Have you ever seen photos with glowing light trails, glowing orbs, or mesmerising shapes drawn in mid-air? That magical effect is called light painting. A creative and fun photography technique that uses slow shutter speeds and moving light to "paint" in your photo. Whether you're using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or experimenting with bulb mode on your smartphone, light painting is surprisingly easy to get started with and it’s one of the most satisfying ways to make unique images straight out of camera.
In this beginner’s guide to light painting, we’ll explain how it works, what you need to get started, and how you can use Kenro’s compact Smart Lites and lightweight accessories to bring your ideas to life.
What is Light Painting?
Light painting is a type of long exposure photography where you keep the camera’s shutter open for an extended period (usually several seconds or more) and move a light source through the frame during that time. Instead of capturing a single moment, the camera records the path of the light as it moves resulting in glowing shapes, outlines, or abstract art.
It’s a technique that gives you total creative freedom: you can draw words in the air, outline objects, swirl spirals of colour, or create ghostly effects. And best of all, it’s something you can try at home, in your garden, or anywhere dark enough to work your light magic.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
The good news is that you don’t need a full studio setup to start light painting, just a few key items, many of which you might already have. Here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll need:
- A camera with manual mode (DSLR, mirrorless, or smartphone app that supports long exposures)
- A tripod to keep your camera perfectly still
- A light source you can move through the frame
- A remote shutter or timer function to avoid camera shake
Light Painting Tools from Kenro
To light paint effectively, you need light sources that are bright, portable, colourful, and controllable. The Kenro Smart Lite RGB Compact Panel Light is a fantastic tool for beginners and pros alike. It’s pocket-sized, USB-C rechargeable, and can shine in any colour you can imagine thanks to its full RGB range. Want to draw in red, fade to blue, or pulse with colour shifts? The RGB panel makes it easy with adjustable brightness and hue settings.
Prefer a more natural light look? The Kenro Smart Lite Bi-Colour Compact Panel Light offers a cleaner, white-light alternative, with adjustable colour temperature from warm to cool. It’s perfect if you want to paint with soft glows or outline shapes with a neutral tone.
Both panel lights fit easily in your hand and can be waved, spun, or even attached to rods for sweeping effects. They’re bright enough to work in short exposure times, but soft enough not to overwhelm the scene making them ideal for beginners.
For stability, the Kenro Smart Lite 7” Mini Tripod and Grip is an excellent companion for light painting setups. It’s compact, travel-friendly, and perfect for low-angle shots or mounting your camera in tight indoor or outdoor spaces. Its sturdy grip lets you secure your camera while you move freely with your light source.
If you're shooting with a heavier camera or using more dynamic angles, consider mounting it with the Kenro Ball Head with Long Shank. It gives you precise control over the tilt and orientation of your camera, so you can easily frame the scene just how you want it and then lock it in place while you work your light magic.
Step-by-Step: How to Light Paint Your First Photo
Once you've gathered your camera, tripod, and a Kenro Smart Lite, you're ready to start light painting. Here's how to set up your first shot:
- Find a dark space: This could be a room with the lights off, your back garden at night, or even a quiet alley or field. The darker the background, the clearer your light trails will be.
- Mount your camera on a tripod: Use the Kenro 7" Mini Tripod or a larger tripod if needed. Make sure it's sturdy as any shake will blur your shot.
- Switch your camera to Manual (M) mode: Set a shutter speed between 5 and 30 seconds depending on how much time you need. Use a low ISO (100–400) and a moderate aperture (f/5.6–f/8) to keep the image crisp and avoid overexposure.
- Use a timer or remote shutter: This avoids shaking the camera when pressing the shutter. If your camera has a bulb mode, you can hold the shutter open for as long as needed.
- Start painting!: Once the shutter opens, move your light through the frame. You can write letters, swirl shapes, or create dramatic colour washes. Experiment with moving the light behind your subject, or using different colours for different parts of the frame.
- Check your results: Don’t worry if your first few shots aren’t perfect. Half the fun is experimenting! Try adjusting exposure time, light speed, or colour until you get the effect you want.
Tips for Better Light Painting
- Work fast: The longer your light is in one spot, the brighter it will appear in the image. Keep moving to create clean, even lines.
- Use different colours: The RGB Compact Panel Light lets you change hues on the fly which is great for layering multiple colours in one shot.
- Mask yourself: If you don’t want to appear in the image, wear dark clothes and keep moving while the shutter is open. The camera won't capture what isn’t lit!
- Combine multiple exposures: Once you're comfortable, try compositing several light painting layers in editing software for complex effects.
Ideas to Try
Need inspiration for your first shoot? Here are a few simple setups:
- Light orbs: Spin the RGB Compact Panel in a circle while pivoting your body to create a glowing sphere.
- Outline a person: Use the Bi-Colour Panel Light to trace around someone standing still.
- Draw with colour: Write your name in the air or draw hearts, stars, or arrows using different RGB settings.
- Abstract shapes: Simply dance around the frame with your light and see what patterns emerge!
- Get misty: Try adding in other magical elements like mist or fog with the help of the Kenro Smart Lite Handheld Fog Machine.
Final Thoughts: Let There Be Light (Painting)
Light painting is one of the most creative, hands-on ways to get familiar with your camera settings, long exposures, and light behaviour. It’s fun, accessible, and incredibly satisfying. Even mistakes can look like art.
With Kenro’s compact, colour-rich LED Smart Lites, lightweight tripods, and smart accessories, you’ve got everything you need to explore this mesmerising medium. Whether you're just getting started with long exposures or looking for new ways to experiment with light and colour, your next great shot is just a flick of the wrist away.
Ready to light up the night?
Browse Kenro’s full range of compact LED Smart Lites, tripods and accessories and start creating your own stunning light painting masterpieces today.
