Studio Lighting Equipment – What You Need To Know

The tools you have in your photography studio are only as good as you are familiar with them. For example, how well you know your equipment, and their uses, could be the difference between that sought after million dollar shot, or just a so-so picture. And if you're just taking average pictures, chances are you're not going to be in business very long. So whether you're a seasoned professional or an up-and-coming amateur photographer looking to make it in the business, a review of your lighting equipment from time to time is essential to keeping you on your game. Two types of lighting that we'll cover here are continuous lighting and studio flash. The two types of lighting are mirror opposites of each other. 

Continuous Lighting

Continuous lighting is just as it sounds: continuous. Specifically, it is repetitive light that stays lit. This can include things like household light bulbs, tungsten lights and even fluorescent lights - anything that stays lit for an extended period of time to illuminate your subject and photographic background. There are several benefits to continuous light. For example, it is cheap to acquire, perfect for the beginning photographer who is cash strapped and on a limited budget. Also, since continuous lighting is always on, it's easier for the photographer to see where any shadowing will come into play in the photographic backdrop, making it easier to adjust the lighting, camera or angle to get the shot you want. However, despite its advantages, continuous lighting also comes with some disadvantages. For example, it's hot! It often emits more heat than light, so it isn't the most comfortable setting for you or your subjects to shoot in. Another con is that continuous light is usually not balanced according to daylight.

Flash Lighting

Flash lighting, also known as studio flash, is the opposite of continuous lighting. Unlike continuous lighting, which is always on, flash lighting only emits light when the picture is taken. This makes it more difficult to gauge shooting locations, shadowing and other features that you want to emphasize or downplay with your subject or photographic backdrop. In other words, with studio flash, you don't immediately know what, if any, lighting effect there will be. However, flash lighting has many advantages. For example, many studio flash units come equipped with a continuous lamp. This gives the photographer the best of both worlds, so to speak. Flash lighting also balances to daylight, unlike continuous lighting. And finally, flash units come equipped with large amounts of power, which can be easily controlled by the photographer. However, while the benefits of flash lighting seemingly outweigh the disadvantages, the photographer must take into account the cost of studio flash lighting. Such equipment is generally reserved for more experienced photographers, as the gear is typically much more expensive.