Best Photography Lighting Set Reviews 2018

If you are looking forward to owning a personal studio to take your photography or videography experience to another level, you are going to need professional lighting. However, selecting the best lighting kit from the many available options in the market can be a challenge at times. For that reason, our team has done in-depth research on your behalf and made a list of some of the best photography lighting set brands available in the market, highlighting our five favorite products.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Best uses

# light stands

# sockets

Total watts

Extras

Our Top Choice

Fovitec StudioPRO 2500 Watt Photography Light Set

StudioPro products are made by Fovitec, who deliver quality products at affordable prices for a professional approach to lighting. They offer continuous lighting, strobes, diffusers, backdrops, and more.

Total lighting kit at a great price. Offers main light, fill light, and hair light. The 5’ boom is great for a hair light. The other two softboxes offer five socket heads with diffusers.

Initial setup can be confusing.

Portraits, product photos, art

3 light stands

(2) 5 socket, (1) single

2500 watt kit

2 softboxes

Best Value

Cowboy Studio Continuous Background Lighting Kit

Cowboy Studio supplies studio and lighting equipment for those who work in the video, photography, and film industries, at affordable prices.

Great kit for filming videos or taking catalogue pictures. Large umbrellas that are effective light diffusers. Phenomenal price.

Some inconsistencies with the light sockets reported, but very inexpensive and good for beginners.

Videos, product photos, portrait

4 light stands

4 single AC sockets

900 watt kit

2 white 32” umbrellas

MyStudio VersaSweep Photo Studio

This product is designed by Pro Cyc, a modular cyclorama background studio founded by Fritz Von Tagen in Portland, Oregon. Pro Cyc opened a tabletop studio line called MyStudio in 2007.

The choice for product photography. Offers a 53” x 96” seamless background for tabletop photos with dual 48” light fixtures that are separately adjustable.

No overhead light.

Product photography, miniatures

2 swiveling light fixtures

(4) 48” daylight bulbs

Not specified

Includes 2 accent lights

Linco 2000 W Photo Studio Lighting Kit

Linco offers user-friendly studio equipment that includes a range of lighting fixtures, boom stands, and background accessories for improved photography.

Nice studio set for photography and videography. Lots of lighting options with several diffused softboxes and four socket lighting fixtures with umbrella holes and large handles.

Reports of Linco “buying” reviews from customers.

Studio photography, videography

3 light stands

(3) 4 socket heads

2000 watt kit

3 softboxes/boom/backdrop

LimoStudio Photography Photo Portrait Studio

Limo Studio will help you set up your personal studio with light controls and modifiers, as well as complete kits to get your lighting just right.

Great starter kit at a super affordable price, making it a best seller. Two umbrellas with stands that accommodate strobe and continuous lighting, plus a tabletop light stand.

Some reports of bulbs breaking during shipping.

Studio photography

3 light stands

3 single sockets

600 watt kit

2 white 33” umbrellas

(Updated November 30, 2017)

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How Do I Choose the Best Photography Lighting Set?

Photography and cinematography have been around for a long time, but snapping hundreds of selfies and lunch shots is a modern phenomenon. People have always taken pictures for remembrance purposes at family gatherings. However, photography and cinematography keeps advancing day by day with smartphones, selfie sticks, and the like.

Indeed, taking photos and videos has become more enjoyable and lively as we progress. Unlike in the past where you could hardly find a color photo, today nearly all images and videos are in color. Also, today you can buy a camera and take photos whenever you feel like it, which was completely unheard of back in the day. Most people had to go to a studio. The exciting part is that taking photos today can happen both at daytime and night. Yes, at night. Grab your photography lighting set today and you will understand what they can offer.

A wedding should be a captivating experience to remember. Whether it is your friend’s wedding or your wedding, make sure those moments are captured in style. This is the time you need to grab a digital camera real quick. Together with a photography lighting set, you can have photos that will forever make you smile whenever you open that file.

For some people, vacations are light seasons. Aside from picnics and trips to the zoo, family and friends gather. To remember the moments, some people take a photo and put it in a digital photo frame. However, for sparkling pictures even at night, make arrangements to have photography lighting set around. (Some are more portable than others, so read on.)

Photo and video enhancement go beyond the Photoshop craziness you see everywhere, especially on social media. The best way to change your image background is still to use a green screen instead of phone editing. It provides the best image enhancement to make your photos look lovely. And, with a good lighting set, your photos will look so good that you won’t want to Instagram a dog’s nose on your radiant face!

Price

The material, quality, and best use are the significant aspects that dictate the cost of a photography lighting set. Getting a quality photography lighting set means you must be prepared to tighten your budget a little bit. Generally, you can find a photography lighting set starting from $ 50, and going up to $ 1,010. Performance and extra features are the primary cause of the price range of this item. Beware of overly cheap lighting sets, as the quality is probably low, but also keep in mind that there may be lighting sets that come at a considerable price but still give low image quality.

Features

We are deeply concerned about your photography profession. For a better pick, consider these vital features when shopping for a photography lighting set.

Best Use- Depending on your needs, you can find a photography lighting set for portraits, product photos, videography or miniatures.
Number of Stands- Different photography lighting sets include different numbers of stands.
Number of Sockets- They are all designed with different numbers of socket heads where you can fix your light bulbs.
Total Watts- They all have different watts. It is up to you to choose the one that will conserve electricity.
Extras- Some come with added features like an umbrella, accent lights and softboxes to make your experience more captivating.

Below is an extensive explanation of these specifications, which will help you truly understand what you need in a photography lighting set.

Construction and Design

There comes a point in life when you need support – just a little help for you to achieve your purpose. However, it is not human beings alone that need assistance; a photography lighting stand, too, requires support for it to work correctly. You cannot place it on the floor. That would be too low to give you proper illumination. Instead of having someone hold it high up, they have stands for that purpose. While some have two light stands, others have up to four light stands.

When you need more light in your room, you go for a brighter bulb. You could also add another bulb, but that may call for the addition of another bulb socket to your ceiling. The same applies to photography lighting sets. Below is how some photography lighting kits are made, regarding sockets.

(2) 5 socket, (1) single
4 single AC sockets
(4) 48” daylight bulbs
(3) 4 socket heads
3 single sockets

Performance and Ease of Use

We all have different talents. There is that one thing that you can do better than other people. However, it does not mean you cannot do other things. Similarly, every photography lighting set is designed with different capabilities. Some work best for portraits, while others work best for videography. Below are some of the best use combinations of the available lighting sets from our selection.

Portraits, product photos, art
Videos, product photos, portraits
Product photos, miniatures
Studio photography, videography
Studio photography

Is your electricity bill higher than it should be? Well, you need to start using power-saving electronic gadgets. All photography lighting sets are designed to consume a small amount of energy but, still, some use less than others. But a photography lighting set is not like a fridge, which requires many volts to operate. In most instances, their total watts range from 900 watts to 2500 watts for the kit.

Quality is hard to get. Thus, to be a leading photographer, you need to do a lot. Apart from buying a good digital camera, consider stocking your studio with the latest studio materials with advanced features. Thus, some photography lighting sets come with the following extra features to make your photography work look exceptional.

Two softboxes
Two white 32” umbrellas
Two accent lights
Three softboxes/boom/backdrop
Two white 33” umbrellas

Photography lighting sets are easy to use. The assembly and installation is simple. You only need to maintain them in good condition so that they can give you quality videos and photos at all times.

What is the Best Photography Lighting Set?

From now on, taking photos and recording videos will be an incredible experience because you have made a prudent move to add a photography lighting set to your photo studio. Whether you are making videos for YouTube or portraits to sell, a photography lighting set is what you really need. Our team has conducted thorough research to inform you what to expect when buying a photography lighting set.

Our Top Choice

This 2500 watt softbox kit with three light stands is a great total package for professional lighting at a nice price. However, if you need a small photography set for product lighting, StudioPro offers a great price on the Photography 300W Table Top Photo Studio Lighting Kit.

Fovitec StudioPRO 2500W Photography Softbox Lighting Kit – Two 1000W 5 Socket Head Softboxes w/Diffusers + One 500W Single Socket Head Light w/Boom & Softbox — Four Other Kit Sizes Available

Fovitec StudioPRO Photography Lighting Set SPK10-018

Features

Our next product is made by Fovitec StudioPro, whose extensive line of photography kits and equipment allows a professional approach to lighting at highly affordable prices. They offer everything from continuous lighting to strobe lighting, diffusers and modifiers, backdrops, as well as accessories like clamps and sandbags.

This 2500 watt lighting kit is great for portraiture and product photography. There are two 20” x 28” softboxes with five socket heads, and one EZ Setup boom light with a 20” x 28” softbox and a single socket head.

Two of the softboxes offer adjustable lighting with the removable 17” x 12" inner diffusion panel. The dual five socket heads each offer three power control switches to change up illumination options. The maximum capacity is 85W bulbs, and the socket heads tilt up and down. There is a 10-foot power cord with a 3-prong plug.

These fluorescent lights are more efficient in electricity usage than traditional household or incandescent bulbs, so it will save on your electricity bill. The single socket head with boom and softbox opens and folds quickly into a carry bag, and is suitable for a backlight or hair light on your subject.

You can use this light setup in whatever way that suits your needs, but a good basic approach is to use one light as your primary illumination, the second as a fill light, and the boom for hair light.

Here is what you get in the kit:

Large carry bag
Eleven 45W bulbs
One adjustable boom arm up to five feet
Two five socket head lights
One single socket head light
Three light stands
Three 20” x 28” softboxes

Two removable inner diffusers for softbox

You can either select this featured 2500 watt kit from StudioPro, or pick one of the other options: 1x 1000W Softbox Kit, 2x 1000W Softbox Kit, 2x 2100W Softbox Kit, or 3x 2100W Softbox Kit.

If you’re not sure about this particular product, why not check out the rest of the range from Fovitec StudioPRO.

Best Value

This Cowboy Studio Lighting Set offers great ambient lighting, particularly for video shoots. If you have a Nikon or Canon camera, you could also check out the Double Off-Camera Flash Shoe Mount Swivel Umbrella Kit, which is slightly cheaper too!

Cowboy Studio 900W Studio Digital Lighting Kit with Umbrellas and Background Lights — Available in 7 Other Sizes

Cowboy Studio Photography Lighting Set SL-314kit

Features

Cowboy Studio supplies studio and lighting equipment for those who work in the video, photography, and film industries at affordable prices. They cover all your needs from shooting tents to tripods, backdrops, and projector screens.

This kit is lightweight and especially well-suited for videography. Creating your own personal studio wherever you go, it is easy to pack or unpack with a carry case to hold all the gear. The umbrellas create a soft glow on your subjects. The light sockets have an adjustable swivel and can handle up to 85 watt bulbs.

The height of the main light stands adjusts from 2’ 9” to 6’ 8”. They are made of aluminum alloy and have a black satin finish. The miniature light stands that come with this kit have a maximum height of 2’ 6” and can easily pack away with quick-release levers. This set comes with a one-year warranty and is offered at a great price.

Here is what you get in this studio package:

Two white 32” umbrellas
Two mini light stands
Two 7-foot light stands
Four AC sockets
Four 45W 5000K daylight light bulbs
One carrying bag for all your gear

You can select from a few different packages if you want an alternative to this SL-314kit. There are five other options available that include black and white umbrellas, black and silver umbrellas, and a variety of different features. Check out the full details on Amazon.

If you’re undecided, try taking a look at all the other options from Cowboy Studio; they’ve got tons to choose from.

Get a professional tabletop studio with four 48” adjustable lights by MyStudio to take amazing product photography. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, and just need some photography lights to complete your kit, check out the Set of 2 MyStudio 5000K "Daylight" Fluorescent Photography Lights.

MyStudio Versa Sweep Ultimate Table Top Photo Studio Lightbox Kit with 5000K photography lighting – Available in 5 Sized Sets

MyStudio Photography Lighting Set VS53

Features

This product is designed by Pro Cyc, a modular cyclorama background studio founded by Fritz Von Tagen in Portland, Oregon. Offering portable green screen background systems that provide versatile set backdrops, the company opened a tabletop studio line under the brand name MyStudio in 2007.

Keep the reflections down and the lighting options high with this VS53 tabletop photo studio for product photography. The seamless white background is highlighted by dual light sockets that each house two 48” fluorescent lights. This miniature lighting studio comes with clips to easily attach any preferred background paper.

You will need a 5’ x 7’ table surface to accommodate this tabletop studio. For your convenience, it can be set up or broken down in about 20 minutes. The 53” x 96” size is an upgrade from previous MyStudio models to accommodate larger products.

Here are the finer details of this purchase:

Two swiveling light fixtures
Each fixture offers three different lighting angles
Houses a total of four 48” daylight bulbs
Lightweight yet durable tabletop studio
220V-110V voltage converter required if used outside USA
Made in the USA

There are four other options for tabletop photography offered by MyStudio, with varying sizes and corner angles. You can check the other options out on Amazon if this model does not seem like the perfect fit.

If you’re not sold on this kit, take a look at the other alternatives MyStudio offers.

Up your game with this complete lighting kit by Linco, which offers several backdrop options to choose from. Alternatively, if you’re just starting out or want the most affordable option, try the Linco Lincostore Photography Photo Portrait Studio Lighting 600W Umbrella Continuous Lighting Kit.

Linco 2000 W Photo Studio Lighting Kit - 3 Color Muslin Backdrop, Background Stand, Photography Flora X Fluorescent 4-Socket & Auto Pop-Up Softbox

Linco Photography Lighting Set AM077

Features

Linco has taken on the task of lighting your studio for you. With many options to choose from, including strobe or continuous lighting, boom stands and background accessories, you can get in the game of taking professional photos and videos with their affordable equipment.

This 2000 watt studio kit comes complete with everything you need to take professional-level photos and videos. With a choice of three color backdrops: a green screen, a crisp white, or a black muslin, you have plenty of options to suit a variety of tasks.

The backdrop is held up by a 7’ x 10’ stand. The setup for this lighting kit is made easier due to the pop-up softbox design that comes with a diffuser for more natural light. The entire kit offers flexibility and versatility for all your lighting needs. It is well-made for the cost, plus it’s energy efficient.

Here are the specifics of what you get with this lighting kit:

Morning Glory storage bag
Weight bag for stability
Three 77” lightweight light stands
Three fluorescent 4 socket head lights
Three pop-up softboxes
One boom and stand kit
7’ x 10’ background support system
Three 5’ x 10’ backdrops in green, white, and black
Five backdrop clip holders
12 photography studio soft white bulbs
Lightstands are adjustable from 32” - 77”.

Undecided? Linco has lots of other photography lighting sets to choose from; check them out now!

LimoStudio offers a complete lighting kit to accommodate all your needs. However, if you’re looking specifically for a table top lighting set, take a look at the LimoStudio 16" x 16" Table Top Photo Photography Studio Lighting Light Tent Kit in a Box; it’s also an Amazon #1 Best Seller!

LimoStudio Photography Photo Portrait Studio 600W Day Light Umbrella Continuous Lighting Kit

LimoStudio Photography Lighting Set LMS103

Features

Get your specialized lighting equipment from LimoStudio. Founded in 2000, they offer plenty of products from lighting fixtures, barn doors, boom stands, sandbags and remote triggers to camera lenses and accessory bundles.

Get your studio up and running with this super-affordable studio kit by LimoStudio. It offers three lightstands, one tabletop stand that reaches 28” high, and two tall light stands with umbrellas that reach 86” high. There are three single socket fluorescent light fixtures, and a bag to carry your gear and bulbs.

Let’s look at what you get with this purchase in more detail:

Three 45 watt light bulbs
Three light stands
Two umbrellas
One umbrella carry case
One light bulb carry case
600 total watts

If this photography set isn’t right, why not browse through the other options from LimoStudio here!

Get the Best Photography Lighting Set of 2018!

Now is the best time to expand your lighting abilities, with a studio kit that offers plenty of options. All of these choices have something unique to offer with a range of options in the light modification. One of our featured kits is going to be the perfect complement to your next photo session, for more beautiful and captivating photos.

Our Top Choice

Fovitec StudioPRO 2500 Watt Photography Light Set

Best Value

Cowboy Studio Continuous Background Lighting Kit

MyStudio VersaSweep Photo Studio

Linco 2000 W Photo Studio Lighting Kit

LimoStudio Photography Photo Portrait Studio