You do not necessarily need a ring light if you have access to great natural light from a large window.
However, from my experience, a ring light is an essential tool if you need consistent, flattering light for video calls or content creation at any time of day, in any room, regardless of the weather.
Let’s talk about ring lights.
They are everywhere now, and you might be wondering if you truly need to buy one.
I’m a photographer, and I’ve spent years figuring out how to get the best light in every situation.
The honest answer is that it really depends on your goal. Let me break down what I’ve learned so you can decide for yourself.
What Does a Ring Light Actually Do?
A ring light is a simple circular light that is designed to fit around your camera lens or smartphone.
Its main purpose is to throw a uniform, soft light directly onto a subject, which is usually your face.
This helps to eliminate the harsh shadows that typical overhead lighting in our homes creates.
What I’ve learned is that most bad photos or videos are not because of you, but because of bad lighting.
A ring light is a simple way to fix that.
How to Use a Ring Light Without Looking Like an Alien
The most common mistake I see is people placing the ring light directly in front of their face and turning the brightness all the way up.
This creates that very intense, “influencer” look with a tell-tale circular catchlight in the eyes. While that look can be powerful, it does not look very natural.
Here is how I handle lighting to make it look great but still feel like me.
There are 2 key things I always do.
First, I think of the ring light as an extra layer of light, not the only source.
Your room already has some natural or ambient light. Use the ring light to fill in the shadows on your face.
I often have my ring light set up off to the side and a little high, sometimes even bouncing the light off a wall to make it softer.
Second, I change the angle.
Our brains are used to seeing light come from above, like the sun.
Light that is straight-on can look flat and unnatural.
By moving the ring light to a 45-degree angle from your face, the light instantly becomes more flattering and creates gentle, natural-looking shadows that give your face dimension.
What to Look For When Choosing a Ring Light
When you are ready to get one, the options can feel overwhelming.
Based on my experience testing many different models, the technical specifications are less important than a few key practical features.
If you focus on these, you will get a great result.
- Size of the Ring
- Included Accessories like stands and phone mounts
- Accurate Color Performance
- Brightness Control for dimming
- Adjustable Color Temperature
Adjusting color temperature is just a simple way of changing the light from a warmer, orange tone to a cooler, blue tone.
This is incredibly useful for matching the other lights in your room so everything looks balanced and natural.
When You Can Save Your Money
Honestly, you might not need a ring light at all. One of the best light sources you already have is a window.
If your desk is near a large window that provides plenty of soft, natural light, you can look fantastic on video calls without any extra equipment.
The goal is to get a large source of soft light in front of you and slightly above you. A window does this perfectly.
If you know you will only be making content or taking meetings during the day, right next to that big beautiful window, you can probably skip buying a ring light for now.
Final Verdict
A ring light is an incredibly useful and relatively inexpensive tool for anyone who needs to look their best on camera.
It gives you complete control over your lighting, so you are no longer dependent on the time of day or where you are in your house.
It is the perfect solution for video creators, professionals taking meetings at night, or anyone who wants to eliminate unflattering shadows and create a bright, clear picture.
While natural window light is fantastic, a ring light is a reliable and portable option that ensures you have great lighting whenever you need it.