Harlowe: The Rolls Royce of Photography Lighting Companies

I believe great photography is a result of great lighting. As someone who has spent a lot of time traveling and shooting in a variety of conditions, light has always been a top priority. Small portable LED lights started to become popular around 5–6 years ago, when dozens of brands began making a variety of lights in different shapes and sizes. I’ve bought many, keen to try different options out and find the best solutions for when I travel to shoot on location. Recently, I came across a brand that, in a relatively short amount of time, has carved out its own niche and positioned itself at a whole new level in the world of portable lighting for photography and video. They’re called Harlowe.

We live in a world with improvements in technology happening rapidly, and new products are being churned out continuously. Everyone is making pretty much the same thing. The focus is on marketing the latest and greatest features, with little thought to good design and user experience. Continuous lighting, I’ve discovered, is one of those product categories. There are so many me-too products that have jumped on the trend bandwagon. It’s hard for consumers to know where to start looking and how to decide what to buy when there’s no obvious differentiation. That’s my experience anyway.

A company called Hobolite had a vision to change that. They started in 2023 as a direct-to-consumer brand selling online. In 2024, they rebranded to Harlowe to embrace a creative vision that aligns with an aesthetic inspired by classic and timeless design. Their goal is to design and manufacture products that “empower creators to elevate creativity, productivity, and identity through innovative lighting solutions built to inspire.” That fancy marketing-speak sounds impressive—even convincing. But is it? I wanted to find out.

Harlowe kindly sent me a few of their lighting kits to thoroughly put through their paces. I should add at this stage I’m not a photography or tech journalist who receives gear, plays with it in their garden for an hour, and then writes a review. My real job is as a photographer/videographer who travels to shoot on location a lot. So I took the lights on actual client shoots and used them in real-life photography scenarios over a three-month period.

I previously wrote a review about Harlowe’s new Iris 5 Spectra and said, “The first thing that struck me when I opened the box is how beautifully everything is made. It not only looks incredibly high-end, the attention to detail and quality of all the pieces is first class. So many small lights are cheap and plasticky. Not this one, it’s aluminum. It combines elegant aesthetics, thoughtful functionality, and quality manufacturing—that have resulted in something that is a joy to use.” This applies to all of their products. They really are in a league of their own in terms of quality of both design and manufacturing. It would be fair to say Harlowe is the Rolls-Royce of photography and videography lighting. Picking up one of their lights gives you the same sense of confidence as picking up a Hasselblad or Leica. That’s a bigger deal than many may think.

But is Harlowe on a mission to create a luxury brand that can confidently sit next to the likes of Hasselblad? CEO and founder Helene Bian says while Harlowe’s products do carry the positioning associated with luxury, their intention isn’t to chase status or exclusivity. Their products are not about luxury for luxury’s sake. Harlowe’s focus is “emotional design, tools that feel as good to hold and use as they do perform.” I can relate to this. I find if I pick up a really well-designed, well-made camera, the enjoyment of the experience makes me want to use it more. But a light? I was dubious. That was until I had one of their lighting kits sitting on my desk in front of me, and I unzipped the high-quality case.

A Closer Look

Harlowe’s Creator Kits are very well thought out, and there is zero compromise on quality of materials or functionality. Every little detail has been considered, even down to the big leather tabs on the zipper. I have the Mini 20 Creator Kit, which features a light that feels like a solid vintage camera in the hand, putting out a very useful 1,800 lumens. This is a perfect multi-purpose kit, as I was to quickly discover. It’s a great light for shooting environmental portraits on location, lighting food in a restaurant, and tabletop product displays in a home studio. FYI: The photos in this article are lit with Harlowe lights.

The kit includes:

• Magnetic light modifiers and colored gels

• Magnetic barn door

• V-mount adapter to attach the light on a stand

• V-mount adapter with cold shoe to mount the light on a camera

• Mini tripod made of aluminum that feels like something Leica would make

Everything packs into a case that is 11 x 7.5 x 3.75 inches, making it perfect to travel with. Many of their lighting kits are around this size and easily transportable.

I also tested a floor-standing carbon-fiber stand that should be on display at a design museum. I’ve spent my working life using a variety of tripods and light stands, and this one is a work of art—from its design, functionality, and quality of materials to its aesthetics. It’s exquisite.

Reassurance

I know some photographers may not see the value in lighting gear and accessories like this. I get that. You pay a premium price for Harlowe products. In one regard, sure, a light is just a light. But isn’t a camera just a camera? Try telling Leica owners that! That cheap plastic light from Amazon is a means to an end. But when you have something that is so well thought out, designed, and made—you do get a good amount of reassurance that it won’t let you down. That’s important. And when you have something that puts so much attention toward a very pleasing user experience, you’ll most certainly want to grab the kit and head out to shoot more often. I know I do now.

I must confess, one of the reasons I was compelled to write this article is the lack of media coverage for such a fabulous brand. Why is that? What’s going on? It makes no sense that something so good is not being talked about more. But it’s a new brand; maybe it just needs more time for people to discover and appreciate the unique qualities that can be beneficial on multiple levels.

These are the products I have tested and really appreciate:

Mini 20 Creator Kit

Micro 8 Spectra Master Kit

Iris 5 Spectra Creator Kit

Harlowe Adjustable LED Light Stand

Please note, this is not a sponsored article. I find myself being exposed to many photography brands in my somewhat unique position as a professional photographer, YouTube creator, and writer. I have no obligation to write about any of the products that are sent to me. Many products that I see are very similar and unremarkable. But every now and then, something comes along that really stands out and warrants at least a few thoughts.