, and you can adapt your lighting needs quickly for close and far ranged shoots.
Some customers have mentioned that although this is a great starter kit, the softboxes are smaller than expected. The entire kit weighs approximately 29 pounds, which can make it a little too heavy to carry around to sets.
The StudioFX 2400 Watt photography lighting set is excellent for beginners and is extremely straight forward in terms of setup.
Best for Product Photography: ESDDI Photo Studio Light Box
Although the ESDDI Photo Studio Light Box isn't technically a photography lighting set, it is a fantastic piece of equipment to have when photographing products. If you sell items for a living and want to elevate your brand's digital appearance through amazing product photography, then this lightbox is a must-have for you.
Included in this bundle are 120 carefully placed LED lamps, which can be adjusted to the brightness level that suits your needs with a simple turn of a knob. The ESDDI Photo Studio Light Box also comes prepared with four different colored backboards. The black, white, grey, and orange backboards make isolating your products and creating captivating themes for your images as easy as pie. Although, some customers mention that it would be great if the backboards covered the entire cube rather than just one side.
The box itself is small enough to fit on a desk. The box also features an aluminum shell light plate that has excellent heat dissipation. That means you don't have to worry about damaging any electronic devices that you may be photographing due to overheating. The inside of the box also features a silver reflective fabric that is perfect for reflecting light and allowing you to take professional-looking photos from any camera or cellphone. If you're not happy with the placement of your object or the angle of your shot, you can reposition yourself through one of the multiple available openings.
The box is made from a one-piece structure that can be folded into a cube through velcro siding. When you're finished creating your project for the day, simply unstick the velcro, unfold your studio, and head out the door. The outer material is made from oxford cloth and is waterproof.
Portable lightbox that allows you to take professional-looking photographs with any camera or cellphone effortlessly.
Bottom line
Proper lighting can set your photographs apart from the amateurs. It emphasizes certain parts of an image through the strategic use of shadows and brightness. Lighting also sets the tone and mood for your projects. That's why it is so important to take your lighting needs seriously.
Investing in a good lighting kit is a great way to boost the quality of your images. We recommend the MountDog Photography Continuous Softbox Lighting Kit photography lighting kit because it offers everything you need to get started on your way to becoming a successful photographer. This set is excellent for both amateurs and professional photographers. With this photography lighting kit, you can easily create youtube tutorials, take portrait photographs, and even capture product images for your e-commerce business.
