LED Lighting

LED lighting is popular among both photographers and videographers. While it is particularly favored by those who work in the studio, LED lighting can also be useful when shooting on location – after all, you never know when you might need a little bit of extra illumination.

The term LED stands for “light-emitting diode”, referring to an electronic semiconductor device that emits light when a voltage runs through it. It’s one of the two most popular forms of photographic light, the other being flashguns. The main difference between the two is that while flashguns fire an extremely short burst of light in sync with the shutter release, LEDs emit light continuously.

LED Lighting

Continuous light is necessary for video of course, but it’s also useful for photography, as it allows you to preview and adjust the quality of your light without needing to continuously fire off frames. Modern LED lighting for photographers offers a great depth of control when it comes to light quality, with the ability to fine-tune brightness, colour temperature and more.

LED lights come in a great variety of different sizes and formats. Some LED panels can be as small as a credit card. Others are designed to be mounted on a camera’s hotshoe, providing an inexpensive and portable source of light to shine directly on your subject. Larger, more powerful panels will require lighting stands and supports, allowing them to be freely positioned to provide side lighting if needed. Ring lights, which are particularly popular among TikTokers for the flattering catchlights they create in a person’s eyes, are also a form of LED lighting.

There are a fair few technical terms you’ll come across when shopping for LED lights. The colour temperature range, expressed in Kelvin (K), refers to the adjustable quality of the light. Lower numbers from about 2000K refer to a warmer light with a more orange cast, while higher numbers up to around 10000K refer to a cooler, bluer cast. Most modern LED panels will offer an adjustable range between these two extremes, allowing you to dial in the precise quality of light you’re looking for.

Similarly, you may also see lights list their CRI rating, which will be a number below 100. CRI stands for “colour rendering index”, and refers to colour accuracy, i.e. how true-to-life colours appear when placed under a white light source, compared to how they look in daylight. A CRI in the high 90s is considered excellent for most purposes. In video, a similar measure called TLCI (Television Lighting Consistency Index) is often used. You may also see lights listed as “daylight balanced” – this means they are designed to simulate the light quality of the sun, which is around 5500K.

Larger LED lights will offer greater brightness should you need it. Many will offer a level of dimming control, allowing you to fine-tune the strength of the light depending on the situation. Some LED lighting panels are AC-powered, while others have built-in lithium-ion batteries that can be charged up for on-the-go lighting.