The 4 Best Studio Light Kits for Photographers in 2023

Here is our compact list of the best lighting kits that will allow you to capture stunning photos and video.

Which lighting kit you purchase will depend on what you intend to shoot: portraits, products, still life, macro images of insects, or even green screen video that allows you to get really creative and add different backgrounds when you’re editing the footage on your PC.

Best Overall

Weifeng Premium Portrait Photography Studio Lighting Kit

Amazon

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What We Like

• Solid quality for the price

• Includes backdrop setup

• Portable full setup

What We Don’t Like

• Quality isn’t as high as other options

If you’re looking for a more complete kit than the barebones kit, the Premium Photography Studio Lighting Kit from Weifeng comes with a lot more useful studio equipment than many of its competitors. 

It includes four adjustable lighting stands with two white and two black umbrellas, four 45W light bulbs, and an 8-by-10-foot backdrop frame with three backdrops (black, white, and green).

If you don’t have any equipment yet, or if you’re a professional photographer looking for a lightweight and flexible travel kit, this is a great option. The whole thing weighs only 26 pounds and is quick to set up and break down.

The only downside is that the lights in this kit aren’t quite as high quality as those in more expensive kits.

Best for product photography

OrangeMonkey Foldio3

OrangeMonkey

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What we like

• Foldable and compact for travel and storage

• Makes it easy to capture professional product shots

• Perfect for home businesses

What we don’t like

• The size limits what can be photographed

If you’re selling products from your home or small business online, the Foldio3 from OrangeMonkie takes much of the challenge and steep learning curve out of product photography by offering an all-in-one solution that includes everything you need.

The Foldio3 uses a magnetic clip system so that it can be assembled or taken down in mere seconds, and it stows into a highly compact and portable package for travel or storage in locations where space is at a premium. 

Non-reflective black and white backdrops are included, which are made of plastic and are easy to clean. Its built-in multi-light system is designed to minimize harsh shadows on your subject. The one downside is that you are limited by the size of the enclosure to the products you can photograph, since the largest version is only 25 inches wide.

Even if you can’t afford to invest in a fancy camera, the Foldio3 allows you to capture professional looking images just with your phone.

Best for versatility

Lume Cube 2.0 Pro Lighting Kit

Amazon

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What we like

• Compact and portable

• Rugged and waterproof

• Battery powered

What we don’t like

• A bit pricey

• Not effective in bright conditions

If you’re unsure of exactly what you need from a lighting kit, then the Lume Cube 2.0 Pro Lighting Kit is a great option. These diminutive little lights produce a surprising amount of light despite their tiny size, and have a wealth of talents hidden inside their unassuming exteriors.

The Cube 2.0 is designed to be paired with just about any camera, from a high end pro-mirrorless camera to your smartphone, or even strapped to your drone.

The lights themselves are dimmable, and can be used both as continuous lights or as flashes for still photography, and can be controlled via Bluetooth connection. The kit includes a bunch of modifiers to let you alter the characteristics of the light.

The only downsides are that the kit is somewhat expensive, and the lights, though remarkably bright, aren’t very useful in sunlit conditions. 

For photographers and videographers on the go who need to shoot in a variety of scenarios, however, the Lume Cube 2.0 Pro Lighting Kit is easily one of the most versatile on the market.

Best Value

StudioFX 2400W Softbox Lighting Kit with Backdrop

Amazon

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What We Like

• Full setup

• Includes overhead boom

• Bright

What We Don’t Like

• Softboxes are on the small side

If you’re setting up a complete indoor studio space but don’t want it to take up too much room, this kit from StudioFX is compact and has just about everything you need right in the bag.

It includes two seven-foot stands with four-socket heads, one overhead boom with a single-socket head, an adjustable backdrop stand, and three backdrops (black, white, and green). 

The pair of four-socket heads come with 45W bulbs and puts out a good amount of light, but some of the included softboxes are on the small side at 16 x 24 inches each. The overhead softbox is larger at 20 x 28 inches.

The two vertical stands are adjustable up to seven feet and the boom arm is adjustable to nearly six feet.

This isn’t the largest kit on the market, but that’s actually an advantage if you’re working in a smaller space. For the money, this kit provides excellent value. 

StudioFX 2400W Large Softbox Lighting Kit Review