A method for controlling a lighting device to produce a range of user customizable realistic lighting effects for videography, broadcasting, cinematography, studio filming and/or location filming is disclosed. The method comprises: calculating a time varying lighting value based on at least one simulation parameter; wherein said at least one simulation parameter for characterizing a lighting effect is at least one of: a random brightness; a random duration; and a random interval; said simulation parameter depending on the lighting effect being simulated and outputting said time varying lighting value thereby to simulate a lighting effect.