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Nowadays social media post look almost like professional photos. What is the secret to these professional looking images? The ring light! The name basically tells us what it is, a ring that gives off light. Find out what it is all about in this article.
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What is a ring light?
A ring light, also known as a ring flash, is a donut-shaped source of light, whereby the camera or phone is placed in the middle of it. This causes the subject in front of the camera to be illuminated. Besides illuminating an object, it also blurs imperfections due to the multiple small bulbs it has. You can use a ring light for several types of photography, but the most common ones are social media content; portraiture and videos tutorials.
Why use a ring light?
There are a lot of benefits to a ring light. Firstly, it highlights details making the subjects sparkle in the most flattering way. Secondly, it balances light allowing for incredible close-ups. Lastly it creates colour effects allowing you to use different lighting options. All these benefits allow the best quality for portraits, live and taped videos like Youtube and Tiktok videos. In fact, most creatives working from home started to invest in ring lights as they give an extra something to their work.
How to choose a ring light?
A ring light needed for making a Tiktok and a ring light for capturing pictures of an object usually are different. There are some points to keep in mind when choosing a ring light.
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Size – the larger the ring the softer the light. If you have a studio for a camera set up, a large ring light can create a perfect ambiance. While when you like to shoot outdoors, it is more ideal to have a portable ring, also known as a selfie light.
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Colouring – some ring lights offer variable colours to set a mood, these are usually based on temperatures.
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Dimability – this allows better control over images. Strong lights give clear and bright images while dimer lights give blurrier shots giving a night-time feel.
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Power source – there are different types like with a plug or USB port or inserting rechargeable batteries
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Flexibility – some ring lights might have a flexible neck or rotatable ring. This let you use your ring at different positions and angles.
How much is a ring light?
Ring lights have variable prices which can range from £15-£200. It usually depends on the size, brand and type of ring light. Generally, a larger ring with more advanced options will be more expensive. Ring lights can be found in tech shops and Amazon.
How to set up a ring light?
To set up a ring light is pretty straight forward and easily done. Firstly, you set the light in the desirable place and plug it in or switch it on. Then you place your camera in the middle of the ring or you can place your phone in the standard. You can also hold your phone in front of the ring and you will have the same effect. After this you are all set and you can set the play around with angles, distance, colours and brightness in order to get the perfect picture or video.
Tags: Actors + Performers, Creators, Technology + Gear, Advice, Social Media Platforms