Best Lighting Rentals in San Francisco Bay Area

Having helped clients find the desired effect for hundreds of different shows and events, Desired Effect is now a full service theatrical production company in the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer equipment rental in Lighting, Sound, Costumes, Props, Special Effects, and even some Sets as well as full service design and custom special effects. Together with our clients, we've created undersea worlds full of bubbles and smoke, light up wireless pinball machines, pirate ships made of stars, light up dancing pianos and more! We have everything needed to turn an empty room into a full theatrical space, or just what you need to add one special effect to a show you have already planned.

Over three decades ago, a collective of event professionals saw a gap in the Northern California market: the industry needed more than just equipment, it needed integrated event solutions. Founded on the belief that technical precision should meet creative artistry, Impact was born. What began as a specialized boutique has evolved into the gold standard for event production in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, Impact is a premier Women-Owned and Operated (WBE) business, continuing a legacy of excellence that has illuminated thousands of events, from intimate Silicon Valley gatherings to the region’s most grandiose celebrations. Our journey is defined by a relentless pursuit of exceptional design and an unwavering commitment to our clients. We craft bespoke lighting and AV environments that reflect your specific brand or personal style. Our team is comprised of veteran technical directors and creative minds who ensure flawless execution from the initial site survey to the final strike. As a women-owned event production company, we lead with passion and a unique perspective, fostering lasting partnerships across the Bay Area’s corporate and social landscapes. Our mission is clear: to make your event uniquely special, leaving a lasting impression on every attendee.

Family owned and operated since 1929. San Jose Camera & Video is the largest photo specialty shop in the South Bay. We offer a large selection of cameras, lenses and photography accessories. We stock tripods, straps, backpacks, lighting, gimbals, filters, flash, backdrops, film and so much more! We carry equipment from most of the major brands including Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Fujifilm. Our knowledgeable sales staff is here to help you find that perfect camera, lens or accessory. San Jose Camera also offers a variety of photography classes. Covering from camera basics seminars to multi-day workshops, our classes are designed to help you take better photographs.

Bulldog Lighting and Grip LLC is a boutique-service rental house located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Owned by Clay Kerri, a Bay Area native, Set Lighting Technician, and equipment owner/operator who has been in the business since 2014, the shop prides itself on accommodating productions with quality equipment. Clay is a certified Class B commercial driver and a Local 16 permitted technician. The company mascot, Buddha, is a bulldog born in 2014, in whose honor their signature sprinter van, "Bully," was crafted to be beefy, rugged, and full of flair. The shop carries a wide range of standard lighting and grip equipment, and whatever they cannot personally provide, they can source from associate vendors in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Bulldog Lighting is committed to supporting the local community by hiring local technicians to work in the shop on slow days, guaranteeing a minimum of $17/hr and offering flexible schedules to maintain quality of life standards.

CFG Rental Group, LLC started in a garage with a desire to help filmmakers and college students rent lighting, grip, and cameras for friendly rates. Their success swiftly enabled them to grow to their first warehouse in 2014. They found their calling with pre-loaded grip truck and lighting packages, and moved to their current location in 2016. They occupy 50,000 square feet of building and yard space in Pacoima and maintain the resources to provide service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a professional perspective at all times. In November of 2022, they acquired Digital Film Studios and rebranded it to CFG Camera Services, fully integrating into the cinematography spectrum. In September of 2024, CFG announced its acquisition of DTC Lighting & Grip in Emeryville, CA, and looks forward to servicing the Bay Area market. CFG is a one-stop shop providing a vast selection of film, photo, video, lighting, and grip equipment.

Stage, Lights and Sound Equipment Rentals & Production Service is a San Francisco Bay Area full-service event production company that provides live sound, staging, event lighting, tents & canopies, and LED video wall display solutions. They specialize in corporate audio visual, AV production services, event lighting, and sound services. As a rental and installation company, they can be hired to deliver, install, and operate audio video equipment, event lighting, portable stages, pipe and drape, as well as rigging and event power for events. Their professional team assists clients in renting the right equipment and provides technicians to operate it. Their inventory includes top-of-the-line equipment from brands like Meyer Sound, QSC, JBL, Sony, Sanyo, Hitachi, Canon, Pioneer, Mackie, Shure, Folsom, and Toshiba. They cater to a wide range of events, from intimate functions and private parties to corporate meetings, conferences, street fairs, and large-scale entertainment productions across Northern California.

Looking Glass Photo has been outfitting photographers with gear, guidance, and community since 1971. Rooted in Berkeley, they are a boutique-style outfitter for photographers of all kinds. They offer thoughtful, human guidance to help customers invest wisely in gear, whether buying new or used cameras, lenses, binoculars, printers, papers, inks, and film/darkroom supplies. They also offer rentals, outfitting sessions, private lessons, and classes. Everything they do is built around the idea that you should feel less overwhelmed and more excited every time you choose to work with them.

Bolt Lighting Rental is a lighting and grip rental house located at the foot of the bay bridge in Berkeley, CA. Founded by Matthew Stouppe and Ryan Thomas in 2016, the company has grown from humble beginnings working inside an old naval warehouse to a full-service rental house. They utilize concepts from the Toyota Production System (Lean Manufacturing) to continuously improve their processes and keep costs low. Bolt utilizes digital checklists and modern software to ensure orders are exactly right 100% of the time. They have created their own line of customizable carts, invented the milk crate divider to help organize gear, and maintain some of the cleanest trucks in the Bay Area. Whether it’s a short film or a national commercial, they treat every job like it’s the big show. They also host free lighting workshops, teaching the new generation of Grips and Lighting Technicians in the Bay Area.

SoundWizard Productions is a full service event production provider based in Hayward, CA, serving the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California, and beyond since 1999. They offer a comprehensive range of services including PA system rental, a la carte sound equipment rental, sound recording, ambient and stage lighting, special effects, and live event streaming. Their expertise covers various events such as concerts, corporate functions, academic ceremonies, weddings, and private parties. They provide professional audio equipment, including digital audio consoles, wireless microphones, and line array systems, ensuring high-quality sound with experienced engineers. SoundWizard Productions is committed to environmentally conscious practices, utilizing cleaner-burning BioDiesel for their truck fleet and modern, energy-efficient sound and lighting technology. As a small company, they pride themselves on delivering personal attention, low overhead for competitive pricing, and the equipment quality and commitment of larger companies, ensuring stellar results for every event.