10 Best Studio Lighting Kits in 2024: Tested & Rated

As a portrait photographer who spends most of my time in a studio, it was important for me to find the best studio lighting kit the market has to offer to ensure my photos look perfect. I relied on my years of experience and diligent tests to ensure my choice satisfied all my requirements.

This set provides fantastic results and has proven to be extremely versatile, which was a pleasant surprise given its price. Below, I'll go over the reasoning why I think this lighting kit is superior to the other options while also providing an array of alternatives, most of which include the main lights or LED panels, softboxes, flexible light stands, and a carrying case.

You can find plenty of high-quality options in the $42 to $350 price range, with the optimal choice between them depending on your specific needs.

When trying out different lighting kits, my goal was to find an option that delivers consistent performance and can be adapted to different shooting conditions. I began by evaluating the quality and specifications of the included components, the light wattage, reflector condition, and power output. I turned on the kit in my studio and employed a light meter to measure the lighting level at specific distance points and angles.

Afterward, I added the provided modifiers, softboxes, or photography umbrellas to examine how they change the quality, strength, and direction of the lighting. I also took note of the color temperature, shadow harshness, and the size of the illuminated area.

Determine your needs. Think about the genres you’re going to work in. Fashion, portrait, and macro photography might benefit from different lighting kids. If you plan to shoot multiple genres, consider picking a set that contains several lights, softboxes, diffusers, and other components. It’s also important to understand that even though you can craft a DIY light box for product photos or a light box for jewelry photography, fashion photography demands a professional lighting setup if you want to get terrific results.

Color Rendering Index (CRI). Color Rendering Index allows you to evaluate the light’s efficiency at producing natural colors, hues, and skin tones. Higher CRI values equate to higher light quality. If a lighting studio kit has a value of below 80, don’t even consider it.

Light color temperature. Color temperature sets the atmosphere and vibe of your photos: daylight (5000-6500K): generates a neutral white light, resembling natural daylight; tungsten (3200K): produces a warm, yellowish light; adjustable/bicolor lights: provides different color temperatures, offering superior versatility for a wider range of situations.

Power output. Your best bet is to go with power-efficient lights that pack a big punch. Energy-saving lights can last you for months and years without ever overheating while also being reasonably priced and having a smaller negative impact on the environment.

Light stands. Most light stands come in the shape of tripods that are comprised of aluminum. They are conveniently lightweight and are perfect for use in studio environments with even surfaces. C-stands offer better durability but can be cumbersome to use outdoors due to the increased weight.

Modifiers. Softboxes, umbrellas, and reflectors allow you to diffuse the lighting and soften the shadows. Prioritize kits that come with modifiers that allow you to customize the configuration of the lighting to fit different shooting conditions.

Remote controls. Remote controls for tweaking different parameters help improve your productivity and adjust the lighting without leaving the shooting position.

Portability. Factor in the portability of the set, particularly if you plan to use it on the road or outdoors as well. Lightweight stands and smaller lights are more convenient to pack and transport.

Value for money. Evaluate how much bang for your buck you can get from each studio lighting kit. More expensive sets are usually made of higher-quality materials and are more versatile, but you can still receive fantastic results from more budget-friendly options. If you're limited in funds, you might need to make a DIY photo lighting setup yourself.

Includes: 4 light stands, 2 light holders, 4 bulbs, 2 umbrellas, 2 softboxes, 3 backdrops, 6 backdrop clamps, 1 backdrop support system, carry bag

The provided manual is clear and concise and putting everything together barely took any effort. I can assemble and take apart the setup in just a few minutes, which is very important when traveling to on-location photoshoots. The 3-part telescopic stands and single-action locks make it easy to readjust the height of the lights, which can be crucial when capturing dynamic scenes.

I also appreciate how versatile this kit is. I chose to pair it with my camera for night photography for a nighttime portrait photoshoot. The included softboxes and umbrellas helped me create a soft, diffused light that flattered the model’s body and facial features. The LED lights offer a consistent color temperature, allowing me to enjoy natural skin tones.

I have found the stands to be satisfyingly sturdy and I never felt like my setup was about to fall over. Additionally, I employed the provided green background to do some chroma keying during post-processing. The large size of the backdrop helped me seamlessly replace it with a background depicting a nighttime urban scene.

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Includes: 2 monolights, 2 softboxes, 2 light stands, 2 power cables, RT-16 trigger set

Putting together this set was a seamless and intuitive process. It only took me a couple of minutes to get prepared for my first photoshoot. The flexible tripod and angle-adjusting screws made it easy for me to direct the light as I see fit and cover the entire scene included in the shot.

I particularly enjoyed using this Godox lighting set when taking headshots for a local company in my city. The 180W strobe lights illuminated the subjects perfectly while the softboxes ensured the lighting was soft and complemented their facial features. I used the kit to cover a 10x10 area and it performed admirably. I was able to use lower exposure settings while still getting perfectly lit close-up portrait photos.

The included RT-16 trigger can be used with most brands that produce cameras for portraits, including Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus, and Pentax. It provides wireless controls within a 30-meter area, but getting the wireless trigger to work was a bit challenging at first. Despite that fact, after I managed to synchronize the entire setup with my camera, I found this Godox set to be possibly the best photography studio lighting kit I’ve ever used.

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Includes: 2 softboxes, 2 LED light bulbs, 2 light stands, carrying bag

Assembling this kit requires less than 8 minutes. Each component is properly packaged and convenient to use. The construction can get top-heavy if you set the stands to be longer than 5ft, but you can employ sandbag weights to add the necessary stability. I also appreciate the ability to employ it for filmmaking, as it allows you to avoid investing in separate video lighting kits.

During my last fashion portrait shoot, I paired my camera for fashion photography, Canon 5D Mark II, with this kit and I was very happy with how the photos turned out. The added softboxes helped me shed an even, diffused light that highlighted the beauty of the model and the clothes they were wearing. I tried shooting from different angles and positions and the results were consistently great.

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Includes: 2 bulbs, 2 light sockets, 2 adjustable light stands, 2 white umbrellas, padded carrying case

The Savage LED60K set comes with a couple of 30W LED lights that generate the equivalent of 500W incandescent light. Such light bulbs are stunningly energy efficient, preserving up to 85% of energy when juxtaposed against regular incandescent bulbs.

I found this LED studio lighting kit to be a fantastic fit for children's photography. During such a photo shoot, I used these LED bulbs to create soft, uniform lighting that filled the scene and flattered the kids in the photos. The light is powerful enough to cover the entire shooting area while still being soft enough to avoid casting harsh shadows or making the skin color look unnatural.

I frequently have to shoot on-location in different studios, so I greatly appreciated how portable this kit is. The stands are extremely lightweight and the small carrying case can be conveniently packed in my car. Additionally, the straightforward assembly process ensures I’m ready to start taking photos just a couple of minutes after arriving at my destination.

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Includes: 2 studio panel lights, 2 barn doors, 2 tilt mounts, 2 light stands, 2 power cords, 1 remote, syncs to control multiple devices, travel bag

The Lume Cube Studio panel lighting kit provides powerful and easily transportable panels that can be used for both compact and spacy photography studios. This set includes 204 bicolor LEDs made using innovative edge-lit technology. Such lights offer soft, uniform lighting that is ideal for portrait photoshoots.

I used one panel as the primary light and placed it at a 45o angle to the model while the other panel served as a fill light on the other side of the scene. Such an arrangement produced perfectly balanced lighting that emphasized the subject's most appealing features while ensuring they still looked natural.

I chose the 75% brightness value for my primary LED light at 5600K while keeping the fill light at 50%. The barn doors allowed me to direct the light at the model’s face, achieving a soft, complementing effect. Being a premium kit, it also lets me tweak the brightness and color temperature, ensuring I can set the optimal lighting for different environments, whether I want a warm, relaxing portrait, or a more restrained, cooler vibe.

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Includes: 2 softboxes, 2 CFL daylight bulbs, 2 light stands, carry bag

All parts included in this kit can fit comfortably in the included carry case, making it a great choice for photographers who are constantly on the move. Meanwhile, the adjustable lamp holder lets you set different shooting angles to ensure your portrait photos are as diverse as possible.

I employed the Showmaven set to create a soft, evenly spread light for a family shoot. I placed the two softboxes at 45o angles to the subjects. As a result, the scene was perfectly illuminated without suffering from harsh shadows.

The tripod stands feel dependable enough as long as you don't put too much weight on them. The softboxes also perform well, diffusing the light and making the model look more appealing, which along with the cheap price, is one of the main reasons why I think that this is a fantastic studio lighting kit for beginners.

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Includes: ring light, tripod, wireless remote shutter

Supplied with 9 dynamic RGB colors, 3 white light modes (cool, warm, and neutral), and 7 special effects, the Bower Selfie Ring is among the most versatile studio lighting kits on the market. I leveraged such flexibility to the maximum by enhancing my portrait photos with kinds of visual effects and lighting configurations, particularly when taking pictures against a black backdrop.

During one of my portrait shoots, I employed this ring light for photography to create a colorful, dynamic backdrop for my pictures. I mounted the light on the tripod and tried out various RGB settings. Each color infused my photos with a unique atmosphere and look, much to the adoration of my clients. The fact that I could easily switch between different effects using the provided remote control made the process of taking photos even more streamlined and efficient.

Additionally, the fact that I can change the brightness of this light allows me to adapt my setup to different shooting conditions while the adjustable tripod helps me snap close-ups and full-body portraits, as I configure the lighting as I see fit.

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Includes: 2 light panels, 2 phone holders, 2 tripod stands, storage bag, 2 USB-C adapters

I employed the NiceVeedi LED kit to infuse my studio with a warm, cozy mood. It’s a particularly fantastic set for maternity photography. It also allowed me to easily change color temperatures to choose the optimal look for different shots. I chose 2800K for one light and 4800K for the other, finding a balance between warmth and neutral tones that added depth to the scene. The lights also have a brightness setting that helped me tweak the lighting configuration until the subjects weren’t casting any rough shadows.

Another reason why I love this kit is the high CRI value of over 97. Such quality is essential for portrait photography since I need to provide natural colors and beautiful skin tones. You can power the lights via USB, meaning you can charge them from your wall, power bank, or laptop.

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Includes: 2 umbrellas, 3 light stands, carry case

One of the latest additions to my gear set was the Cowboy Studio Lighting Kit. It offers all the components an aspiring photographer might need while also being sold at a very reasonable price. Putting the kit together was simple and quick, and I barely even had to look at the manual. This kit is particularly well suited for smaller photography studios and close-up photos.

I used this set to produce a soft, diffused light by employing the pair of umbrellas and stands included in the package and placing them at 45o angles to the model. The light was gentle and provided a flattering illumination without harsh shadows.

The stands lack a bit of stability, but as long as you’re not reckless, you won’t risk them falling over when doing portrait photography. However, the plastic mounting knobs seem a bit too fragile so handle them with care. Setting up the backdrop was also very simple and I could easily adjust the height and placement of the background as I saw fit.

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Includes: 3 LED lights, 3 softboxes, 3 light stands, 3 remote controls, 1 boom arm, 1 carry case

This set offers a fantastic LED light with 140 premium-grade beads that have a power rating of 85W. It’s also extremely energy-efficient, allowing you to save up to 80% energy compared to lights in the same class.

When testing the kit, I paired the Andoer set with my Nikon portrait lens – Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED to achieve the optimal lighting conditions. I combined the cold and warm modes to create natural lighting that helped highlight the beauty of the model. The fact that I can adjust the color temperature and brightness using remote controls made it very simple to change from pose to pose while experimenting with different angles and shooting positions.

I have also enjoyed using this kit when setting up newborn photography lighting. I could reduce the brightness to ensure the lights didn’t damage the baby’s eyes while setting a warm color temperature helped me set the cozy atmosphere I was going for.

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If you’re not happy with your photos even after getting a studio light kit, I suggest downloading these free overlays from FixThePhoto. They were designed to deal with all kinds of lighting problems and ensure your photos look professional and aesthetically pleasing. They get rid of rough shadows and can also apply some artistic effects. You can use these overlays with any software that has layer support, including Photoshop, GIMP, and so on. The files are provided in PNG format and can be opened on both Mac and Windows PCs.