Best Portable Lights for Photography in 2025: Top Picks for You

Portable lights for photography are compact and lightweight, reducing your weight burden when you are out shooting and preventing you from feeling tired. However, lightweight but poor lighting performance may not be useful for photography. Thus, in this post, we explore how to select a good portable photography light and present five of the best portable lights for photography, detailing their advantages, prices, and more. Read on if you're searching for one!

Comparison Table of Portable Photography Lights

Best Portable Lights for Photography in 2025

1. NEEWER BR60 Bi-color Mini Ring Light

If you often shoot portraits, the NEEWER BR60 Bi-color Mini Ring Light should be the best portable light for photography for you. It is equipped with 60 LEDs and can provide up to 450 lux of illumination at 0.5 meters. It also has five lighting modes including warm, mixed, and cool white, and 10 levels of dimming to offer soft light for portraits in different environments.

The NEEWER BR60 Bi-color Mini Ring Light can be powered and charged via USB, and it comes with a clip, so you can mount this portable light for photography on a laptop, desktop monitor, and other devices for live streaming, video conferencing, and more, in addition to using it on your phone. Also, it's very lightweight, and with the clip included, it's only 131g!

PROS：

• Versatile LED Fill Light with Clip
• Multiple Lighting Options
• USB Powered Charging

2. NEEWER SL90 Aluminum Alloy RGB Panel Video Light

The NEEWER SL90 Aluminum Alloy RGB Panel Video Light is a portable light for photography that provides accurate color reproduction. If you want better lighting effects, it may be able to meet your requirements and amaze you. It features 80 bi-color LEDs and 70 RGB LEDs that can produce up to 1700Lx of illumination at 0.5 meters with a CRI and TLCI of 97+. Best of all, it weighs only 310g!

The NEEWER SL90 Aluminum Alloy RGB Panel Video Light has 18 preset lighting scene modes and also supports music synchronization. In addition, this portable light for photography can be flipped up and down from different angles. Therefore, when you are shooting videos, using this lightweight photography light can give your videos more atmosphere and bring more creativity to your creation.

PROS:

• Stunning Lighting Effect
• 18 Scene Modes & Support Music Sync
• Pan & Tilt Adjustable & Aluminum Alloy Shell

3. NEEWER HS60B 60W Bi-Color Mini Light

The NEEWER HS60B 60W Bi-Color Mini Light is a portable light for photography capable of delivering high-quality bi-color illumination. With an output of up to 60W, it provides 35,000lux of illumination at 1m. Moreover, this portable light weighing only 320g is also designed with PWM technology for smooth and precise dimming from 0 to 100%.

It is worth mentioning that the NEEWER HS60B 60W Bi-Color Mini Light has diverse power solutions. For indoor use, you can use a DC adapter. When shooting outdoors, you can power this portable light for photography through the USB Type C port or use the battery plate directly, which is very convenient.

PROS:

• Handheld Mini LED Video Light
• Premium Bi-Color Illumination
• Diverse Power Supply Solutions

4. NEEWER TL96 RGB Handheld Light Stick

The NEEWER TL96 RGB Handheld Light Stick would be a better choice for those who want a portable light for photography with rich light colors and lighter weight. It weighs only 134g, but it comes with 24 RGB light beads, 36 cool color beads, and 36 warm color beads, which can provide different colors for your photography and bring more lighting possibilities.

The NEEWER TL96 RGB Handheld Light Stick is magnetic, a design that greatly enhances its utility. When using this portable light for photography, you can hold it directly to illuminate, or attach it to a metal surface for different lighting angles and effects. In addition, besides photography, you can even take it with you on outdoor stages and live concerts.

PROS:

• Pocket-Sized Mini Handheld Light Wand
• Creative Diversified Color Modes
• With Strengthened Magnetic Force

5. NEEWER NL-36AI Cold Shoe Bi-Color Portable Light

Among the five portable lights for photography, the NEEWER NL-36AI Cold Shoe Bi-Color Portable Light is the lightest one, only 80g. Therefore, if you are more concerned about the lightness, it will be a better choice and won't burden your shooting on the go at all.

Although the NEEWER NL-36AI Cold Shoe Bi-Color Portable Light is lightweight, it can also reach a maximum illuminance of 800lux at 0.5 m. What's more, there are 8 scene modes for this portable light for photography. Therefore, it can fully meet your outdoor live streaming, video shooting, and photography needs. In addition, it can illuminate continuously for nearly 3 hours and also comes with a USB Type-C port for easy charging.

PROS:

• Adjustable Brightness & Bi-Color Temperature
• Built-In Lithium Battery & Type-C Port
• Easy to Carry and Transport.

How to Choose A Good Portable Light for Photography?

1. Consider Brightness and Color Temperature

A portable light for photography must offer adjustable brightness and color temperature control (2500K-6500K), to meet various lighting situations and ensure proper exposure when taking photographs in low-light settings. Lumen output helps guarantee adequate exposure; dimmable controls help prevent overexposure.

A wedding photographer working in dimly lit venues can use a 5600K daylight-balanced portable LED panel to illuminate subjects without distorting skin tones. Meanwhile, a documentary filmmaker shooting at dusk might opt for a warmer 3200K setting to match ambient lighting while maintaining a natural look.

2. Check Battery Life and Power Options

Since portability is key, a reliable power source is crucial. Look for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or swappable NP-F batteries for longer shooting sessions. USB-C charging adds convenience for travel, while lights with power bank compatibility provide extra runtime.

For instance, a street photographer capturing urban nightlife may prefer a battery-powered LED panel with at least 3 hours of runtime, ensuring uninterrupted shooting. On-location videographers might opt for a light with dual power options—battery and DC input—to avoid downtime during extended shoots.

3. Look for Compact Design and Mounting Versatility

Light and compact designs of a photography light make transport much simpler. Magnetic backs, cold shoe mounts, or tripod threads allow for flexible positioning whether handheld, camera mounted, or placed off-camera for creative lighting effects.

Photographers often utilize portable LED panels mounted to light stands to produce soft-fill lighting effects; travel vloggers may opt to attach small magnetic lights directly onto metal surfaces for hands-free illumination in tight spaces.

4. Assess Additional Features and Controls

Assessing additional features and controls can help you choose a good portable light for photography. For instance, RGB lighting, built-in diffusion, and special effects (such as flickering for firelight simulation) add creative possibilities. Wireless remote or app control enhances convenience, allowing adjustments without physically handling the light.