The Best Reception Lighting for Wedding Videographers II How To Film Weddings

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Do you bring lights to weddings? Let us know right here ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[@RedeemedProductions]

As of this recording, I bring 2 Torch LEDS, and a Fotodiox FlapJack light. Saving up some extra cash for this lighting system. might end up with 3 practilites, when it is all said and done. I made the mistake of having Nick bring his lights to one of the weddings we were shooting together and I have been ruined. It looks SO GOOD. Thank Nick for dropping that knowledge!

[@sighthoundmedia2386]

The practilites look so good! I wish I could afford that. At the end of this seasons I was using one Torch LED and a Clar 120. I just ordered my second Torch LED (I've been waiting for them to be on sale, I've gotten both for around $160-180 each). I also have an ikan onyx that I was using for a bit, and before that was a Lowe quartz light. I've been using the flashpoint stands. The heavy duty 13' air cushioned stand is only $50 (or $30 if you're a VIP member). I've used them for a full season doing photography, and have had no problems at all with them, and they hold up great. So a nice budget friendly option that isn't just garbage.

[@TheSeanBampton]

Two Litra Pro lights with barn doors on both. That's it. Super light, super portable and didn't break the bank ($1000 CAD for the entire setup including light stands).

[@lebavu8260]

Had to improvise with a ring light and some 🙃

[@nickfaldstein5091]

Just bought two of the Torch lights this year. GAME CHANGERS. 👍🏼🎥

[@jasonbelkov3258]

I use the Cam-TV Boltzen 55w Bi-color Lights. For $400 they are a great deal. I have found the difference between the Practilite 602 LED and Boltzen 55w's is not significant enough for me to kick in the extra $600. The Cam-TV Boltzen 55w are another great deal.

[@kthx1138]

The lighting looks great! I use up to 3 camera-mounted LEDs, a Genaray 7500 with 2 Neewer 176s.

[@webstermediasolutions8976]

I'm running 3 TorchLEDs 250 presently. Gets the job done as long as I don't have to throw light further than 150 feet. Upgrading to 3 TorchLED 300's later this month. Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Hitting the Sub button now!

[@jaikumar7875]

Thanks for making this video. How do you use those lights especially when the couple is not staying in one place? And the second question is similar but for speeches time.

[@BlueHorizonMoments]

Do you use any softbox on the Kinotehnik Practilite 602 light? It looks very bright and how do you handle shadows without an umbrella or softbox?

[@RobotMonsterCreative]

Super helpful Nick. Quick question: Where do you place the lights for the best look? I would be curious what your preferred wedding reception placements would be for one light, two lights and three lights. Thanks for all of your hard work with How to Film Weddings.

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Coming soon is a video on where the lights are placed! Stay tuned =)

[@RobotMonsterCreative]

@@HowToFilmWeddings Excellent. Looking forward to it!

[@NickyWallace]

Did this viewer ever get released? I always struggle on where exactly my lights should be placed

[@erickwalterbutler2816]

Where do you place the lights at the wedding reception? Basically for the speeches you move them as a keylight for the speakers and then after speeches you move them to the edge of the dance floor?

[@justcarryonnow]

CAME-TV BOLTZEN BI COLOR. Got TWO for around $850. Comes with a designated remote control. Takes 2 npf batteries each. Each light lasts 3-4 hrs. Great Value!

[@BryanMiraflor]

do you have an updated link for your kit? the link in the description is broken. thanks!

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Sure do! kit.co/howtofilmweddings

[@BryanMiraflor]

@@HowToFilmWeddings dope thx

[@preproproductions8838]

Forgot to say "2 Torch LEDs, a Practilite, and a white balance change"😉 I use a Torch LED and Cam-TV Boltzen 55w! Killer combo and not super expensive. I also have a 120t, but it's not a spotlight so I don't know how well it'll work for weddings.

[@edgarloya5656]

This is just what I needed! Thanks Nick.

[@RedeemedProductions]

His lighting at receptions is SSSIIIIIIICCCKKKK

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

You bet! So glad this is helpful!!

[@63MacGuy]

I bring 3 Yongnuo YN 300lll led lights with barn doors, they take Sony NP-F batteries and they have remotes that control brightness and color. I can control each light individually or in groups.

[@tomaszbabiak1606]

You are happy with this set?

[@BryanMiraflor]

Bro the light output of the YongNuo lights are weak as hell. Ain’t no way you’re going to light up a wedding reception with that setup lol

[@hudsonfilmr910]

It's amazing how different the scene looks with light

[@OMARZAKIALIRAQEY]

Thx

[@3-y86]

I like more before because its more realistic, but the silhouette looks better for reading picture

[@neilcollinsrecording]

Where do you put your lights for first dance? One behind and one from the front?

[@GeneralGarvel]

I really love the content you guys are making! It feels fresh compaired to all the different wedding content makers out here:)

[@tooyoung225]

currently only using 2 TorchLED's. Did I miss where you talk about how you typically set up the lights?

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Working on that video for the next one! Just introducing the topic here!

[@AndyKunkel]

Question, should I work WITH or AGAINST the light color? The venue tends to lean orange, not sure if I should use blue filters or not.

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

We always go tungsten with our lights and then make up for it by cooling down our cameras.

[@AndyKunkel]

@@HowToFilmWeddings thanks for responding. I thought that was the case but I just wanted confirmation from a pro haha. But I have been using tungsten for lighting because I don't want to clash too much with a venue using warm uplighting, which is everywhere haha But whenever djs or bands use light which is usually blues, purples, reds and greens. 5600k looks a bit better but I have no time to switch in post. Oh well! Tungsten it is

[@MichalOlender]

Thanks for the tip!

[@trulybrite]

I see that the Practilite app is no longer being updated. Any new lights you're using?

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Check out the Aperture 60x

[@rachelkingfilms]

I'm finally ready to purchase some Torch LEDs and they're discontinued!? I can't find them anywhere.

[@JaymesMedia]

Same issue

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Yep. We are searching for something comparable that we recommend.

[@davidlongenecker9414]

That setup looks so easy. I currently just have a boltzen 55w, but I'm going to get an aputure 120t. They're only $300 right now and they have a remote and battery power if needed

[@RedeemedProductions]

That's awesome! Yeah, it is a big investment for sure. But I haven't seen anything better than those practilites. Wondering if a new version will be coming soon. I will say this, all of the glass I have bought, and lights, have never gone bad. Cameras change, but good light is always needed.

[@MichaelAres]

What other lights are like the Practilite but cheaper?

[@pvtreyesmp83]

What do you think about the Stella CLx8 or Stella CL Pro 10,000?

[@chrissiundmadlen]

They both do not blind the guests?

[@TheSeanBampton]

I'm rocking two Litra Pro lights and I'm considering a Godox VL150, but the lack of Kelvin control on the Godox is holding me back. You spend more on lighting than I spent on my GH5 camera and a couple of lenses, lol.

[@bushboxer]

Simply use gels. Having one temperature means more powers since all leds are white. Better that way.

[@ericchau1058]

do you use softboxes at all?

[@CarboniteCollection]

Can't really use soft boxes for subjects at a distance

[@lovefirst6157]

Do you have any lights under $100 that you would recommend. Under a pretty tight budget. I would be great if battery powered but I will take what I can get.

[@TheSeanBampton]

I wouldn't bother buying anything under $200 as it's probably going to be poor quality and will break rather quickly. Lights are a business expense and (at least in Canada) that means you can claim the depreciation on your taxes. Hire a good Accountant to walk you through how to claim your business expenses. Cutting costs on gear does your client a disservice.

[@ericchau1058]

How many practilites do you use for one wedding? I was thinking of getting the cause with the price of one practilite i could get two Godox VL200 idk if you have an opnion on the 1 vs. 2 light set up in regards to value

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

John here.. but I know Nick uses 2. If you can afford it, having 2 will make a huge difference. We like to set them up on opposite corners of the dance floor, shooting into each other. That way, no matter what way we are shooting, we have a key light, and a hair light, and of course FLARES =)

[@ericchau1058]

@@HowToFilmWeddings so in my case for budget two Godox VL200 sounds like it would be ideal, thank you

[@CollingFilms]

Two torch LED's are usually enough for me honestly! I'd be interested in looking into something a bit stronger but I know I'd probably want two of them. 3k is hefty when torch's are doing okay. This is a *very* important topic so thanks for tackling it! I will say though, your example footage is ever so slightly misleading. The two torch look... that is with zero light on the other side where their faces are and the white balance is awful. You fixed the white balance and went for a 3 light setup in the last example. Don't get me wrong, it looks fantastic that way, but 2 torch's opposite of each other and adjusted white balance would look pretty similar!

[@Echomotionmedia2]

Hi you seem very informative about lighting. Do you answer questions about lighting?

[@CliffFennell]

@@Echomotionmedia2 I guess not lol 😂

[@CollingFilms]

@@Echomotionmedia2 hi just now seeing this! So sorry! I can help any way I can. :)

[@AdamMason]

Anyone know where I can find a torchLED nowadays?

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

It's such a bummer that light has been discontinued. We need to find a good light that can replace it!

[@richardwills5703]

Great films guys! I will definitely take on board some of those tips. The Practice is probably a little out of budget at the moment and I've been looking at the new Godox VL150 which is a lot cheaper. The only drawback here is that it's just daylight. Would you recommend daylight only light for filming receptions on a budget? Or do you always match the light that's in the room?

[@dablet]

get gel covers to change to any color you want. not high tech but it works!

[@CharlesMiner]

I find it hard sometimes to use lights because people seem to hate it.

[@sighthoundmedia2386]

I had the same problem when I started. Get them up high. Spend the money and get a light stand that's 9' tall. Put one near DJ lights if possible, and the ability to turn on and off makes it far less conspicuous for guests and everyone else. They just really need to be up higher so they aren't directly in peoples' faces.

[@timothyawe5103]

I use use GVM lighting less than $100.

[@lebavu8260]

Every couple “Don’t worry, the venue has plenty of lights!” Videographer smh 🤦

[@EddiTaru]

Money money money. )). Is all I hear.

[@HowToFilmWeddings]

Yeah, good lighting isn’t free. But we have some cheaper options we recommend.