Ring lights are a common lighting tool that photographers use for portraits or macro photography. They can be used to provide even and diffused lighting to the subject, while also providing an attractive circular catchlight reflected in the person’s eyes. However, ring lights aren’t just for pro photographers to use. As smaller and more portable ring light models are becoming commercially available, you can easily purchase one for everyday use or to improve the quality of your photos and videos. Check out our guide on how to use ring lightsso you can start making better content.
Mind the Ring Light’s Placement in Your Setup
If you’ve been wanting to step up your vlogging or selfie game, incorporating a ring light into your setup is a good way to achieve this. When figuring out where to place your ring light, keep it close to your smartphone or camera to avoid casting any shadows. The same goes for the rest of your gear too. As a rule of thumb, the ring light should never be placed behind your mic or camera. To make this easier to do, consider getting a ring light with adjustable phone grips, like the MovoVGC-3+PR-2-PM kit.
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Experiment With Light Intensity and Temperatures
With ring lights, you have more control over the lighting of your content. Shooting with a brighter light will enable you to get clearer images that are more color accurate, too. On the other hand, a dimmer light may be better if you’re using shiny or reflective objects while shooting.
But aside from the strength of your light, the temperature of your lighting can affect the way your content looks too. A bluish or yellowish tint to your lighting can add a certain ambiance to your photos and videos. In the past, you may have relied on filters to achieve these effects but a ring light can be a more practical solution that you can tweak to fit your needs. Try different settings out to see what works for you.
Shoot at the Right Distance
Since most ring lights come with stands, it should be easy to position and angle at a considerable distance from you. After all, you don’t want to risk blinding yourself or ruining your lighting from filming too close or too far from the ring light. Test it out first before filming or shooting by placing an object where you plan to film and seeing what it looks like on your viewfinder. Then, adjust as needed so you can avoid reshoots because the distance is off. If you’re using a clip-on ring light like the MovoPRL-1, it’s best to mount your phone on a tripod instead.
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Use Two Ring Lights
It might sound crazy, but adding another ring light to your setup has its benefits. For starters, you can add more dimension to your photos by using two ring lights in different positions. Putting one in front of you while the other is behind you can make your background and foreground more defined. Using two ring lights can also even out your lighting, especially when you need the sides of your shot to be well-lit as well.
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FAQs
The traditional way to use a ring light is to place your device inside the ring, but you can experiment with lighting angles by positioning your device to the side. Open your selfie or camera app to test the view, and readjust the height if necessary. Turn the ring light on, and use the dimmer to adjust the brightness.
Are ring lights good for selfies? ›
Selfie ring lights provide consistent, soft illumination that minimises imperfections and highlights your best features. The result? Radiant, magazine-worthy selfies. Professional Look: Elevate your content from amateur to pro.
Does ring light improve video quality? ›
Before we get into the details of using a ring light, ring lights are commonly used in photography and videography to improve the quality of ring light photos and videos. They are particularly useful in portrait photography because they illuminate the subject's face evenly and highlight their facial features.
What is the best position for ring light? ›
The best angles for a ring light range anywhere from straight on to the subject, to 45 degrees on either side. Don't go too far to one side or you may introduce shadows on the far side of your face and that might be a bit too dramatic for a web meeting!
How do you take good selfies with light? ›
If you're taking your selfie outdoors try facing the sun directly, or if it's putting a harsh shadow on your face, turn around so the sun is behind you. If you're inside, stand in front of a window where there is soft natural light, this will eliminate harsh shadows on your face.
What size ring light is best for vlogging? ›
10-inch ring lights are incredibly popular as they are some of the most affordable on the market and don't take up too much space when packed away either. For professional studio use, you're going to want to go even bigger, so anything above 18-inches would be advised.
Which is better LED light or ring light? ›
Ring lights are better suited for portraitures and beauty shots. LED panel lights are better suited for broad lighting requirements (full body etc.) Ring lights are better suited for shooting macro photography, flower photography and other close-up photography requirements.
Why do influencers use ring lights? ›
No doubt you've been wondering how to get good selfie light at night (we were stumped for ages too!). Your selfie ring light is a much better option than the torchlight built-in to most smartphones because it removes the harsh shadows and dark areas, giving you even lighting without the horrors of a phone's flash.
What size selfie ring light is best? ›
Generally speaking, the larger the ring light, the brighter it is. The 10- to 12-inch ring lights are more so considered "selfie lights" for headshots, while 14- to 18-inch ring lights would be great for situations while standing (especially if the light will be several feet away from you).
How do I choose a selfie ring light? ›
What to look for
- Large size. A 12- to 16-inch model is bright enough for use while sitting at a desk or standing.
- High CRI. The closer to 100 the Color Rendering Index (CRI) is, the better. ...
- Dimmability. ...
- Range of color temps.
Using soft amber light creates a glow in the space for more radiant selfies. The space should be well illuminated to prevent the picture from appearing grainy and dull. But while a dim room makes a picture appear rather drab, an overly bright one will make it appear clinical, highlighting flaws.
How does a selfie ring light work? ›
By placing your camera, webcam or smartphone in the center of the ring, you minimize shadows and get flattering light that seems to come from everywhere, without creating shadows, harsh lines or distracting reflections. They're perfect tools for making you look good on camera.
How far away should a ring light be? ›
Again - your specific camera lens will determine the distance you should position your ring light to some extent. But to really get the crispest light on your subject and eliminate any and all shadows, the best practice is to position the ring light 2 feet from the subject.
How do you use a ring light for hair pictures? ›
Avoid Overexposure
A ring light will help you evenly reflect light on the hair. Since overexposure is not your friend, you want to avoid this. By using a ring light you can easily control the brightness of the LED light with the dimming knob. Also, you need to adjust the exposure manually on your camera/phone.
How do I connect my ring light to my phone? ›
1) With Control Center for Android Installed, open the app. 2) On the top right, tap on the Gear Cog icon to go into Settings, Tap on Add New Accessory. 3) A small window will appear listing any unpaired Ring Light units. They will have a randomized four character suffix such as "Elgato Ring Light A123."
How do you use a ring light for headshots? ›
A 12-14 inch ring light is bright enough for taking headshots, but if you're a fashion photographer taking full length photos in a studio then you'll want to get a larger ring light — typically 18 inches. We recommend choosing a ring light with adjustable colour temperature and brightness settings.
