Fluorescent Lights

Choosing Fluorescent Lights for Photography

Deciding on the right fluorescent lighting for a studio means understanding its benefits. Fluorescent bulbs offer continuous light that you can dim or brighten throughout a photo session. With continuous studio lights such as fluorescent or tungsten lights, the lighting you observe in studio is mirrored in photo results.

What Are Fluorescent Bulbs Made Of?

Colored fluorescent lights come in white, green, warm-yellow, or red hues. Fluorescent lamps are energy-efficient artificial lights, created by mixing argon and mercury vapors and then charging the chemicals with alkaline-coated metal electrodes. The electricity connects with the gas and ionizes it, and then phosphors turn it into light. Other forms of energy-efficient artificial lighting for photography are LED lights, which produce illumination similar to natural sources like the sun.

Using Fluorescent Lamps in Photography

Newer fluorescent options give off a soft light, much like incandescent bulbs, which makes them an excellent option for portrait photography. Another common use for fluorescent photography lights is product imagery. When using compact fluorescent lights, select options with a color rendering index, or CRI, of 90 or better, for the best results when mixed with daylight. Other versions, such as 8-foot fluorescent lights that cover more area, work well for outdoor shots and modeling shoots. Fluorescent light socket stands can come in kits, with options for umbrellas, reflectors, or green screens to increase your photography range. Choose from fluorescent socket stands that have anywhere from one to seven sockets, for a small to large area of coverage.

B&H Photo and Video carries fluorescent lighting and continuous lighting kits for professional and amateur photographers. Find the right fluorescent, LED, and incandescent lighting options for your studio.