We’ll list small LED lights for handheld photography to large LED panels for studio photography. Whatever you need, you’ll find the right LED light for your project. There’s a massive range of different lights out there, but our top pick is the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights. It provides versatility, easy flexible control, and good value for money. [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here].
What Are the Best LED Lights for Photography?
Before we look at the details of the LED lights we have chosen, here is a summary of our recommendations. Now let’s look at our picks in more detail. The Govee RGBIC Smart Strip Lights are the best on the market. They’re far better than any set of Christmas lights. They give you fantastic lighting options for photography. You can create different moods and transform atmospheres for stylish photos. And you have incredible lighting control with the Govee app. The Govee set of strip lights allows for incredible creativity when it comes to lighting. You get 65.6 ft (20 m) worth of strip lighting. That works out at 5050 LED bulbs. There are also 32.8 ft (10 m) and 16.4 ft (5 m) options. Plus, every LED bulb can change color. They can change between red, green, blue, indigo, and cyan. And there’s also basic white. You don’t have to use the lights as one big strip. The main strip is separated into 15 segments. And each segment can be controlled individually, giving you unlimited creative options. The Govee strip lights are “smart.” So you can control them using your smartphone after downloading the Govee app. Then you have complete control over the strip lights. You can change the colors and sequences. Or apply one of the 64 scene modes. It’s all done from your phone, so you don’t need to move to make changes. You can also sync the strip lights to music. They flash and change color with the music. It’s a great way to bring energy and excitement to your photoshoots. It sets the tone and creates the mood for taking stylish pictures. The Govee smart strip lights are ideal for commercials and music videos. They’re a fun and vibrant LED lighting option for media makers. The Rotolight Neo 2 panel is a versatile light for photography work. It is a dual-purpose light source. It works as a continuous light and a flash. And its range of use makes it a popular choice with photographers and videographers. It isn’t a budget lighting option. But it’s a solid piece of kit and worth the price. We think it’s the best LED light panel out there. It’s a circular LED light panel with a diameter of 10.9″ (28 cm). It’s small, lightweight at 1.1 lb (500 g), and easy to transport. It fits nicely in kit bags. And despite its convenient size, it gives you incredible lighting power. At full power, it gives you a brightness of 6,300K. This is full tungsten mode. But you can adjust the color temperature to suit your shots. You can reduce the brightness to the daylight setting (3,150K). That gives you a more natural light effect. The Rotolight Neo 2 gives both modes the same adjustable color temperature settings. The Neo 2 has several benefits over traditional flash lights. You get more brightness options. There’s no power loss after you use the flash, even at the highest settings. And there’s no recycle time (recharge time). So the Neo 2 can keep up with the most trigger-happy photographers. You also have plenty of mounting options for the Neo 2. You can fix it to a light stand or tripod. And it’ll connect to your DSLR or mirrorless camera using the hot shoe. That makes flash syncing easy. And it gives you a sync rate of 1/8000 s. You won’t miss a thing with that sync rate. The Rotolight Neo 2 also has power source options. You can plug it in for optimal power. You get full power with no time limit. But you can also switch to battery power for shoots on location. So you don’t need to worry about dramatic power consumption. Six AA batteries give you 85,000 full power flashes and 2 hours of constant light. That’s another reason it’s the best LED light panel for photographers. This is a set of three lights, but other permutations are possible. This ring light from Lume Cube is one of the best LED photography lights you’ll find. It gives you fantastic illumination with useful brightness controls. It gives you even, continuous light without harsh shadows. It’s the perfect LED light option for portraits, headshots, and self-portraits. And it’s a must-have for vloggers and video makers. The light ring is 18″ (45.7 cm). The wide ring prevents shadows from forming on your subject’s face. And it illuminates the outer edges of their face and head so they stand out from the background. The ring’s size allows you to use large cameras in the center. It’s big enough for DSLR or mirrorless cameras. The Lume Cube ring light gives you an adjustable color temperature. It has a temperature range of 3,200 to 5,600K. You have enough power for intense illumination. But you can also switch to warm light for more natural scenes. The LED lights give flicker-free illumination, which is ideal for videos and vlogs. It’s a wireless lighting solution. The Lume Cube ring light uses two lithium-ion batteries. So you don’t need an electric outlet. The batteries give you 70 minutes of maximum continuous light output. That gives you the freedom to shoot from anywhere. And it allows you to shoot long-form media content. This ring light is also a portable lighting solution. Not only is it wireless. It comes with a handy carry case for transportation. So you can take it anywhere. The kit also includes a tripod stand. There’s a mount for your smartphone or camera. And there’s a battery charger. It’s the best LED ring light for photographers. This is a fantastic LED light panel for creative video makers and photographers. It offers exciting alternatives to traditional studio lights. It brings color and vibrant energy to your shoots. And it gives you great creative control. It’s one of the best LED light panels for studio photography and video. The light panel measures 9.14 x 7.89″ (23.2 x 20 cm). It has a solid aluminum alloy construction. And it houses a total of 660 LED bulbs.
320 RGB color bulbs 170 cool white bulbs 170 warm yellow bulbs
It gives you the brightness you need for any scene. And it gives you excellent color and temperature options. It has a color temperature range of 3,200 to 5,600K. The 660 bulbs are smartphone LED lights. So you have remote control of the light setting when you use the Neewer lighting app. It gives you the power to change the temperature and color. And you get nine unique scene modes for alternative lighting options. The app is easy to use, with slider controls for brightness and tones. It gives you eight channel options. So you can control up to eight Neewer light panels. But it has poor reviews in both the Apple and Google app stores. The lighting kits also include detachable barn doors. These help you harness the strength and direction of the lights. And there’s a white diffuser to soften harsh light. The Neewer LED panel has an AC adaptor to plug in. You can also operate the lights with lithium-ion batteries. But the Sony batteries are sold separately. And there’s a carry case for easy transportation. This is another one of the best LED light panels. It’s a funky alternative to standard studio lighting. The GUPUP LED strip lights are a fantastic, affordable lighting solution. They give you fabulous creative options for photos, videos, and vlogs. And they help boost your social media content. You can create unique atmospheres for stylish portraits. Or you can transform any dull room into a funky media studio. This GUPUP set gives you 100 ft (30 m) of light strips. There are other lengths. But this is enough to decorate your entire studio. 100 ft is a lot to deal with, so you can cut the strips down to size. You can cut along the designated cutting lines to make custom strips. But you need to buy a 4-pin connector for each new strip. You can also attach the LED strips to any surface. The backside has a strong adhesive that latches onto any surface or material. You can stick them to household or studio fittings. Or you can stick them to movable boards to create custom LED light panels. Each LED light can change between six different colors. You get red, green, blue, yellow, indigo, and cyan. You can set them to one color. Or you can play around with the hundreds of color combinations. You can set the exact mood you want for your profile pictures or vlog shoot! The GUPUP light set comes with a remote control. But you get even more options when you use the Apollo app on your smartphone. (Available for Android, iOS, or PC.) You can set color and brightness. And you have scene modes and sequences for different atmospheres. The lights also have a handy memory function. It remembers the last mode you used. So you don’t have to start from scratch each time. This is one of the best value lighting kits you’ll find. GVM LED light panels give you professional quality lighting for photography and video. They’re ideal for studio photography, including portraiture and fashion. But they resolve your lighting issues on location too. They’re the best LED light panel light for serious video makers. Whether you’re shooting a music video or period drama, the GVM LED light panels have you covered. Each light panel has a total of 480 bulbs. That’s 240 white and 240 yellow bulbs for cool and warm light. You have a color temperature range between 2,300 and 6,800K. That solves your lighting problems for any situation. Plus, you can change the brightness level at any temperature. You can go from 100% brightness down to 10%. The panels have manual controls for brightness and temperature on the back. But you can also go remote using the GVM app. You can make any adjustment you like from your smartphone. That saves time and energy during a busy shoot. Scan the QR code on their website or in the manual to download the app. The GVM LED panels are serious pieces of equipment for professional photographers. They’re made of aluminum alloy. And the heat-dispersion technology means they don’t overheat. They have a U-mount bracket that attaches to the tripod. An adjustable soft board and barn doors are included to adjust light intensity. And the carry case is another handy accessory in the pack. The GVM lights work through an AC power adapter. You can also go wireless with a lithium-ion battery. But the Sony battery is sold separately. The light stands are included, though. And it’s a set that includes two lights, giving you professional lighting options. The GVM LED light panels will take your photography and video to a whole new level! The LED studio light panels from GSKAIWEN offer another studio lighting solution. They’re ideal lights for studio photography. They give you the perfect lighting for fine art portraits and fashion photoshoots. They’re also ideal for video media. You can shoot vlogs, makeup tutorials, and interviews. They boost lighting for your music videos too. The LED lights are arranged on a long light panel. There are two LED panels in the set. And each panel has 90 LED beads. They give you fantastic color temperature options. You can opt for bright white light. Or you can reduce the temperature for warmer tones and softer light. They are perfect continuous lights for product photography. The LED panels come with excellent tripod stands. And the flexible panel neck gives you infinite setup options. Two adaptors with temperature control knobs are included. The whole lighting kit allows you to get the perfect lighting arrangement no matter what you’re shooting. There’s no battery power option, so you must plug it in. That’s no problem if you’re in a studio. But it does limit your location shooting with these LED lights. Once plugged in, you get up to 10,000 hours of light from the LED bulbs! This is another top-level LED light for photography. IVISII isn’t the best-known brand name in photography equipment. But this LED ring light deserves your attention. It offers excellent lighting options for vloggers and social media creators. But it’s big and powerful enough for professional studio photography. The LED ring is 19″ (48 cm). And it contains 240 LED bulbs. They combine to give you a total power output of 55W. You can adjust the color temperature anywhere between 3,000 and 5,800K. That gives you a bright white and a warm yellow. And the brightness drops from 100% to 1% with ten stops in between. It means a nice wide range of light! The light panel sits on a flexible head. You can tilt the ring up to 180 degrees, allowing you to get the perfect angle. That helps with portraits, headshots, and product photography. The ring also has a camera mount. And it can hold smartphones for selfies or vlogs. But it also supports heavier units like DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. It connects using the hot shoe adaptor for synchronization. The LED panel comes with an aluminum alloy tripod stand. It’s telescopic, so you can set the perfect height. And with a maximum height of 75″ (1.9 m), there are very few studio limitations. The only power source is via the plug. That limits the ring light to use in the studio or indoor locations. But the IVISII ring is still one of the best LED photography lights available. The Novostella Smart outdoor lights are another LED lighting option for photography. They are made for outdoor use and are completely waterproof. That gives you even more creative lighting opportunities. You can shoot on location in any weather. And you can use them in studios with rain simulations. Novostella gives you 52.5 ft (16 m) or 105 ft (32 m) of waterproof strip lights. All parts are waterproof, including the power supply. And the low-wattage LED bulbs are low power consumption. So they don’t heat up and are safe for indoor and outdoor use. It’s great lighting for runway fashion shoots at night. And using them for music videos is also possible. These are “smart” LED lights. That means you can control them remotely using Novostella’s mobile app. You can change the colors, the color temperature, and the sequences from your phone. And it gives you access to plenty of fun modes for extra lighting options. You also have music sync mode. It’s a sure way to bring some life to your photoshoot! The Raleno LED light panel is a simple solution to your lighting problems. It’s ideal for vlogs, videos, and baby photography. It’s an affordable light panel. And it’s on our list of the best LED photography lights for its soft light and portability. The Raleno LED panel measures 7.5 x 10.6″ (19 x 27 cm). It’s a handy size that fits nicely in your camera bag. The panel is fitted with 192 LED beads, which gives you fantastic illumination. And you have controls for brightness and color temperature for harsh or soft light. It also uses heat-dissipation technology so it won’t overheat. Like all good photography lights, the LED light panel has a hot shoe connector. Plus, this light kit is battery-powered. The battery is built into the panel body. And it gives you 110 minutes of continuous light when fully charged. You can consider the LCD screen a bonus feature! For a budget photographer, it’s the best LED light panel you can buy. This Lume Cube option is the best LED light panel of its size. It’s a handy, pocket-sized LED, but still gives you fantastic illumination. It mounts directly onto your camera, adding light to your scene and subject. It’s excellent for product photography and vlogging. And it helps with your portraits and self-portraits. It’s one of the most convenient LED photography lights you can find. It’s a small LED panel, but it gives you light when you need it. It has adjustable color temperatures between 3,200 and 5,600K. And the brightness settings give you options between 1 and 100%. You have a nice range from harsh to soft light. It mounts directly onto your camera using the hot shoe connector. And it’s compatible with DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It’s battery-powered and wireless. And it gives you 16 hours of uninterrupted LED lighting. It’s a continuous light source with flicker-free illumination. And it’s one of the best LED light panels for YouTube cameras and streaming cameras. But it’s also perfect for photographers in the studio and on location. Food photographers should give it a try.
What are LED Lights for Photography?
LED lights offer new lighting opportunities for photographers. There’s nothing wrong with a flash setup and some softboxes. But LED lights offer something different. They give you a variety of lighting styles. Plus, they add color and energy to your shoots. We list three types of LED lighting for cameras. We have strip lights, LED panels, and ring lights. All three offer excellent lighting for photography. But each gives you something different. It’s important to get the LED lights that suit your photography needs.
LED Strip Lights for Photography
LED strip lights are long, thin, flat pieces of material. They’re similar to fairy lights. But the LED bulbs are attached to these strips of material. The strips can be stuck to walls using the adhesive on the back. And you can often cut them up for more creative options. LED strip lights are more sophisticated than traditional fairy lights. They don’t just twinkle or flash on and off. You can create lighting sequences by having the lights change color or flash in rhythm. You can synch some LED light strips with an app. The app lets you control the color changes and sequence of the lights. You can sync some strip lights to music to flash and change with the beat. It can add energy to any photo shoot. Strip lights are also excellent for creating an atmosphere. You can transform a dull shooting location into a neon dungeon or romantic hideout. People originally viewed strip lights as home decorations. But now, professional photographers have seen how they can transform a photoshoot. They are excellent for moody fairytale portraits and fashion photography. And you can get creative with your product photography lighting.
LED Light Panels for Photography
An LED light panel is a flat unit equipped with LED bulbs. They’re excellent for these reasons:
They offer consistent light for photo shoots. They’re less intense than traditional strobes and bulbs. They can imitate more natural light. They give you more variety and brightness options.
LED light panels can be rectangular or round. Both give you flat, continuous lighting for a variety of photo styles. They work well for portraits and headshots. And they’re handy for Zoom calls and internet conferencing. LED panels tend to give you white light. But you can apply filters and gels to change the color. Many portrait photographers use three lights for perfect portraits. The main light sits in front. Another is placed on the side to remove shadows. And one is put behind the subject to make them pop from the background. You don’t need all three lights for success. But LED light panels make this lighting setup easy.
LED Ring Lights for Photography
Ring lights are perfect for portrait photography and self-portrait photographers. The LED lights are situated on a circular setup—a ring. And you place the ring in front of your subject. Ring lights provide even lighting over the subject’s face, removing harsh shadows. They also give the eyes an attractive sparkle. Ring lights are popular with social media influencers and TikTokers. They’re a simple lighting solution. And they give you flattering light when you need to face the camera. You can also use two for more light intensity and creative lighting.
Conclusion
The Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights are undoubtedly the best LED lights for photography. They offer a wide range of colors and brightness settings. These allow you to customize the lighting to get the perfect shot. The adhesive backing makes them easy to attach to any surface, making it easy to get creative with your lighting. The convenient remote control allows you to change the lighting quickly and easily. With its great value and quality, the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights are highly recommended for photographers of all levels.
