The short answer: window first, then one light
You can get good results at home with very little equipment. A window, a white sheet or curtain, and something white to bounce light back cover a surprising range of shots. When the window is not enough, one adjustable lamp or LED panel is usually a better next purchase than a full kit.
For the bigger picture of how indoor light behaves, start with our indoor lighting for photography guide.
What is the best indoor light for photography?
There is no single best light, because it depends on what you shoot. In practice:
- Window light is free, large and soft. It is the usual best choice for portraits, food and small products during the day.
- Continuous LED panels are easy to learn on because you see the effect immediately. Models with adjustable brightness and colour temperature are more flexible.
- Softboxes and umbrellas make a light larger and softer. They are worth considering once you have a light to put in them.
- Flash is powerful but harder to preview, so it often comes later.
Start with the one that matches your time of shooting. If you shoot in the daytime, window light is likely enough. If you shoot in the evening, a continuous light is the simplest option.
Free and nearly free setups
- Window plus diffusion. Hang a white sheet, thin curtain or tracing paper over the window if the sun is direct.
- Reflector from foam board. A sheet of white foam board or poster board is a cheap way to bounce light into shadows. Crumpled foil on card gives a stronger, harder bounce.
- A white wall. If a white wall is near your subject, it works as a large reflector.
- Black card. Placing black card or dark fabric on the shadow side deepens shadows when you want more contrast.
Household lamps and bulbs
Ordinary lamps can work if you handle two issues.
- Colour. Household bulbs often have a different colour from daylight, so mixing them with window light can give odd casts. Turn off lamps when you are using the window, or use only lamps and set white balance for them. Bulbs with a higher colour rendering index (CRI) tend to show colours more accurately.
- Hardness. A bare bulb is a small light and makes harsh shadows. Bounce it off a white wall or ceiling, or place a diffuser in front. Keep fabric and paper well away from hot bulbs, and check the lamp’s rating before putting diffusion near it; LEDs run much cooler than older bulbs.
First things to buy
If you want to spend, a sensible order is:
- A reflector (a 5-in-1 type is a common choice) or more foam board.
- A light stand or a sturdy way to position a light.
- One continuous LED light or small panel with adjustable colour temperature.
- A softbox or diffuser for that light.
- A second light, only once you can explain what the first one cannot do.
A tripod is also helpful for still subjects, since it lets you use slower shutter speeds in dim rooms.
Setting up a small corner
A simple permanent spot saves time. Choose a spot near a window, keep a plain wall or backdrop nearby, and store a reflector where you can reach it. Place the light at roughly 45 degrees to the subject and slightly above eye height, then adjust. In a small room, lights are close to walls, so light-coloured walls can double as fill, while strongly coloured walls may tint skin or products.
Types of lighting you will hear about
Photographers describe light in several ways, and there is no single official list of eight. Common categories (explained in photography lighting types) are natural and artificial light; continuous and flash; soft and hard; and, for portraits, patterns such as loop, Rembrandt, split and butterfly. Learning the difference between soft and hard, and the direction of the light (lighting basics for photography), covers most of what matters at home.
Common home lighting problems and fixes
- Yellow or orange cast. Likely a warm bulb. Turn it off, switch to one light type, or set white balance manually.
- Harsh shadows. Enlarge the light with diffusion, or move it closer.
- Flat, dull images. Move the light more to the side.
- Dark corners. Add a reflector or move the subject closer to the window.
- Noisy images. Add more light before raising ISO.
If you want to use your setup for something specific, furniture and larger objects and whole rooms each have their own considerations, and indoor photography projects give you ideas to practise on.
FAQ
What is the 2/3 rule for pictures?
This usually refers to the rule of thirds: imagine the frame split into a three-by-three grid and place important elements along the lines or intersections. It is about composition rather than lighting.
How do I get good lighting in my room for pictures?
Use daylight from a window, turn off competing lamps, diffuse harsh sun, and bounce light into shadows with something white. If you need more light, add one adjustable LED or lamp.