Making a Living in Lighting
Have you always been attracted to the spotlight? Been fascinated by theatrical lighting and effects at concerts and performing arts venues? Driven around the neighborhood to check out the landscape and exterior lighting executions of others? Or even just been curious about how lighting can affect the way art, furniture, architecture, and other surroundings can appear? You may be cut out for a career in lighting.
With back-to-school top of mind as the summer winds to a close, young adults pondering their future might want to consider one of many higher education establishments that offer degree and certificate programs in lighting design. Special concentration courses are often available that can provide further instruction in interior lighting, architectural lighting, fine arts/entertainment lighting, and landscape lighting.
Working in lighting design can involve complex challenges and requires the ability to balance technical requirements with a keen aesthetic and appreciation of color. Having a basic understanding of eras and architectural style timelines is also beneficial when launching into a lighting career. Confidence in selecting the right lighting technology for the application is critical. Most positions in lighting design require a keen sense of collaboration with others. In interior lighting, you might work with builders, decorators, and homeowners. If you pursue an opportunity in venue lighting for performances, stage managers and sound engineers will be among your people. Lighting is pervasive—it is everywhere. Managing it and manipulating it in combination with others for different sensory experiences can be exhilarating!
If you’re past traditional school age but are still captivated by light, there are also many continuing education seminars and workshops that you can attend, either in person or online. You might even come across a class as part of a home renovation conference or construction trade show. It might not turn into a full-fledged career, but you can enjoy helping friends and family improve their own lighting design. And if you’re just looking for bits and pieces of information, please peruse the pages of 1000Bulbs.com. Here you’ll find information and installation guides, DIY projects and guidance, and our popular blogs on several different topics.
If you’re not a lighting professional already, you may have questions about our products. We are here to provide expert advice! Speak with one of our certified lighting specialists at 1-800-624-4488 or try the convenient pop-up chat at the bottom right corner of our web pages.
