From Parked to Portraits in Minutes with the ProMaster Air Support Light Stand
I don’t usually think about light stands until they slow me down or pinch my fingers. Most of mine have been big, clunky, and become harder to fold after a few shoots. I’ve literally got one riding in the bed of my truck because the legs won’t collapse far enough to fit in the cab. That hassle is half the reason I avoid bringing lights at all.
Then I got my hands on the ProMaster Air Support Light Stand, and it really changed my perspective. Lights aren't a hassle, it's the stand that is really slowing me down.
The first thing I noticed was how fast this light stand opened up. From collapsed to standing in under three seconds, and back down just as fast. You pull up on the main column and it rises, no knobs to twist or things to unlock. To lower it, press the two top buttons and slide it down, nice and easy. It sounds cool too, so that is an unexpected bonus. The base is just as quick. Pull one leg and the whole thing pops open. Give the key ring a tug and it snaps shut. It’s simple, and it makes me want to bring my lights out more.
I took it on a few shoots and felt the difference immediately when getting in and out of the truck, setting up, tearing down, and moving locations. It’s light enough that I carried it on a dog walk to check out some locations without thinking about it. It weighs just under 3lbs - that's hardly an issue to carry around. It still handles real gear with a max load of 8 lbs, which covers most things you would even need to use it for.
Collapsed, it’s about 31 inches, which means the stand lives behind my driver’s seat now, out of sight, out of the way, while the old clunker still gets the truck bed. Fully extended, it tops out at 6 feet, which is plenty for portraits, product, and even low enough to do some tabletop lighting, or whatever else you may need. I can see how versatile this would be in your tool kit or camera gear, and for the fair price, it really should be in everyone's kit.
If you’re shooting outside, which I was, there are holes in all three legs. You can secure the stand to the ground if you need to with the included ground stakes. The stakes match the feel and build quality of the light stand, which is a nice touch.
I did a quick truck bed portrait setup the other day. I was able to park, get the stand up, light plugged into the bed outlet, shoot, pack, and on my way in about an hour. Honestly, I took longer because I got into a shooting groove and kept going. One hand setup is the real deal. Open the legs, press the top buttons, raise it up and you're ready to go in seconds. I like to move fast and travel light. This stand is the difference between bringing lights and leaving them at home.
I also had the Air Support Monopod with me, for additional versatility. It matches the same set up and build as the Air Support Light Stand. It even has a lockable ball joint so you can pan and tilt it, and it swaps out to a soft foot if you want a lighter setup. For something that can carry up to 15lbs, it's still light and easy to carry around. It loads up and packs down small for the truck, and yep, it matches the stand’s clean, pro look when they’re side by side. Which I really appreciate.
Like the Chronicle Tripod did for tripods, the Air Support Light Stand made me realize I did need a better light stand, I just hadn’t used one designed around speed and easy to use with me in mind. If you're like me and value fast setup, easy breakdown, and hate pinching your fingers, this stand helps you get the shot instead of swearing under your breath.
Ian Jones
Ian Jones is a commercial photographer and creative strategist based in Pittsburgh, PA and for the past 10+ years, I’ve been capturing bold, story-driven visuals for brands, agencies, and businesses of all sizes. From food and product photography to on-set production stills and campaign content, I create imagery that doesn’t just look good it performs.
Follow Ian Jones on Instagram!
