Photo of a person holding their hand in front of a ring light

How to Use a Ring Light for Better Photographs

As a photographer, you’ve obtained loads of methods to control gentle and make it work in your favor. Utilizing props is a superb approach for a lot of superior picture-takers to get their desired outcomes; one of the helpful props is a hoop gentle.

Ring lights have a number of makes use of in pictures. You’ll be able to set them up in a number of methods, they usually’re additionally fairly versatile. So, how precisely do you employ a hoop gentle for higher pictures? What are the methods you can set one up? Let’s discover out.

How Can You Set Up and Use a Ring Gentle?

The way you arrange and use a hoop gentle relies on why you need to use it. You should use this software for DSLR and mirrorless pictures, nevertheless it’s additionally a helpful addition in case you’re taking footage together with your smartphone.

Most often, you’ll need to connect your ring gentle to a tripod; holding that whereas making an attempt to seize photographs together with your digicam can be unnecessarily sophisticated. The YouTube video under provides you an excellent ring gentle earlier than and after by strolling you thru the method of setting one as much as movie your self (you should use the identical ideas in case you’re taking images):

Nonetheless, you don’t want to connect your ring gentle to a horizontal floor. You will get thrilling outcomes by asking your mannequin to carry the sunshine in some instances.

When Ought to You Use a Ring Gentle in Pictures?

Now that you simply’ve obtained a primary concept of how one can arrange and use a hoop gentle (and seen a real-life instance of how to take action), we are able to transfer on to once you may discover this prop come in useful. Under, we’ve outlined three events it is best to think about using a hoop gentle in pictures.

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1. Portraits

Maybe the commonest use for ring lights in pictures is portraits. Including further gentle could make your mannequin’s pores and skin look more healthy, which is able to make your photos of them extra flattering.

However including further gentle isn’t the one motive you may need to use a hoop gentle for portrait pictures. If you happen to get your topic to carry it, it could actually additionally result in distinctive outcomes—as you possibly can see within the image under.


Photo of a person holding a ring light

2. Self-Portraits

Self-portraits are a superb supply of artistic freedom, however that isn’t their solely profit. Taking footage of your self can train you extra about posing and supply helpful concepts that you should use in your subsequent photoshoot.

Self-portraits are additionally a superb approach to construct your confidence and get you to really feel extra comfy in entrance of a digicam. If you take self-portraits, you’ll most definitely place your digicam on a tripod. So, who’s going to carry the ring gentle? You, in fact!

3. Meals and Product Pictures

If you take footage of meals, you need it to look interesting—particularly in case you’re doing work for a consumer. And in case you’re photographing merchandise, reminiscent of your favourite pair of AirPods, the identical is true.

Utilizing a hoop gentle for meals and product pictures is an effective way so as to add further lighting to the stuff you’re taking an image of. However because it isn’t direct, you gained’t want to fret about horrible glares that may spoil your picture.

Ring Gentle Pictures Concepts

The checklist of eventualities within the earlier part was extra of a tenet than one thing that you must stick to religiously. In actuality, you should use ring lights for any pictures you need.

Under are 5 ring gentle pictures concepts that you simply may need to think about giving a shot.

1. Standing in Entrance of the Ring Gentle

Many ring gentle images you see will contain the mannequin standing or sitting behind it. You’ll be able to attempt that (as we’ll level out in a second), nevertheless it’s not your solely choice.

If you wish to change issues up a bit, think about getting your topic to face in entrance of the sunshine. You’ll get an nearly eerie impact that’s good in case you’re inquisitive about taking moody portraits.

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3. Standing Behind and Holding the Ring Gentle

Standing behind a hoop gentle in pictures is well-liked for a motive—it provides wonderful outcomes more often than not. If you wish to make your mannequin look cool and get wonderful outcomes, getting them to do that—whereas holding the sunshine—is a tried and examined technique.

If you wish to shake issues up and get artistic, think about shopping for a different-colored ring gentle and seeing what you are able to do with these. For this tip, you’ll want the sunshine to face away from the topic.

4. Making the Ring Gentle Shine on Your Topic From Afar


Photo of a ring light from afar

Have you ever ever considered making your topic look angelic? If that’s the case, getting the ring gentle to shine towards your topic from a distance is an concept you may need to think about making an attempt.

For this, you’ll want to put your ring gentle on a wall or tripod; just be sure you don’t do something harmful. You’ll additionally want a wide-angle lens and to face fairly far again.

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5. Having the Ring Gentle Face You


Photo of a ring light facing a person

If you happen to don’t need to maintain the ring gentle and replica a fairly typical pictures model, you possibly can all the time use it as a typical lighting supply. No matter whether or not you’re photographing your self or another person, stick the ring gentle on a tripod and pose as you normally would.

Place the digicam according to the middle of your ring gentle; you’ll most likely want an additional tripod for this. As soon as arrange accurately, it is best to have the ability to add completely different lighting to your scene with minimal effort.

6. Utilizing Your Ring Gentle at Night time

Whereas it’s frequent to make use of your ring gentle indoors, you possibly can have numerous enjoyable with it in case you step exterior. As soon as the solar has gone down, attempt organising the sunshine—or holding it—and see what you possibly can give you. And If you happen to reside near a busy downtown space, think about taking it with you and see in case you can shoot one thing particular.

Ring Gentle Pictures Provides You Fascinating Outcomes

If you happen to’re pondering of how to spruce up your pictures, you are able to do a lot worse than a hoop gentle. Utilizing one may help you obtain distinctive outcomes that may assist you stand out to purchasers. Most significantly, although, they’re merely fairly enjoyable to mess around with.

Even in case you don’t creatively use your ring gentle, you’ll nonetheless discover it a helpful gentle supply to make your footage pop with the ring gentle impact. It’s price buying one to see what you are able to do with it.


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