REVIEWS | LIGHTING EQUIPMENT I USE AT WEDDINGS
In this blog post I discuss the lighting equipment I use on a wedding day
I do not add light on a wedding day outside of the first dance, disco and the sparkler exit.
I’m not the type of photographer who will use flashes or video lights during the wedding speeches and certainly not lighting the wedding ceremony.
I use the following lights at weddings (but not at every wedding):
Aputure 60x lights are what I use to light the couple's first dance, and only when there is space.
Profoto A1x is my flashgun of choice and is only ever used on the dance floor.
Lume Cube Panel Go is my pocket LED light for the cake cut and the sparkler exit.
Aputure Amaran light is a backup to my Aputure 60x light’s.
APUTURE 60x FOR WEDDINGS
The Aputure 60X was a game changer for me, I went from using flash guns for the first dance to using constant lights, and after nearly 100 weddings with the Aputure 60x’s I will never go back to using flashguns for the first dance.
For many years I used two flash guns for my first dance flash set-up, I’d have one near the DJ lights, and one in the background (directly opposite each other) and this worked well until 2019 when I had a Godox flash issue. The flashes did not fire during the first dance, I had to quickly go ambient light, and although it worked, I started to think about moving away from flash guns for my first dance set-up to constant lights.
In 2020 Aputure released the 60d and the 60x, one being daylight balanced (60d) and one being a bi-colour light (60x).
Finally, after struggling to find a constant light that I felt would work well for my first dance shots, I ordered two Aputure 60x’s, and they have been my go-to lighting set-up for nearly 100 weddings.
The Aputure 60x lights can be powered via a standard plug or used with V-mount type batteries. I have never mains powered the lights and only ever use them with some Neewer V-mount batteries.
One of the things I love about the Aputure 60x (and 60d) lights is the ability to angle the beam of light; you can turn a dial and have the light go from a spotlight beam to a flood-type light beam; this is super helpful at weddings as it means you can tailor your light beams for the venue and the space that you have.
You can control the power of the lights either manually on the back of the light by using the small LCD screen, or you can pair the lights to the Sidus Link App and control the power of the lights from your phone; this is super handy as I will often have the lights set-up where I want them, and then I turn them off until they are needed.
I have been asked on socials when I have posted a first dance picture why I go to the effort of lighting the first dance. I always say the same, I want to have some control of the light for a key part of the day; at most weddings, you will be dealing with the lights from the DJ or the band, and this can have disastrous results, I have lost so many colour images over the years as the DJ or live band insist on having their rave lights on through out the first dance, and if the blue lights are on the brides face at the moment I press the shutter button, she will (in colour) look like a smurf, so now, I have more control.
You could argue that the Aputure 60x is overkill for the 10 minutes I might use them on a wedding day, but the ability to adjust the beam of light, control them via your phone, be battery powered, a powerful light, and more importantly, they work and have never flickered or gone off at a wedding, and if there is one thing you take away from this whole blog post - having reliable equipment is far more important than the cost.
APUTURE 60x PRODUCT IMAGES
PROFOTO A1X FOR WEDDINGS
I have owned the Profoto A1x since its release (May 2019), and is the only flash brand I trust to work 100% of the time (and Sony).
Before the Profoto A1x for Sony, I was using Godox as my flash brand of choice, but it was always a little unreliable, and at one wedding in early May 2019, the flashes stopped working just before the start of the couple's first dance.. I knew then that I needed a better flash brand.
The Profoto A1x is the only flash brand I now use, and I only ever use the flash on the dance floor; it sits on top of my Sony A1 in manual mode, and it never, ever misses a beat.
Yes, the Profoto brand is expensive compared to Godox, but it is 100% worth the money.
On a wedding day, you cannot have equipment that is temperamental or you fear will fail to work when you need it most.
Other than its reliability, I love that the A1x for Sony is simple in its design and menu system.
You can have the flash in manual or TTL mode. To change between the two, there is a slide button on the side, no need to hit a menu button and select what you want - just a simple physical slide button.
Like most flash guns, you can control other flashes from the same brand, but that’s not something I use or need.
The menu system is accessed by clicking the centre button, and what you are met with is a large texted simple system that lists the menu items with the correct terms, its a wonderful simple system.
The battery life of the battery is something that I never have to worry about; according to Profoto, it will last at full power for 450 flashes, and given that I never go higher than power 3 or 4 (full is 10), the flash battery can see out 4/5 weddings before it needs a full charge.
If you are after a flash for your Sony Alpha system, I highly recommend looking at the Profoto A1x or the new A10 (which I think is the same but ads bluetooth?)
PROFOTO A1x PRODUCT IMAGES
LUME CUBE PANEL GO FOR WEDDINGS
The Lumecube Panel Go (also known as the RGB Panel Go) is a small, pocket-sized LED light.
I have used this little gem of a light for about 12 months; it’s a light that I have on me 100% of the time during weddings. I only use it in certain circumstances, and I prefer the Panel Go light over a flash.
The Panel is about the size of an iPhone and holds enough charge to last about 90 minutes at full power. I hardly use the Panel at full power as this little light does kick out some light (1500 lux at .5 meters).
I tend to use this light for a little bit of fill at times during a wedding where I can’t just use natural light, or I don’t want to use a more powerful flash.
I always use the Lumecube Panel for the cake cut and the sparkler exit.
When it comes to the cake cut, if the area where the venue has put the cake is a bit dark, I will whip out the Panel Go, stick the power on 50%, and whilst holding it in my left hand, I will raise my arm and add a little bit of directional light to the couple.
The sparkler exit is the other time I will use the Lumecube; like with the cake cut, I will hold the Panel in my left hand, turn the power to 100%, and point the light at the couple whilst they are walking towards me. I much prefer the Lumecube over a flash for the sparkler exit as the flash will need to be pointed at the couple (no way to bounce flash), and that can lead to a little bit of a ‘deer in the headlights’ vibe.
APUTURE AMARAN 60x FOR WEDDINGS
This little light is the smaller sibling of the Aputure 60x lights and is new for me in 2023. I plan on this light being a backup, should one of the Aputure 60x lights die on me at a wedding, or it is a third light I might use for my first dance lighting set-up.
This little light is bicolour and is powered by the same V-mount batteries as the Aputure 60x, the same Sidus Link App can control it, and for the size and weight the light can pack a real punch.
You cannot adjust the beam of the light on the Amaran 60x, but that's less of an issue for a backup or a third light.
I will update the post and include a few images if I use this light as a third light in 2023.
