Godox Lights For Weddings And Corporate Events.

One of the biggest assets that separates professional videographers from those who are just starting out is their lighting kit. If they have lights at all, newer video production companies tend to rely on Chinese-made lights they bought on Amazon. These are all right for some projects, but they tend to be overly bright, don’t have color temperature controls, and will shine in your guest’s eyes. Plus, they often need to be placed right next to the target to have any impact.  

My golden rule is you should spend as much money on a lighting kit as you do your camera kit. There are certain essential features that are non-negotiable for a pro lighting kit to ensure both their practicality and ease-of-use on set. These features include the following:

• Portability
• Remote Control 
• Multiple Power Sources 
• Easy to Modify
• Cost vs Power Output

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Let’s take a look at how the GODOX LED lights do on the above features and more.

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Godox VL 150  as a Wedding Light

The VL150 LED Video Light from Godox offers all of the features I mentioned above, and more, making it an indispensable part of my lighting gear. First of all, it’s lightweight and has a small form factor. As an LED Video Light, it’s great for both still photography and event videography, thanks to its excellent versatility.  

On the technical side, it’s daylight-balanced with a CRI rating of 96 and a TLCI rating of 95. Its natural tone makes it possible to render realistic skin tones, an important aspect of wedding videography.  It also comes with an external controller, and boasts an integrated Bowens-style reflector mount, so you can partner it with standard light modifiers (this is true of the other lights below as well). It can be powered by a single V-mount battery plate. Finally, it can be paired with the GodoxPhoto app for use with Android or IOS devices.

All of the above makes it one of my favorite wedding lights. I’m able to turn it on the head table, providing enough illumination for speeches and toasts, or turn it into a true spot light to shine on a single person. It’s also perfect as a corner light during the dance party. Both the videographer and the photographer are happy to have this light on hand.

Perhaps what I love most about it is the remote control. I’m able to turn it on and off or boost the output with a single push of a button, without running across the room or trying to reach up to the light fixture.  This means it can be set up and turned off, and then when the speeches start, or the first dance is happening, I can just reach into my pocket wherever I am and flip it on. Then we’re ready to shoot, without interrupting the festivities.  

This light also works great for corporate shoots as a fill light. I even use it at home as part of my YouTube set up. For the price, it’s amazing the amount of versatility you get with it, and how adaptable it is to any situation.

It retails for around $400, and at that price point, it’s a must have. However, when more light is called for, it’s time to move up to the next level, like the Godox FV 200.

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Godox FV 200 is a great mid-tier light for weddings and corporate events

There’s a constant debate in photography whether it’s better to shoot with a flash or a continuous light. The FV200 High Speed Sync Flash LED Light from Godox makes it possible to have both in one. It offers a continuous mode at 5600K color temperature that is fully dimmable and has a CRI/TLCI rating of 96/95.  

However, what sets this light apart is it also provides a flash mode. It can be adjusted from 1/8 to full power and supports High Speed Sync down to 1/8000 of a second. Even better, it is fully customizable via the remote control, and works with all major camera systems, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Olympus, and Pentax. This particular model light also offers eight special effect settings, including Storm variations, TV, and Broken Bulb.

This is a great light for me, especially as it has more power than the 150, but it’s one major drawback is it’s not battery powered. You must be plugged into an external source, such as a wall outlet or generator. This means it’s not a great option for outdoor, barn, or tent weddings, where you may have few or no outlets and all lighting needs to be battery powered.

For corporate shoots, it’s a great option, since you are normally shooting indoors and have access to power outlets. It’s got more intensity than the 150, and I especially love it for shooting talking head interviews or customer testimonials. One other negative is the light is a bit bulky and I wish it were more portable.

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Godox VL300 For Events

The VL300 LED Video Light from Godox is both lightweight and compact. It’s great for both photography and videography, and comes with a CRI rating of 96 and TLCI rating of 95, for very realistic skin tones. It is powered by two V-mount batteries, and also features an LCD display making it easy to control. That’s in addition to being compatible with the GodoxPhoto app, for both iOS and Android.

This is my favorite light in my lighting kit. I refer to it as my Hulk light because of how powerful it is, and it tends to be my workhorse on most of my shoots. It offers 300 watts of pure power. In addition to the batteries, it also offers a plug-in option. While it is not as portable as the 150, it more than makes up for it with the pure output of light. [Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]For weddings, it works best when you can place it in an out of the way location and leave it there for the whole evening, such as pointed to the stage, the dance floor, or the head table. Then I use my smaller lights to move them around the venue as needed. It’s also a tremendous light for a production studio.

Of course, for a light this powerful, you’re going to need to pay more, but for professional video production companies, it’s a no-brainer.  

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Why Go With Portland Event Films?

If you want professional, high-quality video that showcases your brand or event in the best possible light (pun intended), you need to work with a video production company that has invested heavily in both its gear and its people. At Portland Event Films, we fully understand the importance of both, and we have the track record of success to prove it. For a pro team with the best videographers and the best equipment, contact us today.

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