The pros and cons of continuous light for studio portraits

For most of us that photograph people, whether that be models or ‘real’ people, we probably choose to shoot with strobes most of the time. They are just convenient, and have a lot of power, compared with natural light at least.

But have you ever considered using continuous LED lights for indoor portraiture? It seems like an interesting middle ground, and if you ever shoot video, you’re likely to have the equipment already. In this video, Mitch Lally tries out one of Aputure’s continuous lights, an Aputure Amaran 300C on a studio shoot and gives us his thoughts.

The main differences between strobes and continuous lighting

The main difference between the two is that a strobe pulses out a short-duration flash of light, while the continuous light is on all the time! If you are used to shooting with natural light, then the continuous light will feel comfortable. However, there are usually big differences in power output, which could affect your choice.

The pros of continuous light

First of all, if you shoot video or are a hybrid stills and video shooter, then you will only need to have one type of light, as continuous light will do well for both. You can adjust the power output on the light as needed. It’s a big upgrade from shooting with natural light. You still have all the advantages, like being able to see what you’re doing with the lighting on your subject, without the disadvantages of cloudy weather and inconsistency.

Your camera settings will be more straightforward, and you can use higher shutter speeds than your flash sync speed will allow. This isn’t usually an issue, but it’s worth mentioning.

Similarly, you can move the light around to wherever you want and use a wide variety of modifiers, just as you would a strobe. If you are shooting in a team, then other members can also see clearly the overall effect that you are going for, although this can also be a disadvantage at times.

Cons of continuous light

As mentioned above, having the set lit continuously gives you less control. You could easily have other people behind you snapping away and getting the same images on their iPhones. At least with strobes, you are the only one guaranteed to get the shot. Of course, this all boils down to trust and etiquette on set, and it won’t normally be an issue; it’s just something to be aware of.

Similarly, sometimes, shaping continuous light can be more difficult. This seems silly because light is light, and it should be easier to see what you’re doing. However, I have found that I sometimes get lazy when using continuous light. I rely too heavily on seeing what’s happening and not enough on planning in advance and really thinking about what effect I want and where to position the lights.

Finally, it’s that power output issue. Strobes generally emit far greater power and don’t get as hot as continuous lights. Sure, modern LEDs can come in high power settings, but those still won’t be enough for shooting at low ISO at high shutter speeds.

Honestly, both options work well for the job; it all depends on what equipment you have available and really whether you are shooting just stills or video as well.