Written by the Content Factory Studios team. Last updated 30 October 2026.
At Content Factory Studios in Bow, East London, every set has a lighting setup planned around it. Editorial, brand and corporate shoots each need something different, and bigger productions need something different again. Below is how we light each set in our three studios, and what we'd set up for your shoot.
The full kit comes with every booking at no extra cost: two Godox SK400II flash heads, an Aputure 300C full-colour LED, a 120 cm parabolic softbox with grid, an 80 × 120 cm softbox, two 35 × 160 cm stripboxes, three C-stands and sandbags.
Why we built the studio around the light
We come from this industry. We've been the people on set, so we've had the same frustrations as you.
We'd book a studio that looked great in the photos, then turn up to find one tired softbox, a light that wouldn't sync, and a room no one had thought about lighting properly. Half the shoot went on fixing the light instead of making the work. Lots of the studios around us were pretty rooms with lights added afterwards.
So we did it the other way round. Before we built a set, we asked how it would be lit, and for which kind of shoot. Every set in our studios was built with its lighting already planned. That way you spend your hours shooting, not problem-solving.
How to light an editorial shoot
Editorial work needs mood. You want shape, shadow and texture, a look that feels made on purpose rather than just bright. That's what Studio 1 is for.
Studio 1: five sets, one room, lighting already rigged
Studio 1 has five built sets: the Stone Wash Archway, the Rustic Wall, the Classic Green French Wall, the Living Room and the Red Velvet set. The lighting is pre-rigged when you arrive, so you can move from set to set without starting again.
Red Velvet: this set is all about richness. A gridded parabolic as the key keeps the light on your subject and lets the velvet fall into deep shadow. A stripbox behind adds a rim that separates hair and shoulders from the red. It's our go-to for fashion editorials, music artwork and anything moody.
Stone Wash Archway: the arch frames your subject, so we light it to read as soft daylight. A big source from the side brings out the texture of the stone. Use the 80 × 120 softbox for a gentle, clean editorial look, or the Aputure 300C if you're filming.
Rustic Wall: texture is the point here. Light from a low side angle makes the wall look three-dimensional. Use the stripboxes to keep the light narrow and controlled.
Classic Green French Wall: the green carries the colour, so keep the light clean and skin tones true. Use a large softbox close to the subject, with a second head bounced for fill.
Living Room: this set should feel lived in. Use the Aputure 300C at a warm colour temperature to look like lamplight or late-afternoon sun through a window. It works for lifestyle, interiors and talking-head video.
How to light a brand shoot
Brand shoots need consistency. Your product, your people and your colours should look the same across every image, because the content ends up next to each other on a website, a grid or an ad. That's why we built Studio 2 around natural light.
Studio 2: natural daylight, plus the kit when you need it
Studio 2 has five sets with natural daylight: two refined sets, an exposed brick wall, a textured concrete backdrop and more. Daylight gives you soft, true colour that flatters skin and products, and it looks like real life, which is what most brands want now.
Refined sets: shoot with the daylight. Add a softbox or a reflector on the shadow side to keep the light the same from shot to shot, even if the sky changes.
Exposed brick: warm and human, great for founders, team portraits and lifestyle. Side light brings out the brick. A stripbox gives a touch of edge so people stand out from the wall.
Textured concrete: cool and modern, great for beauty, skincare and fashion basics. Keep the light soft and even, then add a hard accent if you want more drama.
Studio 2 is also our best room for phone content. Phones can't fire studio flash, but daylight and the Aputure 300C both work perfectly with any phone camera.
How to light a corporate shoot
Corporate shoots need two things at once: people should look approachable, and the whole team should match. Studio 2 is where we put them. The daylight takes the stiffness out of a headshot, and the sets give you a choice of looks without leaving the room.
Team headshots: let the gridded parabolic do the main work as your key light, and let the daylight act as soft fill. Because the flash sets the look rather than the window, the tenth headshot matches the first even when the sky changes. Pick one backdrop for the whole team and keep the lights where they are.
Founder and "about us" portraits: move to the exposed brick for warmth, or one of the refined sets for a polished, office-ready feel. A stripbox from behind lifts people off the background.
Interviews and corporate video: use the Aputure 300C as your key and set it to match the daylight, so skin tones stay natural on camera. Add a stripbox for separation.
How to light a bigger production
Some shoots need space and total control: campaigns, commercials, full-crew music videos, product launches and full-length fashion. That's what Studio 3 is for.
Studio 3: white infinity cove
Studio 3 is an edge-to-edge white infinity cove with high ceilings, 3-phase power and full blackout. Blackout means no daylight at all, so every bit of light in the frame is light you put there.
Campaigns and full-length fashion: light the cove and the talent separately. Flash on the cove gives you a clean, seamless white, and a gridded key on the subject keeps them crisp instead of washed out.
Products: the seamless background makes products easy to cut out and reuse. Use the stripboxes to draw clean highlights along bottles, packaging and edges.
Commercials and music videos: the high ceilings give you room to rig overhead, and 3-phase power means a production can bring in bigger lights alongside our kit. The Aputure 300C covers colour effects and continuous light for motion.
Which studio should you book?
Editorial, fashion, music artwork, several looks in one session: Studio 1
Brand content, lifestyle, e-commerce, beauty, phone content and corporate headshots: Studio 2
Bigger productions, such as campaigns, commercials, full-crew music videos, products and full-length shots: Studio 3
Every studio is the same price: £75 an hour (2-hour minimum), £275 for a half day (4 hours) or £500 for a full day (8 hours). The lighting kit and props are included every time. See photos of every set on our Studios page, or read how much it costs to hire a content studio in London.
Questions we get asked about lighting
Is lighting included when I book a studio?
Yes. The full kit is included in every booking at Content Factory Studios: two Godox SK400II flash heads, an Aputure 300C LED, softboxes, stripboxes, C-stands and sandbags.
Do I need to bring my own lights?
No. Bring your camera. If you prefer your own flash trigger, bring one that works with Godox. Bigger productions can bring extra lights for Studio 3, which has 3-phase power.
Can I shoot video in the studio?
Yes. Use the Aputure 300C continuous light, or the natural daylight in Studio 2.
Which studio is best for moody, editorial lighting?
Studio 1, especially the Red Velvet set with a gridded key light and a rim light behind.
Which studio is best for corporate headshots?
Studio 2. Natural daylight with flash as the key light gives you approachable headshots that match across the whole team.
Which studio is best for a big production?
Studio 3. The white infinity cove, high ceilings, 3-phase power and full blackout give a full crew room to work and complete control of the light.
We built this place because we wanted a studio that understood the shoot before you walked in. If you're planning an editorial, brand, corporate or production shoot in London, check availability and book your studio here.
