Every event tells a story. Your lighting is what brings that story to life. Think about the flow of your celebration: the soft, romantic glow for a wedding ceremony, a warm and inviting atmosphere for dinner, and then a high-energy vibe for the dance party. Static, unchanging lights just can’t keep up. An intelligent lighting rental, however, can be programmed to transition with you, guiding your guests through each moment. It gives you the power to direct the mood, ensuring the atmosphere always feels just right. Let’s walk through how to use lighting to craft a seamless narrative for your event.
Key Takeaways
- Shape Your Event’s Atmosphere: Use intelligent lighting to guide your guests through the evening. A professional can program seamless transitions, shifting from a soft, elegant glow during dinner to an energetic, music-synced light show for the dance floor.
- Highlight What Matters Most: Direct your guests’ attention to the most important parts of your celebration. A custom monogram adds a personal branding element, while focused spotlights ensure no one misses key moments like the first dance or a keynote speech.
- Prioritize Full-Service Support: Look for a company that offers more than just equipment rental. A true event partner provides a custom design consultation, professional setup, and on-site technical operation to ensure your lighting runs flawlessly all night.
What Is Intelligent Lighting?
When you think about event lighting, you might picture simple spotlights or the standard overhead lights in a ballroom. Intelligent lighting is something else entirely. It’s an advanced system of lights that can be programmed and controlled to create dynamic, moving, and colorful effects that completely transform a space. Instead of just illuminating a room, this technology helps you build an atmosphere and tell a story, making it a truly immersive experience for you and your guests.
Intelligent Lighting vs. Static Uplighting
Think of static uplighting as setting the perfect stage for your event. These are stationary lights, often placed on the floor, that wash walls, columns, or other architectural features in a single, beautiful color of your choice. It’s a fantastic way to establish a warm, inviting ambiance from the moment guests arrive and integrate your color scheme directly into the venue. While up-lighting creates a gorgeous foundation for the room’s atmosphere, its key characteristic is that it remains the same all night long. It’s a beautiful, but fixed, element of your decor that provides a consistent and elegant backdrop for photos and mingling.
Intelligent lighting, on the other hand, is the main character that drives your event’s story forward. This dynamic system uses moving heads and programmable fixtures that can change color, project custom patterns, and sync directly with the music. This is what transforms a space from a decorated room into a living, breathing party. Imagine your first dance bathed in a soft, romantic spotlight, which later explodes into a high-energy dance floor light show once the celebration kicks into high gear. The choice isn’t about which is “better,” but about what kind of evolving experience you want to create for your guests from start to finish.
What Makes It Smarter Than Standard Lights?
Standard lighting is static. It’s usually set to one color and one brightness level, and it stays that way all night. Intelligent lighting, on the other hand, is completely dynamic. It can be controlled by a technician to change colors, create patterns, and move in sync with the music. This allows the lighting to adapt to the flow of your event. For example, you can have soft, warm colors during dinner and then transition to vibrant, fast-moving dance floor lighting when the party starts. This real-time control means the lighting becomes an active part of your celebration.
What Features Make Lighting “Intelligent”?
So, what gives this lighting its “intelligent” name? It comes down to a few key features. First is programmability. A lighting designer can create a custom light show tailored specifically to your event’s schedule and theme. Another major feature is the ability to change colors and project patterns, which is perfect for matching your wedding colors or corporate branding. These systems can also be integrated with other event technology, like syncing the lights to the DJ’s music. Features like moving heads and custom monogram lighting add another layer of personalization, creating a responsive environment that makes your event feel unique.
Wireless Control and Connectivity
One of the best parts of modern event technology is the lack of messy, hazardous cables. Intelligent lighting systems often use wireless control, which means a technician can manage the entire light show from a central console or even a tablet without being tethered to the fixtures. This works using reliable wireless technologies, much like how your phone connects to WiFi. For your event, this translates to a cleaner, more polished look and greater flexibility for things like event up-lighting. The lighting operator can be positioned discreetly and make real-time adjustments as the evening unfolds, ensuring the atmosphere is always perfect without ever interrupting the flow of your party.
The Role of DMX Control
If you hear event professionals talk about DMX, don’t let the acronym intimidate you. DMX is simply the universal language that allows all the different lights and effects to communicate with each other and the control board. Think of it as the conductor of an orchestra. The DMX signal tells each light fixture precisely when to turn on, what color to be, how to move, and how bright to shine. This precise control is what makes it possible to create stunning, synchronized light shows that move with the music and shift with the mood. It’s how a professional can program everything from a slow, romantic fade for a first dance to an energetic, pulsing light show for the dance floor.
How Intelligent Lighting Transforms Your Event
Think of intelligent lighting as more than just a way to see in the dark. It’s a powerful tool that shapes the entire feel of your event from the moment guests arrive until the very last song. The right lighting design can turn a standard venue into a completely unique space, making your celebration feel personal, polished, and totally unforgettable. It guides your guests through the evening, puts the focus on what matters most, and creates a dynamic energy that static lighting just can’t match.
Set the Perfect Mood and Atmosphere
Lighting is one of the most effective ways to set the mood. A soft, warm glow during a wedding dinner creates a romantic and intimate vibe, while vibrant, colorful up-lighting can transform the same space into a high-energy party for the reception. The type and intensity of your lighting has a huge influence on the atmosphere of your event. With intelligent lighting, you can program changes throughout the evening, creating a seamless flow that feels completely natural. You can start with elegant and sophisticated and transition to a fun, club-like feel for dancing, all with the push of a button.
Make Your Photos Look Incredible
Your event photos and videos are how you’ll remember this day forever, and great lighting is the key to making them beautiful. Professional lighting eliminates harsh shadows and provides a rich, colorful backdrop that makes every shot look stunning. Using custom colors to match your theme doesn’t just look great in person; it also helps enhance the quality of event photography. Imagine your wedding photos bathed in your signature colors or your company’s logo shining bright with custom monogram lighting. This attention to detail ensures your memories are captured perfectly.
Highlight Your Most Important Moments
Intelligent lighting acts like a spotlight for the key parts of your event, telling your guests exactly where to look. You can use it to draw attention to the newlyweds during their first dance, a CEO giving a speech, or the prom king and queen being crowned. Your lighting choices can help you communicate with your audience without saying a word. A subtle shift in the lights can signal that it’s time for toasts or guide guests from the cocktail hour to the main ballroom. It’s a simple but effective way to direct the flow of your event and ensure no one misses a thing.
Bring the Beat to Life by Syncing Lights to Music
This is where the party really comes to life. Our dance floor lighting can be programmed to move, change color, and pulse right along with the beat of the music. This creates an immersive, concert-like energy that makes people want to get up and dance. Events that use responsive lighting, where the effects react to sound, build a much more captivating and dynamic experience for everyone. When the lights and music work together, it’s not just something you see and hear; it’s something you feel. It’s the perfect way to keep the energy high and the dance floor packed all night long.
Event Lighting Myths: What’s True and What’s Not?
When you hear “intelligent lighting,” it’s easy to picture a complicated, budget-breaking setup that just won’t work for your event. But a lot of what people assume about professional event lighting is simply not true. Let’s clear up a few common misconceptions so you can feel confident about adding that extra sparkle to your celebration. The reality is that modern lighting is more accessible, flexible, and integrated than ever before, especially when you have the right team on your side.
Myth: “It’s too complicated and will break my budget.”
I get it, the technology sounds complex, and that usually translates to expensive. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be a tech genius to use it. When you work with an event production company, you’re not just renting equipment; you’re hiring experts who handle everything from design to execution. We figure out the technical details so you can focus on your party. As for the cost, renting high-end lighting is far more affordable than buying it. Many companies offer entertainment packages that bundle lighting with DJ services, giving you a massive impact for a reasonable price. Think of it as an investment in the entire mood of your event.
Myth: “It won’t work with my venue.”
Worried that your beautiful, historic venue or outdoor space can’t handle modern lighting? This is a common concern, but today’s equipment is incredibly versatile. Many professional systems, like wireless up-lighting, are battery-powered and don’t require a single disruptive cable. They can be placed almost anywhere to wash walls with color. A skilled lighting designer can work with any space, from a grand ballroom to a rustic barn, highlighting architectural features instead of clashing with them. Before your event, a professional team will assess the venue’s layout and power capabilities to create a custom plan that works seamlessly with the space, not against it.
Myth: “It’s a pain to integrate with other gear.”
You’ve already booked a DJ and maybe a photo booth. The last thing you want is for the lighting to be a technical headache that doesn’t sync with anything else. The truth is, the “intelligent” part of the lighting is what makes it so easy to integrate. These systems are designed to communicate with other event technology. When you hire a full-service company that provides both the DJ and the lighting, you get a perfectly synchronized show. The lights can pulse with the music, change colors during key moments, and work in harmony with other effects like CO2 blasts to create a totally immersive experience for your guests.
Intelligent Lighting Ideas for Any Event
Intelligent lighting isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a versatile tool that adapts to the unique vibe of your event. Whether you’re planning a heartfelt wedding, a polished corporate gathering, or an energetic school dance, the right lighting design can completely transform the space and the experience. It works by setting the mood, directing focus, and creating moments that people will talk about long after the event is over. By tailoring the colors, movement, and intensity, you can ensure the atmosphere perfectly matches the occasion, making every moment feel special and intentional. Let’s look at how you can use intelligent lighting to make your specific event a standout success.
Weddings: From Romantic Vows to an Epic Reception
Your wedding day has its own story, and lighting helps tell it. During the ceremony, soft, warm up-lighting can create a romantic and intimate atmosphere as you say your vows. For the reception, the lighting can shift to match the energy. Imagine a soft glow during dinner, followed by dynamic, colorful dance floor lighting that syncs with the music once the party starts. Thoughtfully designed lighting keeps your guests engaged and immersed in every part of the celebration. From a gentle spotlight on the cake cutting to a custom monogram with your initials, every detail enhances the magic of your wedding entertainment and makes the day unforgettable.
Corporate Events: Showcase Your Brand in Style
For corporate events, lighting is a powerful branding tool. It helps create a professional, cohesive aesthetic that leaves a lasting impression on clients, partners, and employees. You can use intelligent lighting to wash the walls in your company’s colors, spotlight keynote speakers, or project your logo onto a prominent surface with custom monogram lighting. This visual consistency reinforces your brand identity throughout the venue. Beyond branding, lighting serves as a storytelling tool, guiding attendees’ attention and building excitement for presentations or product reveals. A well-lit event shows attention to detail and elevates your company’s image, making your corporate gathering feel polished and impactful.
School Dances: Create a Safe and Exciting Night to Remember
Lighting can make or break a school dance. The right setup transforms a simple gymnasium or ballroom into an exciting, concert-like environment that gets students energized from the moment they walk in. For events like prom or homecoming, you want a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere. Interactive light shows and effects that move to the beat of the music create an immersive experience that keeps the dance floor packed all night. This is a key part of planning memorable school events. Professional lighting also helps create a comfortable and supervised environment, ensuring everyone can have fun safely. It’s the secret ingredient to a night they’ll never forget.
Your Guide to Intelligent Lighting Options
Once you know what intelligent lighting can do, the fun part is choosing the right elements for your event. Think of these options as building blocks. You can use one to make a simple, elegant statement or combine several to create a completely immersive environment. The goal is to find the perfect mix that reflects your style and brings your venue to life. From subtle color washes to dynamic video displays, here are some of the most popular choices to consider.
Core Components of an Intelligent Lighting System
So, what exactly makes a lighting system “intelligent”? It’s the combination of smart hardware and the software that controls it. The first key component is programmability. This allows a lighting designer to create a custom light show that flows with your event’s schedule, transitioning from a soft dinner ambiance to a high-energy party atmosphere. The hardware itself includes dynamic fixtures like moving heads and color-changing up-lights that can wash a room in any color imaginable. Finally, the system is tied together with dynamic control, which allows a technician to make real-time adjustments and sync the lights to the DJ’s music, creating a responsive and immersive environment that becomes an active part of the celebration.
Dynamic Up-Lighting: Paint Your Walls with Color
If you want to completely change the feel of a room, start with up-lighting. This technique involves placing lighting fixtures on the floor to project beams of colored light up the walls, columns, or other architectural features. What makes it “dynamic” is our ability to change the colors throughout your event. We can set a soft, romantic glow for dinner and then transition to vibrant, changing colors once the dancing starts. Dynamic up-lighting is one of the most effective ways to tie your event’s color palette into the space, creating a cohesive and polished look from floor to ceiling.
Custom Monogram Lighting: Personalize Your Space
For a truly personal touch, nothing beats custom monogram lighting. Using a special projector called a gobo, we can display your names, initials, wedding date, or company logo in crisp, bright light. You can have it projected onto the center of the dance floor, a prominent wall, or even the ceiling. This is a fantastic way to brand a corporate event or add a signature element to your wedding reception. A custom monogram acts as a beautiful focal point and looks incredible in photos, reminding everyone whose celebration it is.
Dance Floor Lighting That Gets Everyone Moving
When it’s time to party, the right lighting can make all the difference. This is where intelligent lighting really shines, literally. We use a combination of moving head fixtures, color washes, and other effects that are programmed to sync with the music. The lights move and change color to the beat, creating an energetic atmosphere that encourages guests to hit the dance floor and stay there. Modern dance floor lighting uses energy-efficient LED technology, so you get a high-impact show without overheating the room or using a ton of power.
Moving Heads, Lasers, and Specialty Fixtures
To take your dance floor from great to unforgettable, you need movement. That’s where moving heads, lasers, and other specialty fixtures come in. Unlike static lights, these fixtures are programmed to sweep beams of light across the room, create sharp patterns, and change direction in perfect time with the music. This creates a true concert-like atmosphere, making your guests feel like they’re part of an exclusive show. A lighting technician can program these fixtures to highlight big moments in a song or build energy throughout the night. When you combine these dynamic lights with other special effects, like a perfectly timed CO2 blast, you create a high-energy environment that keeps the dance floor packed. These advanced options are a core part of creating a truly intelligent lighting design that feels completely immersive.
LED Video Walls: Go Big with Your Visuals
To make the biggest visual statement, consider an LED video wall. These high-resolution screens can display anything you can imagine, from a romantic photo slideshow during a wedding toast to a live feed of the dance floor. For corporate events, they are perfect for showcasing sponsor logos or brand videos. We can also use them to display abstract visuals and patterns that move in time with the music, adding another layer of energy to the DJ’s performance. Our LED panels come in various sizes and can be configured to fit your space perfectly, ensuring a stunning visual experience for your guests.
How Many Lights Do You Need?
This is the million-dollar question, right? While there’s no single magic number, a good starting point is to consider your venue and the atmosphere you want to create. A common guideline for uplighting is placing one fixture for every 10-15 feet of wall space, but the real answer depends entirely on your vision. Are you aiming for a subtle, romantic glow that gently washes the walls with color, or do you want a vibrant, fully saturated room that feels electric? A skilled designer can assess your space and help you decide if you need just a few key lights to highlight architecture or a full setup to completely transform the venue, ensuring the result is just right.
The best way to figure out the perfect number is through a custom plan. A professional lighting designer doesn’t just count walls; they think about creating focal points and layering different types of lights to match your event’s flow. This is where a custom design consultation becomes invaluable. Instead of guessing how many fixtures you need, you get an expert opinion tailored to your specific venue and goals, ensuring your lighting looks intentional and polished. At Party Time Productions, our team works with you to design a lighting scheme that guarantees you get the maximum impact for your budget and a flawless look all night long.
What to Look for in an Intelligent Lighting Rental Company
Finding the right lighting rental company is about more than just checking an item off your event planning list. The right partner will work with you to understand your vision and use lighting to create a truly immersive experience for your guests. A great company doesn’t just drop off equipment; they provide a full-service solution that includes design, setup, and operation. This ensures every moment, from the grand entrance to the last dance, is perfectly lit.
When you start your search, you’ll find plenty of options, but they aren’t all created equal. Some companies simply rent out gear, leaving you to figure out the rest. The best ones, however, act as lighting designers and technical partners. They’ll ask about your venue, your theme, and the specific moments you want to highlight. They bring the expertise needed to transform a space and the professional crew to make it happen flawlessly. Choosing a company that offers a comprehensive service means you can focus on enjoying your event, knowing the atmosphere is in expert hands.
Check Their Service Area and Travel Policy
Before you get too attached to a company’s portfolio, you need to confirm they can actually get to your venue. A company’s service area isn’t just a logistical detail; it speaks volumes about their experience with a variety of venues and regions. Make sure you ask about their travel policy and any associated fees upfront to avoid surprises down the road. A true event partner will have a transparent process for handling events across different cities and states. For example, a company that regularly serves a wide region, like the entire Southeast, has the expertise to manage the logistics for different locations, from a downtown Atlanta ballroom to a rustic barn in rural Tennessee. This ensures they are prepared to work with your venue, wherever it may be, and deliver a flawless experience.
Ensure They Offer a Custom Design Process
Your event is unique, and your lighting should be, too. Avoid any company that offers a one-size-fits-all package. Instead, look for a team that provides a custom design process. This means they’ll take the time to discuss your goals, the layout of your venue, and the mood you want to create. A personalized plan might involve using dynamic up-lighting to match your color scheme or designing a custom monogram to add a personal touch. This collaborative approach ensures the final result feels intentional and perfectly aligned with your vision, rather than generic or out of place.
Ask for Lighting Plots and Pre-Visualizations
How do you know the lighting company truly understands your vision? Ask them to show you. A professional team can provide lighting plots—think of them as blueprints for your event’s lighting—and pre-visualizations. These are digital mockups that show you what the lighting will look like in your venue before a single light is set up. This step is crucial because it allows you to approve the look ahead of time and make any necessary changes. It’s the best way to ensure the final design matches what you’ve been dreaming of. Seeing a pre-visualization gives you the confidence that your lighting designer has created a custom show that will perfectly enhance your event’s atmosphere, leaving no room for day-of surprises.
Insist on Technical Support and On-Site Operation
Intelligent lighting isn’t a “set it and forget it” feature. To get the most out of it, you need a skilled technician on-site to manage the show. The best lighting rental companies will always include a professional operator who can adjust the lights throughout the event, sync them to the music, and troubleshoot any issues that might pop up. This is a non-negotiable. Having an expert running the equipment gives you complete peace of mind, allowing you to relax and enjoy the party without worrying about technical glitches. It’s the difference between simple lighting and a truly dynamic light show.
Ask About Their Equipment: Is It Professional Grade?
The quality of the lighting equipment makes a huge difference in the overall effect. A reputable company will use modern, professional-grade gear, including powerful LED fixtures and moving head lights. This type of equipment is more reliable, offers a wider range of colors, and creates cleaner, more vibrant effects than consumer-grade alternatives. When you’re discussing options, don’t be afraid to ask what kind of dance floor lighting and effects they use. High-quality equipment is a sign of a professional company that is invested in delivering exceptional results for your event.
Common Professional Brands and Models
You don’t need to become a lighting technician overnight, but knowing a few key brand names can help you feel more confident when talking to potential vendors. In the professional event world, brands like Chauvet, Martin, and Elation are industry standards. These aren’t the kind of lights you’d find at a big-box store; they are built for performance and reliability. When a company invests in this level of equipment, it shows they are serious about quality. For example, professional rental houses often feature fixtures like the Martin Mac Aura or Chauvet Professional series because they offer superior color mixing and dependable performance. At Party Time Productions, we trust these top-tier brands because they ensure our light shows are vibrant, seamless, and run flawlessly from the first toast to the final dance.
What to Expect When Renting Intelligent Lighting
Renting intelligent lighting for your event shouldn’t be complicated. When you work with a professional company, the process is straightforward and designed to bring your vision to life without adding stress to your plate. It generally follows three simple phases: design, execution, and pricing. Here’s a look at what you can expect each step of the way.
Your Initial Consultation and Custom Design
Everything starts with a conversation. During your initial consultation, a lighting designer will want to hear all about your event: the theme, the mood you want to create, and the key moments you want to highlight. They’ll also ask practical questions about your venue, including its size, layout, and available power. Every space has unique features, and a great lighting plan works with the venue, not against it. This collaborative design process ensures the final setup, whether it’s elegant up-lighting for your event or a custom monogram, perfectly matches your style and the location.
Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us: Delivery, Setup, and Teardown
This is where a full-service entertainment company really shines. Instead of getting a box of lights shipped to your door with a set of instructions, a professional team handles everything for you. On the day of your event, technicians arrive with all the necessary equipment. They take care of the complete setup, running cables safely and positioning each fixture for the best effect. During the event, a technician can operate the lights to sync with the music or transition the mood from dinner to dancing. Once the party is over, the crew handles the entire teardown, leaving you free to enjoy the memories.
What Factors Determine the Final Price?
The cost of renting intelligent lighting depends on a few key factors. The final price is influenced by the type and quantity of lights you need, the complexity of the design, and the duration of your event. For example, a simple up-lighting package will cost less than a fully synchronized light show with custom monogram lighting and moving fixtures. The price also includes the labor for the professional team that designs, delivers, sets up, and operates the equipment. While it’s an investment, professional lighting adds incredible value by transforming your space and creating a truly memorable experience for your guests.
Example Rental Costs
Pinpointing a single price for intelligent lighting is tricky because the final cost depends entirely on what you need for your event. Think of it like ordering from a menu—you can pick and choose. A simple setup is more affordable than you might think; for example, you can often find individual fixtures, like a moving spot duo, available to rent for under $100. Conversely, a full-scale production with a complex lighting desk and multiple moving heads will represent a larger investment. Because factors like venue size and the number of lights affect the total, the best approach is to get a custom quote. A comprehensive package that includes design, equipment, and on-site operation ensures there are no surprises and that your vision is executed perfectly.
Light Up Your Next Event
Think of event lighting as the final, transformative touch that ties your entire vision together. It’s the difference between simply being in a room and being immersed in an experience. The right lighting strategy does more than just illuminate a space; it sets the mood, guides your guests’ attention, and creates a vibrant atmosphere that people will remember long after the last song plays. From a soft, romantic glow during a first dance to high-energy, colorful beams that fill the dance floor, lighting is a powerful tool for shaping the emotional journey of your event.
One of the most effective ways to instantly change the feel of a venue is with dynamic up-lighting. By washing the walls with colors that match your theme, you can make any space feel more intimate, grand, or festive. This technique highlights architectural details and creates a cohesive look that complements your decor. When thoughtfully planned, professional lighting also ensures your photos and videos look stunning. It eliminates harsh shadows and adds a polished, cinematic quality to the memories you’ll cherish for years.
Beyond setting the mood, intelligent lighting can spotlight the moments that matter most. We can draw everyone’s focus to the newlyweds during their grand entrance, a keynote speaker at a corporate gala, or the crowning of the prom king and queen. You can even add a personal touch with custom monogram lighting that projects your name, initials, or company logo onto a wall or dance floor. By investing in a professional lighting design, you aren’t just renting equipment; you’re creating an unforgettable environment that makes your celebration truly shine.
Related Articles
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- Up-Lighting for Events in the Southeast | Party Time Productions
- Event Uplighting Rental Guide for Weddings & Parties
Frequently Asked Questions
How is intelligent lighting different from the standard lighting my venue might offer? Most venues provide basic, functional lighting that simply keeps the room from being dark. Intelligent lighting is an entirely different tool used to create an atmosphere. We program it to change colors, create movement, and sync with the music, allowing the room’s vibe to evolve from an elegant dinner to a high-energy dance party. It’s the difference between just being in a space and being part of an experience.
I’m working with a specific budget. What’s the most impactful lighting option if I can only choose one? If you want the biggest transformation for your investment, I always recommend dynamic up-lighting. This single service can completely change the feel of a room by washing the walls in colors that match your theme. It creates a rich, immersive environment that looks incredible in person and provides a beautiful, colorful backdrop for all your photos.
Can the lighting be customized to match my specific wedding or brand colors? Absolutely. Customization is at the heart of what makes this lighting so special. We can program our LED fixtures to match your color palette perfectly, whether it’s the specific shades from your floral arrangements or the official colors of your company’s logo. This attention to detail helps create a cohesive and polished look for your entire event.
Do I need to hire a separate lighting technician to run everything? Not when you work with a full-service company like ours. Our lighting packages always include a professional on-site technician who handles the entire process. This person manages the setup, operates the lights throughout the event to make sure everything runs smoothly, and takes care of the teardown afterward, so you don’t have to worry about any technical details.
My event is during the day or in a venue with lots of windows. Will the lighting effects still be visible? This is a great question. While lighting effects are most dramatic in a darker setting, they can still make a significant impact during daytime events. We can use up-lighting to add color and dimension to walls that aren’t in direct sunlight or use a custom monogram to create a crisp, clear focal point. We always assess the venue and timeline to recommend the best options for any lighting situation.