WRITTEN & SHOT ON iPHONE BY: STEVE HOLLOWAY
Camera & Light Kit Ideas.
iPhone has the ability to create extraordinary shots straight out of your pocket.
The engineering behind the lenses and sensors plus the image capture and processing that happens in the background every time you hit the shutter means almost every image can be created using just an iPhone.
So why add a kit?
A kit lets you add to or supplement natural light to light a scene, lock down the camera for long exposures find unusual points of view.
My pack breaks down into four kits: Camera, Go Bag, Light Kit and Grip Bag.
When I started shooting with an iPhone, I always felt like I didn’t have a firm grip on the phone, like it might slip out of my hands. Especially on a bridge, balcony or overhang.
IPHONE 16 PRO MAX WITH BEASTGRIP CAGE.
The Beastgrip was the first cage I used. I added it to my kit after seeing it used by Greg Fraser (Batman Cinematographer) in the made for Apple video On Set with iPhone 13.
Beastgrip has the same hand position as a DSLR and gives you options to adjust, hand hold, anchor and add accessories in a compact package to rig the phone to tripods and top handles.
Beastgrip includes a lens bracket to add an auxiliary lens (like an anamorphic lens) to your kit. I’ve found the iPhone Pro lenses covered every subject I’ve encountered so I left that bracket off and rigged with the grip only.
iPHONE 16 PRO MAX WITH SMALLRIG CAGE.
SmallRig’s iPhone 16 Pro Max cage. When I upgraded to the 16 Pro Max, I added the new SmallRig + Brandon Li cage.
Co-designed with travel video cinematographer Brandon Li, this Smallrig cage has a low-profile design, multiple cold shoe and 1/4-20 attachment points, two quick release, fully rotatable handles, a detachable Bluetooth shutter release, a magnetic filter adapter, a variable neutral density filter and an auxiliary lens attachment plate.
It’s an elegant, flexible cage solution that jumps the gap from iPhone to versatile, compact, agile camera.
iPHONE 16 PRO MAX SMALLRIG CAGE WITH TOP HANDLE CONFIGURATION PLUS MAGNETIC FILTER ADAPTER.
One of my favorite configurations is shooting with a top handle position plus the Black Mist 1/4 diffusion filter. The top handle lets me walk with the camera at waist level, inconspicuously capturing street images.
This top handle rig also facilitates easily moving from a ground level point of view all the way up to an inverted high angle shot.
The Black Mist 1/4 diffusion filter creates a sense of atmosphere by adding a subtle glow to light sources while maintaining blacks in the shadow areas.
iPHONE 16 PRO MAX SMALLRIG DETACHABLE BLUETOOTH SHUTTER RELEASE.
Holding Smallrig’s detachable Bluetooth shutter release in the other hand lets me seamlessly blend in.
Another favorite kit rig is to attach the camera to the portable camera/light pole (used in this tabletop set up). It can be attached to a stand or handheld, collapses to 30in and extends to 6ft to get low angle shots looking up and high angle to extreme high angle shots looking down.
Camera Kit.
- (1) SmallRig + Brandon Li cage kit
- (1) BeastGrip Camera Grip
- (1) Tabletop Mini Tripod with Ball Head
- (1) Universal Aluminum Arca Swiss Clamp ¼”
- (1) SmallRig Video Monitor
- (1) Tripod
- (1) Handheld Portable Light Stand for High/Low Angle Camera Positioning
I wanted a small, grab and go everywhere bag. A bag small enough that it doesn’t feel like I’m lugging a backpack around. My Go Bag is just big enough to hold a small LED light, the SmallRig cage, filters, and a few tools. If needed, my iPhone with the cage attached can store in the bag.
- (1) Go Bag
- (1) Lume Cube Panel Mini LED Rechargeable
- (1) SmallRig video monitor
- SmallRig Brandon Li cage components
- SmallRig 67mm Black Mist 1/4 filter
- SmallRig 67mm VND filter
My light kit uses different light sources to adapt to more environments including (Left to Right) 32in Reflector, 22” Beauty Dish, LED Light Wand Stick, 36inx48in Savage Diffuser/Scrim, 10.6in Round LED Light Panel.
I have also added a shooting table with an opaque white plexiglass top for tabletops. This Flashpoint shooting table lets you light under, behind and around a setup. It folds for storage and costs less than $50.00.
Beauty dish. I use a beauty dish for portraits and table top photography. Light from a beauty dish has the unique quality of providing a soft, flattering light that wraps around a subject. It can’t be matched for that quality.
The dish I use was originally rigged for electronic flash. I modified it to accept two options, a simple COB LED work light from Amazon and a Sunpak 60 watt COB LED light with mini-Bogen adapter as a continuous source to use to shoot on iPhone.
Light Kit.
- (1) 10.6in Round LED Light Panel
- (1) Rechargeable Battery Kit
- (3) Ruggard Padded Tripod/Light Stand Case 42”
- (4) 7ft Light Stands
- (1) 32in Reflector
- (1) 36inx48in Savage 5 in1 Diffuser/Reflector to use as a light scrim
- (1) RGB Handheld LED Video Light Wand Stick, 9 Colors, Rechargeable
- (1) 22” Beauty Dish
- (1) Buff Case
- (1) Sunpak 60 W COB LED video light with internal 3000mAH battery
- Neewer Portable LED gobo spotlight, flashlight form factor Gobo 7500mAh 10W
- (1) Flashpoint Shooting Table
(1) Grip Bag
(6) Large Clamps
(2) Multi Clip
(1) Roll Duct Tape
(1) Smallrig Articulating Arm with Clamp
Miscellaneous hardware, tools, adapters
How about less than $1,400.00 for a Camera Kit, Go Bag Kit, Light Kit and Grip Bag Kit?
Here is everything in my kit. Use it as an idea starter and build your kit based on what you shoot or would like to shoot.
Some of the items were ordered through B&H Photo but most were ordered through Amazon.
Camera Kit $476.81
(1) SmallRig + Brandon Li iPhone 16 Pro Max cage kit. Includes FilMov case and grip, (2) hand grips, Bluetooth shutter release, magnetic filter holder, VND magnetic filter (B&H Photo $81.00)
(1) Camera Grip (Beastgrip $135.00)
(1) Tripod (My newest find is the SmallRig Camera Tripod with quick release plate $85.99)
(1) Handheld Portable Light Stand for High/Low Angle Camera Positioning (Jenbei HD-230 30.5in to 7.5ft Handheld Light Stand $39.99)
(1) SmallRig Ball Head ($7.99)
(1) SmallRig Tabletop Mini Tripod with Panoramic Ball Head ($44.90)
(1) Universal Aluminum Arca Swiss Clamp ¼” ($16.95)
(1) SmallRig Video Monitor ($64.99)
Go Bag $88.98
(1) Go Bag (Besnfoto Camera Bag Small $28.99)
(1) Lume Cube Panel Mini LED camera mount Rechargeable ($59.99)
Light Kit $689.02
(1) 10.6in Round LED Light Panel (Neewer $83.99)
(1) Rechargeable Battery Kit (Neewer 2 pack NP-F 2600mAh $29.99)
(3) Ruggard Padded Tripod/Light Stand Case 42” (3 @ $22.95ea)
(4) 7ft Light Stands (Rigiorod 2 pack 2 @ $29.99)
(1) 30in Light Stand (Linco Back Light Stand $15.99)
(1) 32in Reflector (Aquirui $17.99)
(1) 36inx48in Savage 5in1 Diffuser/Reflector to use as a light scrim ($40.99)
(1) RGB Handheld LED Video Light Wand Stick, 9 Colors, Rechargable ($69.99)
(1) Glow 20.5″ White Softlight Beauty Dish (Adorama 129.95)
(1) Glow S-type Bowens Mount Bracket for Speedlites and Flash (Adorama $16.95)
(1) Broncolor Beauty Dish (Bag B&H Photo & Video $49.95)
(1) Anylight COB Led Work Light (Amazon $24.95)
(1) Sunpak 60 W COB LED video light with internal 3000mAH battery (B&H Photo $49.50)
(1) Flashpoint Shooting Table (Adorama $29.95)
(1) Neewer Portable LED gobo spotlight, flashlight form factor Gobo 7500mAh 10W (Amazon $39.49)
Grip Kit $110.67
(1) Grip Bag (Search camera bags on Amazon and pick a bag that works with your kit, Prices range from $30.00 to $200.00, Canvas Camera Bag Waterproof DSLR Camera bag by TULLIO $25.99)
(1) Ulanzi VL49 2000mAh LED Video Light Rechargeable ($22.95)
(1) Nebo Big Larry Flashlight ($29.99)
(6) Large Clamps (6ea Spring Clamps $12.99)
(2) Multi Clip (Manfrotto 2@ $15.38ea 30.76)
(1) Roll Duct Tape ($8.95)
(1) Smallrig Articulating Arm with Clamp ($27.98)
Total $1,365.48
There are a few items I would add special notes to:
Smallrig accessories. If you’re looking for an accessory and find a Smallrig option, buy it. Every Smallrig accessory I’ve bought is well engineered, durable, works better than expected and cost less than expected.
My Bogen Manfrotto 3205 Tripod (above) shows the battle scars of being shipped, dropped, transported, handled, mishandled and used in every location condition you can imagine for 20+ years. And it’s still solid and dependable. So the $225.00 or so I invested has paid off. That said, one option would be to buy a less expensive model (I’ve priced a very affordable, well made SmallRig model below) and see how they work in the field for you. You might use them for years or you might find additional features you need and won’t be over invested in the first purchase.
Shooting on iPhone is the Perfect Portrait Tool.
Portraiture is One of My Favorite Disciplines. Pulling out a DSLR rig can be intimidating to some people. Shooting with an iPhone is just the opposite. People have gotten so used to selfies and smartphones that an iPhone is unobtrusive. So much so that a photographer blends in with what’s going on adding a level of spontaneity to capturing images.
This portrait of Brance Arnold for Road Portraits was captured using natural light on location. The cover image was photographed hand held in open shade. Captured on an iPhone 11 Pro Max with Beastgrip and Bluetooth release.
Jump to any Point of View how to guide, process deep dive or a pre iPhone portfolio plus how influences shape the storytelling process and a memoir that looks at the story behind the stories and to Nonlinear Content galleries and stories.
Introduction
Become a storyteller
Technology
- 02A Digital evolution.
- 02B Annie Leibovitz.
- 02C From Batman to the iPhone.
- 02D Henri Cartier-Bresson’s Leica.
- 02E Moving from film to digital to iPhone.
- 02F The self portrait series.
- 02G iPhone camera rigging.
- 03A Working with light.
- 03B The scout.
- 03C Shooting during the golden hour.
- 03D Photographing people.
- 03E Details, shadows, shapes and textures.
- 03F Plate shots and reflections.
- 03G Feed your passions.
- 03H People and food, two favorites.
- 03I On the road.
- 03J Wall art (it’s not what you think).
- 03K Transitional images.
- 03L Night photography.
- 04B Assemblages and abstractions.
- 04C Change the composition of an image.
- 04D Color correction vs color grading.
- 04E Create motion with Live Photo.
- 04F Resize images and retain detail.
- 04G Software and skill building resources.
- 04H On device apps.
- 04I Offboard resources.
- 05A Two key iPhone features.
- 05B Camera and light kit ideas.
- 05C Copied on iPhone.
- 05D Learning post production.
- 05E Designing with type.
- 05F Learning from cinema.
- 05G The three lens solution.
