Renting between individuals answers exactly that. You take the gear out for the length of a project, often a stone's throw from home, and in between it works for someone else.
Lightyshare has since spilled beyond individuals alone. Professional rental houses, studios and production companies list their inventory there too. So you come across the enthusiast lending their camera between shoots and, right next to them, the genuine pro lining up stock, complete packages and solid availability. For you, the renter, you gain one thing above all: choice.
Individuals, pros: who lists equipment?
At the start, almost only individuals. The catalogue now blends two profiles, and that's precisely what makes it rich.
- Individuals: a videographer, a photographer, a director making their gear pay during downtime. Flexible on timing, reachable directly, and the bill is rarely the steepest.
- Professionals: rental houses, studios, production companies running a real inventory. Multiple copies of the same model, ready-to-shoot packages, big availability, gear that's tracked and serviced.
No need to pick a side. A single search brings up both, side by side, and you decide based on your project.
How it works, step by step
1. Find and book the equipment
You browse the catalogue, filter by category or city, compare the listings. Gear spotted, you send your dates to the owner as a booking request. As long as they haven't said yes, it's free and you're committed to nothing.
2. Pay securely on the platform
Owner on board, you pay for the rental directly on Lightyshare, which also handles the deposit. This payment isn't just a formality: it arms the included insurance that protects the transaction. That's why paying off the site is the one real mistake to avoid.
3. Pick up the equipment from the owner
You set up a meeting with the owner to collect the gear, hand to hand most of the time. Take the chance to whip everything out: power up the camera, mount the lenses, check the batteries, snap two or three photos of the initial condition.
4. Return the equipment and release the deposit
On arrival, you return the gear in the condition you took it. Both parties check, confirm, and the deposit is released. Rental wrapped, you can leave your review.
Rent from an individual or from a pro?
Both hold up. What sets them apart is the nature of your project.
With an individual, you often find a softer rate, flexibility on the handover time, and a single contact who knows their camera inside out. The flip side: a single unit, sometimes. Already booked, and off you go to look elsewhere.
The pro rental house, on the other hand, plays on a deeper inventory, multiple copies, complete packages, better availability, serviced gear and a backup up its sleeve when things go sideways. It also issues you an invoice, a detail far from trivial if you re-bill the shoot to your client.
My advice: for a one-off on a tight budget, an individual does the job perfectly. As soon as the shoot has stakes (guaranteed availability, backup, invoice), I sleep better with a pro rental house. Both coexist on Lightyshare, so compare before booking.
Why you can trust it
Renting between strangers rests on trust, so I've put several safeguards in place. Verified profiles. Exchanges and payments channelled through the platform. Insurance included and a deposit on every rental. The rest plays out in the reviews left after each transaction: a straight-dealing owner and a careful renter build a reputation that reassures the next one.
What it changes, on both sides
On the renter side, the maths is obvious: high-end gear for a fraction of the new price, near home, insurance and secure payment included. Handy too for trying out a body or a lens before forking out the full purchase sum.
On the owner side, individual or pro, it's the art of making gear pay that's rotting in the cupboard. The equipment works, brings you extra income, and stays covered by the platform's insurance. A pro also plugs in one more booking channel, payment and deposit already handled.
Money isn't the only argument. Pooling gear means fewer new purchases and equipment that actually gets used rather than gathering dust at the bottom of a box.
Where to start
The simplest path: open the catalogue and spot the gear your next project calls for. A few categories to get you going:
Equipment to rent right now
Individuals and pros alike list their gear. Here are a few of the most popular models, with their real starting price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book equipment on Lightyshare?
You open the catalogue, set your dates and send your booking request to the owner. As long as they haven't accepted it, it's free and you're committed to nothing. Once you get their green light, you pay securely on the platform.
Are there professionals on Lightyshare?
Yes, and quite a few. Alongside individuals, professional rental houses and production companies list their inventory. So you'll find both a single unit from an enthusiast and a complete package from a pro, with an invoice to boot most of the time.
Is payment secure?
Yes. Everything goes directly through Lightyshare, which collects and manages the deposit. Paying on the platform arms the included insurance, and that's exactly why paying off the site makes no sense.
How do I pick up and return the equipment?
You set up a meeting with the owner, hand to hand most often. Inspect the gear at handover and at return, two or three photos to back it up. The deposit is released as soon as both parties confirm the condition.
Is it better to rent from an individual or from a pro?
An individual often plays the card of a soft price and flexibility, a pro that of availability, complete packages and an invoice. For a simple project, the individual is plenty; for a high-stakes shoot, the pro is more reassuring. Both live on Lightyshare.