LED lights have made portrait photography easier by showing lighting effects in real time. This allows you to adjust everything before taking the shot. In this article, we review four LED lights for portrait photography to help you find the best fit for your needs.
Overview table: Four best LED lights for portrait photography
| COLBOR PL8B | COLBOR Wonder Kit | COLBOR CL60R | COLBOR CL330 | |
| Output Power | 8W | 60/100W | >60W | 330W |
| Color Temperature |
2500K-9000K | 2700K-6500K(±200) | 2700K-6500K(±200) | 2700K-6500K (±200) |
| CRI | ≥98 | 96±2 | 97+ | 97+ |
| Illumination | / | 11,700 LUX at 1 meter (W100 Kit) | 2,082Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 22,655Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector) |
12,400Lux (at 1m 5600K, No Reflector); 65,800Lux (at 1m 5600K, With Reflector) |
| Weight | 187g | 345g | Light: 600g; Light Base: 160g |
2.07kg (Light Base Included) |
Best budget: COLBOR PL8B LED panels for portrait photography
The COLBOR PL8B is one of the best budget LED lights for portrait photography. It offers adjustable brightness and a wide color temperature range from 2500K to 9000K to create flattering light for different skin tones and moods. With a high CRI of 98, it renders skin colors naturally and clearly, essential for capturing true-to-life portraits.
This LED panel has a built-in 5000mAh battery to support long portrait photography sessions. It also supports app control and offers 10 lighting effects to help you add subtle creative touches that enhance portrait depth.
If you need a reliable LED light for smartphone selfies, the COLBOR PL8B’s magnetic back makes it easy to attach and use on the go.
Features:
- Affordable price
- Wide color temperature range from 2500K to 9000K
- High CRI of 98 for natural skin tones
- Built-in 5000mAh rechargeable battery
- App control with 10 lighting effects
- Multiple mounting options including cold shoe, screw holes, and magnetic back
Best portable: COLBOR Wonder Kit LED portrait lighting kit
The COLBOR Wonder Kit offers the best lighting for outdoor portraits. It offers a 60W or 100W LED light to choose from. You can adjust the color temperature from 2700K to 6500K to match natural light, and control it quickly through NFC wireless control.
Built for portable portrait lighting, the kit includes a battery base that powers the LED light for 30 minutes at 100W. After that, it continues running at 50W for an extra 10 minutes—enough to finish a shoot without interruption. It also includes a reflector, 4-leaf barn door, dome, and honeycomb grid. These tools let you soften or focus the light, helping you shape mood and depth in your portraits.
The COLBOR Wonder Kit is perfect for portrait photographers who need flexible, high-quality lighting in outdoor or fast-paced environments.
Features:
- Portable LED lighting kit with battery base
- Adjustable color temperature from 2700K to 6500K
- NFC wireless control
- Included reflector and accessories for even and soft portrait lighting
Best overall: COLBOR CL60R LED lights for headshots
The COLBOR CL60R is one of the high-quality LED lights for portrait photography, especially for creative and color headshots. It supports full RGB color control, allowing you to add rich tones, colorful backgrounds, or subtle accents to your portraits. You can also fine-tune the color temperature from 2700K to 6500K and adjust saturation and hue with precision.Its high CRI of 97 makes it great for both realistic and stylized looks.
As one of the wireless LED lights for portrait photography, the COLBOR CL60R works with PD power banks, PD adapters, V-mount batteries, and NP-F batteries. This gives you portable power options for studio and outdoor shoots.
The COLBOR CL60R is a top choice for portrait photographers who want creative control over lighting color and mood, whether in the studio or on location.
Features:
- Full RGB color output with adjustable hue and saturation
- Color temperature ranges from 2700K to 6500K
- High CRI of 97 for natural skin tones
- Wireless app control
- 13 lighting modes for creative effects
- PD power bank support for portable use
Best premium: COLBOR CL330 LED light for indoor or outdoor portrait photography
As a professional LED light for portrait photography, the COLBOR CL330 offers powerful output for bright, even lighting in both indoor and outdoor setups. Its high CRI of 97+ and TM-30 ratings (Rf96/Rg103) ensure natural skin tones and accurate color across all lighting conditions.
Despite its high output, the CL330 features a lightweight aluminum body that’s easy to mount. It uses a standard Bowens mount for compatibility with various light modifiers and supports both AC and V-mount power options. The quiet cooling fan keeps noise low in studio environments.
This LED studio light is ideal for group portraits, full-body shots, or creative scenes that need strong and consistent illumination.
Features:
- CRI 97+ and TM-30 Rf96/Rg103 for accurate color
- Up to 65,800 lux at 1 meter with reflector
- Lightweight aluminum build
- Bowens mount compatibility
- Multiple power options like AC and V-mount
- Quiet cooling system for low-noise environments
FAQ
Here are some quick answers to help you learn more about using LED lights for portrait photography.
Are LED lights good for dog portrait photography?
Yes, using LED lights for pet portrait photography is effective, especially for close-ups like the head and shoulders. Compact LED panels like the COLBOR PLB8 give soft, continuous light that captures details without startling pets. But for full-body dog portraits, it’s better to use professional or multiple LED studio lights to ensure even lighting.
How to choose the best one?
When choosing LED lights for portrait photography, focus on these key factors: brightness and power, color accuracy, color temperature range, portability, and control options.
Based on these, here is a quick guide to help you pick the best option among four COLBOR models:
- For budget-friendly led portrait lighting that works well with smartphones, choose the COLBOR PL8B.
- For portable outdoor portrait lighting, the COLBOR Wonder Kit is a great fit.
- For creative headshots requiring full RGB color control, go with the COLBOR CL60R.
- For professional studio work needing powerful, even lighting, the COLBOR CL330 is the top choice.
If you're still unsure, click here to explore the key factors to consider when choosing LED photography lights.