Starter Lighting Equipment Recs

The Starter Pack

When I was first starting out, I was constantly struggling between wanting to throw my life savings into equipment, but staying as frugal as humanly possible. Here are my lighting kit recommendations for a sub-$250 starting out budget. These 5 lights will be perfect for starting out as a photographer and cinematographer.

FancierStudio 3 Light Kit

Link: ​https://amzn.to/2CGHuaS

This was my very first kit starting out. The lights are fairly bright and each softbox comes with two layers of diffusion, so you'll be able to get some very pretty lighting. While I wouldn't use this for a huge film set, if you're starting out in corporate interviews or basic documentary setups, these will do the job just fine. Match these up with a nice flash and you'll have a great hybrid photo-video kit.

Starter Flash: Neewer 560

Link: ​https://amzn.to/2CHcmId

Another great option for people starting off. Neewer is known for being the budget micro-budget option. This flash system is extremely bright, almost too bright, so make sure to couple it with a flash diffuser and you'll have some excellent headshots for starting out!

Best Eye Light: Neewer 160

Link: ​https://amzn.to/2EKnEOL

I actually still use this light on pretty much every outdoor photo or video shoot. It's insanely bright, packing 160 LED panels and a tungsten filter if you want to get that old-school Hollywood look.