Light Stands

Light stands and supports are the quiet hero of any photographic studio. A good set of supports is going to be the backbone of basically any lighting setup, and if you are planning to set up a shot that involves LED light panels, flashguns, light modifiers or some combination of the three, it starts with a good set of stands.

It’s often said that a significant milestone in any serious photographer’s journey is when they start controlling their own light. This doesn’t just have to mean working in the studio – both flash and LED lighting are still hugely useful on location, particularly if you’re working in portraiture. Having a set of lighting stands for photography gives you a great deal of flexibility in terms of where you place your light in relation to your subjects. A bit of fill light in the right place can be the thing that turns an acceptable shot into a perfect one – and with a freestanding light at your disposal, you can ensure you get it just right.

Light Stands

As lighting stands can also be mounted with reflectors, they can be useful for harnessing natural light. Positioning a gold reflector in just the right spot can bounce some warm sunlight onto your subject for a natural-looking glow. A single, inexpensive light stand is also ideal for mounting a ring light with a smartphone holder, making them a useful and cost-effective purchase for TikTokers, vloggers and similar content creators.

Just like photography tripods, light stands can be constructed from a number of different materials. Aluminium is the more affordable material of the two, and is a little heavier, while carbon fibre is both lighter and stronger, but costs a bit more. Some light stands are also made from chrome steel, which is a very strong material that can support plenty of weight.

When picking a light stand, as with any studio equipment, it’s important to check the key specs and make sure they are in line with what you need. A stand will have a maximum safe load capacity, so it’s important to check that your lights or other equipment won’t exceed it. Maximum height is another factor – if you’re going to need lights mounted at a very high angle then it’s important you have a stand that can accommodate this. If you plan to frequently transport the stand, then you may also want to check its closed length.

Some stands are also equipped with air cushioning. This is a useful dampening system that prevents sudden collapse if a section is insufficiently tightened. An internal column of air is slowly released when the lock is disengaged, causing the stand to gently glide down, rather than abruptly dropping. In a professional shooting situation when you’re using light panels or studio heads that come at significant expense, safety features like this can be utterly invaluable.

LED lighting stands will make your studio and location lighting setups much more flexible and versatile, without costing the earth. Stable, secure and portable, a good light stand will give you the freedom to set up lighting quickly and efficiently in any location, no matter where your shooting takes you.