LED Lights for YouTube Videos – Part 1

Lighting for YouTube videos is a hot topic these days! There are more video lighting options on the market now too.

I had the opportunity to test out some new LED light panels recently. I’ve been using LEDs for about three years now. I really like how they work, but I admit it took a bit of getting used to. In my photography, I use studio strobe lights with big umbrellas and soft boxes. With the LED light panels I had to relearn some of my standard lighting setups.

Why LED and not CFL?

I’m not a fan of CFL lights. They give me massive headaches. They are tricky to transport, and they take up a lot of space in my small office. Not to mention, if you break the bulbs you risk exposing yourself to harmful mercury. You don’t want those bulbs around your kids. And you need to dispose of them safely. That goes for the domestic CFL bulbs as well.

In this video I give you a quick overview of the lights and I show you an easy way to modify them using diffusion.

Watch it below, or click here to watch on YouTube.

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The lights I tested are LEDGo brand. They are the 900s model. These are available in Canada at Vistek. 

I’ve looked for these on amazon.com, and I found similar looking lights, but I can’t guarantee they are the same quality. One brand name is FotoDiox. Cowboy Studios also sells LED light panels. And I know a lot of people like their stuff. It’s a little cheaply made for me, but if you are on a tight budget, it’s a good place to start.

LEDs for Pros

A professional grade higher end light that is available on amazon.com is made by Dracast, and Dracast is the same manufacturer of the LEDGo lights that I tested out. Check those out too. (Sorry not available in Canada yet. Ask your local photo dealer!)

Part 2

Coming up in Part 2, I set up standard business portrait lighting using the LEDGo lights that you can use for talking head videos for YouTube and hybrid eProducts (video and photography combined).