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When it comes to creating evenly lit portraits, macro photographs, and product images, many professionals and hobbyist photographers prefer ring lights. What used to be considered a piece of specialty lighting equipment is now easy to find, simple to use, and surprisingly affordable.
Imagine achieving the same even, shadowless light offered by a softbox or LED light panel with the flexibility of being able to position your camera in the center of the light source. Ring lights offer the perfect balance of function, usability, and style with any subject.
Because ring lights surround a subject’s face with light, they flatter your portrait subjects while creating a unique, attractive, and circular catch light in their eyes. Macro applications also benefit from using a ring light thanks to the absence of a hotspot and the ability to light tiny subjects from the front without blocking the camera’s view.
Ring lights gained popularity among social media and YouTube creators who use compact cameras and cell phones to create professional-quality video tutorials, vlogs, and other popular content.
For many content creators, choosing the right ring light for your needs comes down to a few key criteria:
Some creators select color temperature based on the desire to flatter their skin tone, while others choose the most neutral color possible for accurate color rendering of flowers, products, and other objects. Ring lights come in a range of color temperatures, and some even offer adjustable color temperatures to suit each subject.
If you do most of your content creation in a single location, then you can easily use a ring light that plugs into the wall. For greater flexibility, consider ring lights with rechargeable battery packs.
If you already have plenty of photography gear, you may just need the ring light itself. If you’re starting a new vlog or content stream and haven’t invested in any gear yet, consider choosing a ring light kit with a lighting stand and camera mount for an easier setup. Some ring light kits even include a green-screen background and other useful accessories.
Choosing the best ring light for you means selecting from well-known brands like Godox, Fotodiox, Flashpoint, Westcott, Smith-Victor, and Yongnuo. They offer ring lights for a variety of applications at affordable prices.