Last Updated on 02/28/2025 by Lara Carretero
I’m going to frank, I don’t like LEDs. I think that they lend themselves to photographers who simply just capture scenes instead of create them. But I think that when you use every single tool that you have available to you, then creative expression can be realized in a much more authentic way. So in 2024, when Harlowe launched their Harlow Blade series of lights, I sort of dismissed them. But after using them, I changed my mind. These aren’t meant to be your main lights — and in fact, they would never replace my Profoto lights. However, the little sparkles that they give your photos are going to be very well worth their price.
Before we go on, know that Harlowe sent the Phoblographer the Blades in a lighting kit. We get to keep them, but in the past, I’ve sent back every single Harlowe light that we’ve used. This doesn’t affect the authenticity of our review; but you should know what’s going on. This article is also not sponsored.
In the kit, there is a small Harlow Blade and a large Harlow Blade. Both of them come with barn doors and diffusion panels. You can set the intensity and toggle between shades of tungsten and daylight with these. Combined with intentional white balance from your camera, you can make the colors appear more blue or reddish-orange. Of course, that’s also dependant on how you’re shooting and what you’re shooting.
In December of 2024, my yoga studio did an exchange with me of membership to photograph some of their teachers. For this shoot, I used the Panasonic S5 II with a Kodak Portra 400 Real Time LUT setting. Then I used various lenses from Panasonic and Sigma along with Tiffen and PrismFX lens filters. My Profoto B10 was the main light and the Harlowe Light blades were added for effects. Typically, I ended up using them as hair lights to offer even more separation from the background. However, I also used them to add a bit more of a specific glow in certain places. This added even more separation from the background and the studio. It’s far different from the typical orange and teal look that you’d find everywhere on social media. Instead, the lights here were used intentionally to add a mood.
When I was shooting portraits, I’d often have the studio’s entrance backlight my subjects. But to add to that even more, I used both Harlowe Blades in the most orange setting that I could get them to. Then I used either a Pro Mist or Glimmerglass filter with warming or bronzing effects to make the scene warmer. For certain shots, I’d also use a PrismFX Rose filter. This gave the orange lights a bit more of a reddish look.
At other times, I used them on the sides to provide a bit more evenness to the lighting from my Profoto B10.
The studio, the teachers, and I all really liked the looks we were able to make. And I think that this needs to be the main thing said about the Harlowe Light Blades. I don’t think that I’d ever use them as my main lights. But I’d surely use them as complimentary accessories to my Profoto lights. They’re not powerful enough to do what I need most of the time by themselves for photography.
But that makes them so useful as accent lights — and really justifies their price.