You’ve got the camera, external microphone, and story all set up—now all you need is the proper lighting equipment to create a professional YouTube video. If you’re ready to start a YouTube channel, the best lighting will help you elevate your video look even more.
While YouTubers often rely on natural light when creating their videos, turning to daylight can limit your recording times. If you want the freedom to record wherever and whenever you want, the best thing to do is to purchase some great artificial light sources.
But where do you even start looking for the right camera lighting equipment?
In this guide, we’ve taken the guesswork out of choosing video lighting so that beginners like you can more easily perfect your YouTube lighting setup.
Best Types of Lighting for YouTube Videos
In a nutshell, there are five basic types of lights that you can choose from. Affordable yet functional, these video lights can help you produce clear and visually engaging videos that will leave your subscribers hungry for more.
Most of the lighting for vloggers are the same equipment used in studio photography, except they’re continuous light sources. Continuous lights are great for beginners since they let you manually control your light. On top of that, they’re cost-efficient.
But you don’t have to get lost in the technicalities of lighting: you just need to single out which lights produce your desired effect for your videos. Once you’ve got that down, you can get the camera rolling.
Softbox Lights
Softbox lighting emulates natural light coming from a window, which makes it ideal for frontal lighting. Its broad coverage makes it great for softening shadows and lighting up the area where it’s placed. Its reflective silver or neutral white interior lining can be used to alter the quality of light it produces.
Softbox lights are usually square or rectangular, but there are also octagonal, hexagonal, long strips, parabolic, and round ones, too.
How It Works
Just as the name implies, a softbox is a box built around a continuous light source, made of reflective internal material and a diffusion panel in front of it to reduce the harshness of the light. You can use at least one softbox and place them at a 45 degree angle to add dimension to your set. You may also choose to use two on each side of your set-up to eliminate shadows.
When to Use Softbox Lighting
Softbox lights emit natural-looking light in a single area, making it perfect for indoor video shoots. It’s widely used for product reviews, cooking shows, room vlogging, and other videos that rely on diffused light. Here’s how it compares to standard room lights:
Characteristics of Softbox Lights
- Uses a diffusion panel to create natural light
- Wide and flat coverage
- Comes in different shapes and sizes
- Has silver or white interior surfaces
- Requires setup
- Best for indoor vlogging, product reviews, and cooking shows
Recommended Softbox Lights
Glow EZ Lock 24×36″ Quick Rectangle Softbox
The Glow EZ Lock softbox is ideal for fashion and beauty videos. It’s also ideal for portraits as it captures a soft, natural glow that can accentuate a person’s best facial features. The light it produces will bathe your subject in warm light while giving them subtle accents of shadows.
Lightweight yet functional, the Glow EZ Lock softbox is designed to work with strobe lights. It features an opaque deflector disk, eggcrate grid, and an easy-to-lock system.
Smith-Victor 2000 Watt Pro Softbox Two Light Kit
Want an all-in-one continuous softbox lighting solution in a single package? Turn to the Smith-Victor 2000 Watt Pro Softbox Two Light Kit. You can use either a 500-watt or 1000-watt quartz halogen lamp for a continuous light source. The system uses a tungsten halogen linear lamp that balances high intensity and optimum softness.
If you’re planning an extended shoot, you can rely on this kit. The softbox features heat vents and are made from a heat resistant silver lining that can withstand heat from up to 1000W lamps for extended periods.
Umbrella Lights
Umbrella lights are an affordable and portable light source that produce a softer light than its counterparts. When you compare softbox vs umbrella lights, umbrellas create more controlled and directional light. There are two main types of umbrella lights: reflective and shoot-through. Just like its name implies, they are portable since they can be folded like regular umbrellas.
How It Works
Reflective umbrellas consist of two parts: a reflective inner surface that bounces light onto the subject and an opaque outer material that keeps the light from passing through the umbrella. On the other hand, the shoot-through umbrella is made of translucent white fabric that diffuses the light and hits your subject more softly.
The umbrella light is set apart by its curved shape, which produces more directional light. It also emphasizes the edges of shadows. On top of that, since the light source isn’t boxed in, it can give any room a good distribution of light.
When to Use Umbrella Lighting
Due to its directional nature, umbrella lighting is great if you want to achieve a more polished look to your videos. Using a single umbrella light is enough when recording a personal vlog since it can add dramatic indoor lighting and cast soft shadows on you or your subject.
Characteristics of Umbrella Lights
- Uses reflective or shoot-through umbrellas
- Curved shape produces more controlled, directional lighting
- Comes in different sizes
- Reflective surface comes in gold, silver, or white
- Affordable, portable, and quick to set up
- Best for indoor vlogging
Recommended Umbrella Lights
Smith-Victor KT750LED 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit
Smith-Victor’s KT750LED 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit is ideal if you prefer to conduct shoots in the studio or on location. The kit includes two umbrella sockets each with a 45W LED bulb, 33″ white umbrella, 6′ light stand, and carry case.
The bulbs feature a daylight-balanced color temperature of 5600K, which means you can shoot in spaces with large windows or outdoors. If you’re new to using lights, the kit is a great option because it is user friendly and easy to set up.
Westcott Single-Socket 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit
The Westcott Single-Socket 2-Light LED Umbrella Kit is a must-have for vloggers. The 45W LED bulbs render skin tones well, so you can expect superior quality videos. Moreover, they are energy efficient and have a 20,000 hour lifespan.
The kit includes fiberglass diffusion umbrellas that expand and soften the light produced, making it ideal for portraits and product shoots. You can easily transport the kit too, in case you need to switch locations between shoots.
Ring Lights
Ring lights are popular among YouTubers. After all, they provide a flattering light source for a wide range of shooting environments. It also eliminates most shadows and creates a “halo” catchlight in the eyes. It is smaller, more portable, and extremely easy to set up. Simply plug it into a power socket and place it in front of you or your subject. The result: a vibrant and consistent source of light. Check out our roundup of the best ring lights for YouTube videos to select your next light.
How It Works
Instead of using multiple light sources to surround a subject’s face and eliminate shadows, a ring light’s unique circular shape serves as a one-light solution. The hole in the middle prevents light from concentrating at the center of the face to prevent your subject from looking flat. The circular bulb often comes with an external diffusion plate to soften both light and shadow.
When to Use Ring Lights
A ring light is ideal for illuminating faces, which is why it is more popularly used by beauty YouTUbe channels. If you’ve ever watched a makeup review or tutorial, then you’ll know that it’s a staple in almost any makeup-related video.
For the best lighting effect, place both your camera and ring light in front of you or your subject at face level. But if you want to experiment, you can try using the ring light from the side for a more dramatic look.
Characteristics of Ring Lights
- Uses a diffused, ring-type bulb
- Eliminates most shadows
- Creates attractive halo catchlights for the eyes
- Comes in different sizes
- Easy to set up
- Best for beauty and makeup videos
Recommended Ring Lights
Flashpoint Photo/Video 13″ Dimmable LED Ring Light
The Flashpoint 13″ Ring Light is a lightweight, portable ring of light. Easy to use, the light ring allows you to change the light intensity and balance light and shadow without repositioning the light source.
The light ring uses only 42W of power so it produces relatively low heat. It is a favorite among beauty vloggers, family photographers, and journalists because it captures the signature catchlight in their eyes.
Fotodiox Selfie Starlite Vlog 18″ Bi-Color Dimmable LED Ring Light
Want a dual-color dimmable light for your videos? If the answer is yes, then the Fotodiox Selfie Starlite Vlog 18″ Bi-Color Dimmable LED Ring Light is for you. Say goodbye to complicated multi-light set-ups because all you have to do is mount your camera to start shooting.
The kit includes a mirror so you can get yourself camera-ready. Even if you’re on camera, you can easily adjust the brightness and color temperature to make sure you look your best.
LED On-Camera Lights
The most popular LED on-camera lights are square and rectangular. They are typically mounted on top of cameras and function as a continuous light source for subjects directly in front of it. They can also be mounted on stands to create directional and creative lighting. In most cases, LED on-cam lights are more affordable than softboxes, umbrellas, and ring lights.
How It Works
Like softboxes, square or rectangular LED camera lights are similar window lights except they have a smaller and more portable body. They have hundreds of small LED bulbs that work hand-in-hand to create even lighting with zero “hot spots.” While their small size limits their power, today’s LED lights can produce more than a thousand lumens to provide a stable light source.
When to Use LED On-Camera Lights
This type of light is the best option for travel vlogging or any other type of on-the-go recording since it is battery-powered and portable. Shooting outdoors often entails dim and inconsistent lighting, so even if you’re outdoors, having an on-camera light may still be a good option. And even if you’re not shooting outdoors, you can still get an LED light if you want a more affordable option than light modifiers.
Characteristics of LED On-Camera Lights
- Uses hundreds of small LED bulbs
- Creates even, directional lighting
- Comes in different shapes and sizes
- Customizable power and color temperature
- Portable and battery-operated
- Best for on-the-go vlogging
Recommended LED On-Camera Lights
Sony HVL-LBPC High Intensity LED Battery Video Light
Designed for shoots, the Sony HVL-LBPC High Intensity LED Battery Video Light offers high-intensity light, extended life, and low power consumption. Ideal for wide-angle shooting, it spreads the light evenly and with uniform intensity.
The video light runs on 1,800lux at 1m and 2,100lux at 1m with Blight booster mode. It can run for 10,000 hours for uninterrupted shoots. And to top that off, you can use the same L-Series or BP-series batteries used for NXCAM or XDCAM camcorders to power the LED light.
Aputure MC RGBWW Mini LED Light
The Aputure MC RGBWW Mini LED Light boasts innovative hue, saturation, and intensity (HSI) color control. This light includes 100 levels of saturation and 360-degrees of hue.
The LED light features powerful color rendition and RGBWW technology. Its two white LEDs (one tungsten and one daylight), make for a seriously impactful light in a small body.
Natural Light
Nothing beats natural lighting, even when it comes to vlogging. When used at the right time of day, you can achieve bright and even lighting from the sun without having to spend a dime.
How It Works
Natural sunlight measures around 5500K on the temperature scale, and it’s the color often replicated by artificial light sources. From the human eye it appears white, and it helps reveal accurate colors in videos. The occasional yellow tinge it produces makes the skin look healthy and radiant.
When to Use Natural Light
Even if you have light modifiers at your disposal, you may want to take advantage of the natural light coming through your window. The ideal time to use natural light is before and after lunch, when the sun is at its brightest but isn’t so harsh that it creates unflattering shadows. Start by positioning yourself and your camera close to your window and face the light head-on for even exposure.
When it comes to photography, keep in mind that you aren’t limited to using just a single light source. You can mix and match these different light options to create the ideal set-up for your YouTube video. After all, an impressive light source can add much-needed production value to impress your viewers and give your channel the attention it deserves.
YouTube Lighting Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make good lighting for YouTube videos?
Lighting is everything in the world of videography—and that includes YouTube lighting. The proper video lighting will make your footage look more professional, ultimately lending you more credibility among followers.
But what kind of lighting do you need for YouTube videos? Natural light, such as sitting near a window, is always a great idea. But if you don’t have a window nearby, you can use artificial light, such as YouTube LED lighting, to mimic the look and feel of natural illumination. LED lights combined with a diffuser, fill lights, and softboxes ensure you won’t look artificially lit (again, it’s all about nailing down that professional aesthetic). Fill lights with umbrellas and softboxes add a soft, natural touch.
Note, if you can’t afford a full new kit of lights, you’re still in luck: Many YouTubers use one light, such as a ring light, to easily create that flattering natural-light look.
How do I choose a video light?
The first thing to consider when choosing the perfect lighting for YouTube videos? Budget. Can you afford a full multi-light setup? Or are you just starting out and hoping to dabble in lighting, but don’t want to go all in on a flashy new setup?
If you’re in the former camp, and ready to invest in a packed lighting kit, the next step is to think about your lighting approach. Do you want to build out lighting for your home studio where you record most vlogs? If so, consider your space and experiment with YouTube LED lighting, including an LED key light and diffuser with fill lights to illuminate shadows. This combination mimics that gorgeous natural light. If you’re more of an in-the-field or run-and-gun creator, you may need a more portable lighting kit to tow with you.
And, on the more budget-friendly side, your best bet for YouTube lighting is a ring light. These easy-to-setup lights provide flattering illumination. They come in portable sizes, so you can bring it along for vlogs in hotel rooms or remote offices.
What lighting do YouTube users use?
As you think through what kind of YouTube lighting you want to invest in, it may be best to take a look at your favorite creators so you can learn from their sets, too. What kind of lighting do top YouTube users use? Of course, the answers depend, but here’s a helpful overview:
- It’s no surprise that world-renowned creator Casey Neistat has a robust studio setup. What lighting does Neistat use? It’s a mix of natural lighting via windows, one on-camera LED lighting source, and a combination of other lights throughout the studio. You can view the full tour of Neistat’s studio here.
- Another well-known name in the creative industry, Peter McKinnon, has an impressive lighting setup as well. He has a solid Aputure Light system that includes the Aputure Light Dome II and Aputure Light Storm, according to Sanchez. You can watch his full studio tour here.
- In iJustine’s studio, you’ll find three lights that illuminate her unboxing station: two light panels, plus a LiteMat Plus 4. This helps ensure each unboxing video is crisp, well lit, and filmed in high detail. Head here to watch the full tour of iJustine’s studio, from lights to cameras and, of course, her adorable pup.
- Technology reviewer and YouTuber Marques K. Brownlee’s lighting strategy includes several well-known products—the Aputure Light Dome II and the Aputure Light Storm, which he uses as fill lights—along with his latest go-to: the ARRI SkyPanel S60-C. The softbox on the S60-C creates an “incredible portrait video light,” he says in his studio tour.
