Ceiling Mounted Lighting Solutions

If you own a studio space, you’re probably aware of the benefits of having your lights off the floor. Keeping the space clear for ease of access, removing tripping hazards such as stands and cables, and the flexibility of overhead lighting, are just a few reasons why mounting your lights onto the ceiling is worth considering. But how exactly is this possible, and what solution do you need that will be best suited for your space and shooting needs? Luckily at Dragon Image, we have a wide range of different ceiling mounting solutions that are tailored for various types of studio spaces, meaning we have the solution for you! Read below to find out more.

Mechanical Hoist/Truss System

For larger studios that have a lot of ceiling height to work with, this is the perfect solution! Truss systems are great for mounting multiple lights onto due to their sturdy aluminium housing. In conjunction with a mechanical hoist system attached to the top of the ceiling, you’re able to move the truss up or down to get the exact you need for a shoot, and it also makes for easy adjustments and maintenance of the lighting. We have installed these systems for some high-profile clients in the past, such as Big Box Cars for their warehouse photography studio, and more recently acclaimed film director Alex Proyas for his production company Mystery Clock Cinema (below).

For this sort of system to be most effective, you generally need a ceiling height of 5-10m, to allow for enough clearance with the hoist. Additionally, the truss system can also be fitted and installed with diffusion on the bottom and blackout material around the edges, creating a large overhead softbox. 

Pantograph Ceiling Track System

The Lightpro Pantograph Ceiling Track System is perfect for those who have photo or video studios in a smaller space, with ceiling heights of about 3-5 metres. The system is a turnkey solution that is compatible with most lighting fixtures for photo and video, allowing for full horizontal and vertical movement of each light that’s attached. We have installed this system for schools including Caroline Chisholm College and Somerset College, each to great effect! The video below goes into detail the process of setting up the pantograph system.

Getting To Know the LightPro Ceiling Track system from Dragon Image on Vimeo.

40B/40W LED Track Light System

The Lightpro 40B LED Track Light System is the perfect solution for a multi-use studio - one that can easily convert into an office, classroom or home living space. While it differs from the other systems in that you don’t have control over what lighting you can mount, it is a turnkey solution where you can turn the lights on and start shooting in seconds. The video below shows how the Track Light System can be utilised to create high-quality and engaging studio videos!

Please keep in mind that the general ceiling height required is about 2.5-3m, as they are designed to be installed in office spaces or classrooms with average ceiling height. You will also need access to power on the ceiling (preferably inside the ceiling), so that you have the system installed without cables showing to have a clean and professional look. 

Ceiling/Wall Spigot Mounts

If you have a home studio, but don’t have the ceiling clearance required or the budget for a full ceiling track system, but still need to keep your cables off the ground, perhaps getting some simple ceiling/wall spigot mounts are the way to go. These can be a great solution for mounting lights in your bedroom or home studio in places where floor space isn’t on your side. There are a few options for this depending on the type of ceiling you have - standard mounting plates where you can screw directly into the walls or ceiling, or scissor clamps when you’re working with a drop ceiling.

Additionally, other wall or ceiling mounting options include the scissor arm, which allows you to bring your light out from the wall whilst also keeping it off the floor, autopoles, which, with a super clamp, allow you to mount lights at any height, without the wide footprint of a light stand. 

There’s a world of possibility!

As you can see, there are a multitude of different types of video and photography studios that people are investing in and using for their work, and with that comes different requirements and parameters for lighting. That’s why at Dragon Image, we stay on top of the solutions that are out there and provide exactly what our customers need. If you’re interested in any of these ceiling-mounted lighting solutions, or have any questions relating to anything to do with studio lighting, please don’t hesitate to contact your local store today!