Lighting Setup Checklist for Commercial Film Shoots
Planning a commercial shoot? Lighting is one of the most important (and overlooked) elements that separates amateur productions from professional ones. Whether you’re shooting a branded video, music video, or TV spot, having the right lighting gear and setup plan can make or break your shoot day.
Here’s a practical, printable checklist to make sure your lighting department is dialed in before the camera rolls.
Pre-Shoot Lighting Checklist
🔌 Power & Distribution
- Assess total power draw (include HMIs, LEDs, ballasts)
- Order proper distro (Lex Products or Motion Labs)
- Bring tie-ins, Bates cables, stingers, and dimmers
- Ground fault protection in place (especially for wet locations
💡 Fixtures
- Key Lights (e.g., Aputure 600X, LiteMat 4, etc.)
- Fill and background lights
- Accent or practicals
- Backup fixtures (always bring extras!)
🎛 Control
- Dimmers or DMX controllers
- iPad apps / wireless control (Astera, Sidus Link, etc.)
- Gels or RGB setups ready for mood lighting
- Flag kits, diffusion, grids, and bounce card
🎚 Grip Support
- C-stands, combo stands, baby/mombo stands
- Sandbags (minimum 2 per stand)
- Boom arms, clamps, and adapters
- Overhead frames or rag kit
🔦 Safety & Misc
- Fire extinguisher and gloves
- Work lights for setup/strike
- Walkies for communication with G&E
- Wrap tags and gear labels
Final Thoughts
This checklist covers the essentials, but every set is unique. Start here, then tailor it to your team’s needs and the creative vision. Want help building a custom lighting kit for your next shoot? Contact us here — we’re happy to help.
👉 Need gear recommendations? Explore our lighting inventory from Aputure, LiteGear, and more.