Who REALLY Drives Event Lighting Design? Planners vs Lighting Techs

Hey friends! I recently had the pleasure of chatting with veteran event planner Jeannie Savage and lighting design expert Curt Stahl about the importance of lighting in event planning. Jeannie shared some great stories about the lighting mishaps she has learned from over her 18 years in the industry. I think we can all relate to those "haunting" mistakes from early on in our careers! Curt emphasized that while knowing lighting equipment names can be helpful, the most important thing is communicating your vision - what feeling and atmosphere do you want to achieve?

We covered lighting design trends, using lighting to direct attention and transform spaces, budget considerations, and collaborating with photographers to get the best event photos. I asked them point blank - who drives the lighting design? The answers were insightful. The key takeaways? Lighting is crucial for events but can feel overwhelming. Lean on lighting pros, communicate the desired emotion and atmosphere, adjust lighting for photographers, and invest in a knowledgeable lighting tech onsite. Let me know in the comments - what lighting questions do you still have? Or share your biggest lighting flub story to reassure the rest of us! Looking forward to continuing the conversation.

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