Lighting Equipment Guide
Flash, continuous lighting, and modifiers for wedding photography and videography.
On-Camera Flash (Speedlights)
Essential
Professional Speedlights
Essential for reception coverage, fill flash, and bounce lighting.
Recommended:
- Godox V1 / V860III - Excellent value, TTL, HSS
- Profoto A2 - Premium quality, AirTTL system
- Canon EL-1 / Nikon SB-5000 / Sony HVL-F60RM2 - Brand matching
Tip: Own at least 2 identical flashes for consistent results and backup.
Flash Accessories
- MagMod MagSphere / MagBounce - Quick modifiers for softer light
- Gary Fong Lightsphere - Omnidirectional diffusion
- Rogue FlashBender - Versatile bounce/snoot
- Extra Batteries - Eneloop Pro rechargeable AA
Off-Camera Flash Systems
Essential
Wireless Triggers
- Godox X2T / XPro II - Affordable TTL/HSS triggers
- Profoto Connect - For Profoto systems
- Pocket Wizard - Industry standard reliability
Advanced
Portable Strobes
More power than speedlights for outdoor portraits and larger venues.
- Godox AD200 Pro / AD300 Pro - Popular, portable, affordable
- Profoto B10 / B10 Plus - Premium build and light quality
- Flashpoint (Godox) eVOLV 200 - Adorama rebrand of AD200
Light Modifiers
Softboxes & Umbrellas
- Godox AD-S65W / AD-S85W - Parabolic softboxes for AD strobes
- Westcott Rapid Box - Quick setup, various sizes
- Profoto OCF Softboxes - Premium quality for B10
- White/Silver Umbrellas - Budget-friendly, versatile
Reflectors & Diffusers
- 5-in-1 Reflector (42" or 48") - Essential for outdoor portraits
- Scrim Jim / Diffusion Panel - Large diffusion for harsh sun
- V-Flat - Studio-quality bounce
Continuous Lighting (Video)
LED Panels & Tubes
- Aputure 60x / 60d - Powerful, portable LED
- Aputure MC / Amaran P60c - Compact, RGBWW options
- Nanlite Forza 60 - Good value continuous
- Godox SL-60W / SL-100 - Budget LED options
RGB Tube Lights
Creative accent lighting for receptions and dance floors.
- Astera Titan / Helios Tubes - Professional, battery-powered
- Aputure Infinibar / amaran PT4c - Pixel-controllable tubes
- Nanlite PavoTube - Good value RGB tubes
Stands & Support
Light Stands
- Manfrotto 1004BAC - Reliable, sturdy aluminum
- Avenger / Impact C-Stands - Heavy-duty, versatile
- Compact Travel Stands - For location work
Clamps & Mounts
- Super Clamps - Mount lights anywhere
- Magic Arms - Flexible positioning
- Sandbags - Stability for outdoor use (essential in Hawaii wind!)
Hawaii Lighting Considerations
- Bright Sunlight: Bring HSS-capable flash for fill in harsh midday sun
- Wind: Sandbag all light stands - trade winds are constant
- Salt Air: Keep equipment in sealed bags when not in use
- Golden Hour: Hawaii sunsets are spectacular - bring reflectors for fill
- Battery Life: Heat can drain batteries faster - bring extras