Best Light for Photography: Flash vs LED & How to Choose the Right Setup

John Gress December 9, 2024
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John Gress

@johngress

About

Welcome to my channel! Here, you’ll learn how to master studio lighting and elevate your photography skills through in-depth tutorials, gear reviews, and creative lighting techniques. My goal is to help you avoid the struggles I faced, making your journey easier and faster. Thank you for being here—subscribe and join our growing community! For over 25 years, I’ve created stunning visuals for top brands including ESPN, Hyatt, Lufthansa, Miller, Nike, Pledge, Windex, and more. My work has been featured in People, Glamour, Sports Illustrated, and Time. Professional Photographer Magazine called me “one of the nation’s foremost experts on lighting.” Take your learning to the next level by attending my in-person workshops, buying my lighting handbooks, or joining The Academy with John Gress, my exclusive members-only learning platform. Links below. My purpose on YouTube is to help you grow your skills in photography, lighting, and creativity. Let’s keep learning and growing together!

Video Description

Are you searching for the best light for photography, best lighting setup for studio photography, or best constant light for photography? In this video, I’ll guide you through how to choose the right light for your creative needs—whether it’s LED, continuous, or flash lighting. Drawing on over 25 years of professional photography experience, I’ll explain the key differences, share my personal recommendations, and help you find versatile tools to elevate your work. From understanding light quality and placement to exploring must-have modifiers like the 100cm octabox and silver beauty dish, this video will provide actionable insights to improve your lighting setups. Whether you’re shooting portraits, fashion, or outdoor scenes, the right tools and techniques make all the difference. 📌 Gear Mentioned in the Video: Elinchrom FIVE Amazon https://amzn.to/3Um6V61 (https://amzn.to/3Um6V61) B&H https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ (https://bhpho.to/3LcypYZ) Elinchrom THREE Amazon https://amzn.to/4dgoPl8 B&H https://bhpho.to/46Sg90q (https://bhpho.to/46Sg90q) Profoto B10X Amazon https://amzn.to/45tFRHl B&H https://bhpho.to/3PWUa1d Nanlite Forza 720 LED Spot Light  Amazon https://amzn.to/3VAoQb1 Nanlite https://nanlite.pxf.io/AoVrzo (https://nanlite.pxf.io/AoVrzo) B&H https://bhpho.to/424TuvS Nanlite Forza 500 LED Monolight Nanlite https://nanlite.pxf.io/e4MDVO (https://nanlite.pxf.io/e4MDVO) B&H https://bhpho.to/42mZSOI Nanlite FS 300B Bicolor LED Monolight  Nanlite https://nanlite.pxf.io/MXxZZP (https://nanlite.pxf.io/MXxZZP) B&H https://bhpho.to/3I3Mibt Elinchrom Rotalux Deep Octabox (100cm / 39”)  Amazon https://amzn.to/3fRG5AH (https://amzn.to/3fRG5AH) B&H https://bhpho.to/3oSg0cy (https://bhpho.to/3oSg0cy) Elinchrom Softlite 27" Reflector (Beauty Dish) 64 degrees - Silver B&H https://bhpho.to/3MMhJcl Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 02:08 - Continuous V Flash 02:24 - Why you would choose continuous lights 02:52 - The Power of Flash 04:34 - Which continuous lights should you buy? 05:29 - My Recommendations for Continuous Lights 06:06 - Colored LEDs vs. Gels 06:34 - My Recommendations for Flash Units 07:46 - Quality of Light & Modifiers 10:35 - Final Thoughts #BestLightForPhotography #PhotographyLighting #StudioPhotography #FlashVsLED #PhotographyTips #PhotographyGear #LightingSetup #Elinchrom #Nanlite #FlashPhotography #PortraitPhotography #LightingModifiers #photographyessentials Click here for a full list of all the gear I use in the studio - https://johngress.com/gear/ Disclosure: This description contains affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a commission — at no additional cost to you.

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