LED light panels for weddings

Does any of the wedding photographers here use LED light panels as their main light source for their weddings? I used 2 LED light panels on my last wedding and i feel as if I loved the lighting more compared to a external flash. What do you guys think? any of you use it or know anyone that uses it? Share your thoughts on this! I would like to know! thanks!

No, but the highly respected photographer who shot my own wedding (on a beach in Thailand) did and he made fantastic photographs.

The only thing was he had an assistant to hold it for him which made things much easier.

No, I don't use them. I don't know any photographer that does. A flash in a small softbox can achieve better results, not be anywhere near as obtrusive, batteries last a lot longer, can be controlled by the camera, and is about a thousand times more powerful.

Intended use is for video, and it does a great job of it. But when it comes to still photography, you can do a whole lot better with a flash.

ours is worth it's weight in gold when shoot rings or other details. being able to dial down the power and use the diffused cover and bring it in close gives it the same quality of light as a speedlight in a softbox and it's a much, much faster set up.

I don't typically like those lights when a videographer uses them at weddings, but I've seen photogs use them, and have seen some nice stuff...
but not for me...

I try to mainly take advantage of natural light but as photographers, it's hard to achieve that when the reception comes around. I am just trying to find a solution to that, and I feel as if the speedlight doesn't do justice for me.I however like the video LED constant light a lot more. What are your sets up during a reception? What and how many flashes do you guys use during a reception?

Awad, i looked through some of your photos and i loved them! what kind of light are you using for your bridal party shots? your lighting is very well balanced. are you using LED constant light panels?

Thanks for the responses and input guys!

You mean those freaking blinding video lights?

On occasion, I've borrowed it from the video guy for ring shots, impromptu outdoors shots in the dark, etc.

But boy are they annoying when continuously lit!

blueskyyy wrote in post #15163517
I try to mainly take advantage of natural light but as photographers, it's hard to achieve that when the reception comes around. I am just trying to find a solution to that, and I feel as if the speedlight doesn't do justice for me.I however like the video LED constant light a lot more. What are your sets up during a reception? What and how many flashes do you guys use during a reception?

Awad, i looked through some of your photos and i loved them! what kind of light are you using for your bridal party shots? your lighting is very well balanced. are you using LED constant light panels?

Thanks for the responses and input guys!

Thanks! bridal party shots are all natural light.

Nick! yes! I know! I shot with a videographer for the first time couple months ago during a reception and i realized how annoying it was, so I just worked off their light. And surprisingly I loved it a lot more than my external flash set up. I actually like it a lot during receptions!

Awad that's really amazing! I like your techniques! How many LED lights do you carry with you during a wedding? and do you have any recommendations for LED lights? I'm really scared of buying cheap ones. Thanks again for your help!

I actually set up a video light for a first dance once "low intersity" . In my opinion, I would find it REALLY annoying.. A flash duration is fast. Those video lights stay on all of the time.

I do use the video lights for cake shots..rings and other details images.

I just got a small hand held video light to try out, cost me $80. I plan to use it only for creative portraits in low light, I use studio strobes for location shoot and sometimes the reception, and off camera speedlites sometimes too.

I have a lot of tools available, I choose the right one for the situation depending what I'm trying to achieve.

blueskyyy wrote in post #15163604
Nick! yes! I know! I shot with a videographer for the first time couple months ago during a reception and i realized how annoying it was, so I just worked off their light. And surprisingly I loved it a lot more than my external flash set up. I actually like it a lot during receptions!

Awad that's really amazing! I like your techniques! How many LED lights do you carry with you during a wedding? and do you have any recommendations for LED lights? I'm really scared of buying cheap ones. Thanks again for your help!

We have this one:

http://www.amazon.com …=8-1&keywords=video+light

real cheap. works great. but just remember there's a difference between illuminating your subject and lighting your subject. use the right tools in the right situation.

tim wrote in post #15164109
I just got a small hand held video light to try out, cost me $80. I plan to use it only for creative portraits in low light, I use studio strobes for location shoot and sometimes the reception, and off camera speedlites sometimes too.

I have a lot of tools available, I choose the right one for the situation depending what I'm trying to achieve.

This^^^^^^^^^^

We bought a cheapy to try them out. They have limited use for photographers. Low light, you can use them wide open from F/2.8 down to F1.2 as a fill light as you are in a WYSIWYG lighting. Above F/4.o and the ones i tried cant cut it....racoon eyes and heavy shadows in the face and it looks like a poor attempt of a snoot at that point.

We use them for the ring shots. allows us to be inside, drop the ISO and get some faster shutter speeds and decent apertures to do ring shots.Tried them on the dance floors and they are all right.. have not tried them to backlight anyone yet but i think they would work trick at night for those types of affects.

Ive talked to a couple of guys that are using some of the more powerful video lights outdoors and again its WYSIWYG.. definitely would not let you shoot anywhere near F/8 and not blow out skys. The guys I talk to tell me that they can use them as fill in manual with wide open aperatures and they are killing ambient with shutter but not in full sun,, shade or partial light only. Something like a 135 or a 200 F/2,o in shade and and using as fill instead of hooking up OCF speedlights.

Limited uses, i would rather use a speedlight and ETTL when i can or set up for strobes when im outside.

I use a speedlite in a soft box for ring shots, anywhere from 1/64 to 1/8 power. Not sure a constant light would cut it for me.

tim wrote in post #15164332
I use a speedlite in a soft box for ring shots, anywhere from 1/64 to 1/8 power. Not sure a constant light would cut it for me.

Definitely a better way to to go. Im usually on a bracket ( I Know you hate this) with a speedlight and some type of diffuser at receptions.. sometimes i will set up the OcF speedlights if i have room and trigger with wizards. But these new 5D3's give you a lot of options with the clean iso capabilities it has. I find myself getting lazy and not setting up lights because i can get at at F/3.2-3.5 @ 1/60 and shoot at 6400 and get very very clean files.