Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video I share my three tips for successfully shooting with continuous lights for studio portraits. Continuous lighting has become a game-changer in my work, providing me with the flexibility to capture stills and motion simultaneously without changing the lighting setup. I discuss the importance of managing ambient light, optimizing camera settings, and selecting the right continuous light sources for your specific needs. Whether you're new to continuous lighting or looking to enhance your studio shoots, these tips will help you integrate continuous lights seamlessly.
I have an entire episode of Learn+ dedicated to continuous lights. You can check out the preview for that here: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com/learn-plus-episode-24-continuous-light
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Controlling Ambient Light
1:48 Watch your camera settings
2:26 Shutter speed
3:16 Image stabilization
3:32 ISO
3:54 Aperture
4:11 Color Temperature
4:29 Know your output
6:48 Shooting groups
⭐ Highlights
📷 To successfully shoot with continuous lights in a studio, eliminate all unwanted ambient light.
📷 Be conscious of your camera settings, especially your shutter speed, which should be at least 1/200th of a second for best results.
📷 Higher ISO settings may be necessary when using continuous lights, and image stabilization should be activated to counteract camera shake.
📷 Consider the output of your light source when choosing your camera settings and aperture.
📷 Always be aware of the color temperature of your light and set a custom Kelvin white balance.
📷 For close-up shots or product work, around 200 watts of output can suffice, while shooting groups may require 500 watts or more.
📷 Keep in mind that most affordable continuous lights do not have as much output as strobes, so choose your light's power carefully based on your shooting needs.
📸 Continuous lights I recommend:
✅ NanLite PavoTube 30C 4' RGBW LED: https://prf.hn/l/lQOkL8x/
✅ NanLite Forza 300B II 350W Bi-Color LED Video Spotlight: https://prf.hn/l/eO9NoQ8/
✅ NanLite Forza 720B 800W 2700-6500K Bi-Color LED Monolight: https://prf.hn/l/ZZLo9QN/
✅ NanLite FC-500B 520W Bi-Color LED Video Spotlight: https://prf.hn/l/8j5g28w/
✅ Flashpoint monolights: https://prf.hn/l/7gGgXD4/
✅ Godox monolights: https://prf.hn/l/8jmBxpN/
🔥 To learn more about using continuous lights check out my brand new guide The Creative Studio Lighting Guide II 👉 https://lindsayadler.photo/clg2
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👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
In this video I share my three tips for successfully shooting with continuous lights for studio portraits. Continuous lighting has become a game-changer in my work, providing me with the flexibility to capture stills and motion simultaneously without changing the lighting setup. I discuss the importance of managing ambient light, optimizing camera settings, and selecting the right continuous light sources for your specific needs. Whether you're new to continuous lighting or looking to enhance your studio shoots, these tips will help you integrate continuous lights seamlessly.
I have an entire episode of Learn+ dedicated to continuous lights. You can check out the preview for that here: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com/learn-plus-episode-24-continuous-light
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Controlling Ambient Light
1:48 Watch your camera settings
2:26 Shutter speed
3:16 Image stabilization
3:32 ISO
3:54 Aperture
4:11 Color Temperature
4:29 Know your output
6:48 Shooting groups
⭐ Highlights
📷 To successfully shoot with continuous lights in a studio, eliminate all unwanted ambient light.
📷 Be conscious of your camera settings, especially your shutter speed, which should be at least 1/200th of a second for best results.
📷 Higher ISO settings may be necessary when using continuous lights, and image stabilization should be activated to counteract camera shake.
📷 Consider the output of your light source when choosing your camera settings and aperture.
📷 Always be aware of the color temperature of your light and set a custom Kelvin white balance.
📷 For close-up shots or product work, around 200 watts of output can suffice, while shooting groups may require 500 watts or more.
📷 Keep in mind that most affordable continuous lights do not have as much output as strobes, so choose your light's power carefully based on your shooting needs.
📸 Continuous lights I recommend:
✅ NanLite PavoTube 30C 4' RGBW LED: https://prf.hn/l/lQOkL8x/
✅ NanLite Forza 300B II 350W Bi-Color LED Video Spotlight: https://prf.hn/l/eO9NoQ8/
✅ NanLite Forza 720B 800W 2700-6500K Bi-Color LED Monolight: https://prf.hn/l/ZZLo9QN/
✅ NanLite FC-500B 520W Bi-Color LED Video Spotlight: https://prf.hn/l/8j5g28w/
✅ Flashpoint monolights: https://prf.hn/l/7gGgXD4/
✅ Godox monolights: https://prf.hn/l/8jmBxpN/
🔥 To learn more about using continuous lights check out my brand new guide The Creative Studio Lighting Guide II 👉 https://lindsayadler.photo/clg2
----
👉 Portfolio: lindsayadlerphotography.com
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/lindsayadler_photo
👉 Facebook: facebook.com/lindsayadlerphotography
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/lindsayadler
👉 Education: learn.lindsayadlerphotography.com
Some of the links in this description contain affiliate links to partners.
