The Slanted Lens

Tutorials, Reviews and Tips for Photographers & Filmmakers

PHOTO & VIDEO TUTORIALS & REVIEWS

Online Courses, Giveaway, Mentoring,

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

  • Online Courses
  • Mentoring
  • Giveaway
  • About
  • Members
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
Home / Uncategorized / 5 Reasons to Own a Color Meter and 2 Reasons You Don’t – Illuminati Light and Color Meter

5 Reasons to Own a Color Meter and 2 Reasons You Don’t – Illuminati Light and Color Meter

May 2, 2017 By Morgan

Hi, this is Jay P. Morgan. Today we’ve got 5 reasons you should own a color meter, and 2 reasons you probably don’t. We’ve also got the meter that will solve each of those problems for you. Check it out, today on The Slanted Lens.

Check out the Illuminati Wireless Light and Color Meter for Photo & Video here.

Measure Color Temperature Outdoors

1) Use a color meter to measure the color temperature when you’re shooting outside in natural light to get the right white balance. Reflected light from the environment around you can pollute your subject when shooting outdoors. Take a quick reading to ensure that you have the right white balance and that your subject’s skin looks good.

Average the Practicals

2) When you’re shooting inside using the practicals in the room, you really need a color meter. Different light sources have different color temperatures. Use a color meter to be able to get an average for those temperatures and come up with the balance that’s best for your subject’s skin tones.

Match LEDs to the Light in the Room

3) When using LEDs with the practicals in the room, you’ll be able to figure out what temperature those practicals are, so that you can match your LEDs to them. It’s such a pain to have to correct a color crossover. You don’t want to have to deal with a different color temperature on your subject vs. what’s going on in the background unless that’s the effect you’re going for.

Consistent LEDs

4) Use a color meter to make sure your LEDs are all consistent. LEDs these days are all different colors- green, blue, magenta. You can even have the color meter tell you which Rosco gel you need to balance the light correctly.

Match Strobe to Ambient

5) For you still shooters, a color meter can measure the color of the strobe so that you match it to the color of the ambient and set your camera to the correct white balance.

You Can’t Afford a Color Meter

1) Color meters are expensive! But right now, you can get an Illuminati color meter for an early bird Kickstarter price of $200. But even if you miss that and have to get it at $300, that’s still a great deal.

Color Meters are Too Much Work

2) They’re hard to use! The Illuminati meter is bluetooth compatible. You can see the meter’s info and control it right from your smartphone, making it incredibly easy to use.

The Solution- The Illuminati Wireless Light and Color Meter

Check out the Illuminati Color and Light meter over on their Kickstarter. It’s a great product which really will make your life on set easier. Keep those cameras rollin’ and keep on clickin!
-Jay P.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Workflow

About Morgan

With more than two decades of experience Jay P. Morgan brings to his commercial studio two special qualities: a keen appreciation of the bizarre and a knack for flawlessly executing elaborate shots. Through The Slanted Lens, Jay P. shares his knowledge about photography and videography.

Keep Your Gear Safe With SKB Cases!

Our Sponsors

Shop Our Affiliate Links

Categories

  • A I in Photography
  • Advanced Lighting Tutorials
  • Architectural Photography
  • Beginning Lighting Tutorials
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Business Tips
  • Camera Comparison
  • Camera News
  • Camera Review
  • Camera Settings
  • Camera Settings & Lens Choice
  • Celebrity
  • DIY
  • Equipment
  • Film Photography
  • Foto of the Week
  • Funny photo
  • Gear Sweepstakes
  • Intermediate Lighting Tutorials
  • Intervention
  • Jay P's Shorts
  • Landscape
  • Laws of Light
  • Lens Comparison
  • Lens Review
  • lighting diagram
  • Lighting Tutorials
  • Making Money In Photography
  • Meet the Photographer
  • Photography & Video Articles
  • Photography & Video Business Tips
  • Photography & Video Lighting Articles
  • Photography News
  • Photography Tutorial
  • Portraits
  • Posts
  • Product Photography
  • Product Review
  • Quick Tip
  • Special Effects for Photo and Video
  • Speedlight Basics
  • sponsor
  • Stop Motion Photography
  • Street Photography
  • test
  • Time-lapse
  • Travel Photography
  • Trends
  • Uncategorized
  • Videography
  • Wedding Photography
  • Workflow
  • Working with Talent

Thanks for your support. When you click on a logo or link you help support The Slanted Lens. Some links shared on our website may be associated with sponsors or affiliate programs where we benefit from a commission.

The Slanted Lens Copyright © 2025