It might sound strange, but I am going to show you the professional way to use a ring light.
I know what you are thinking: “It was manufactured with the phone mount in the middle, so how can that be wrong?”
The reason for that design is convenience.
It makes it easy for beginners to plug their phone in the middle without any complicated setups, which is why everyone is used to using it that way.
It is not that you cannot use it like that.
I am simply saying there is a better way to make your videos and photos look more cinematic.
I will demonstrate how you can use a single 10-inch ring light, specifically my Nanlite Halo 10B, to take a self-portrait.
I will show you how to make your portraits look amazing using just one light, whether you are using a phone or a camera.
I can promise that the results will be absolutely outstanding, so make sure to follow along.
The “Flat Face” Problem
The problem with placing your phone in the middle of the ring light is the direction of the light.
The light source is on the exact same level as the camera lens.
This means when you are shooting and looking at the phone, your face will appear extremely flat.
If you observe cinematic or high-quality photos, the light rarely comes directly from the front.
This is because direct, frontal light eliminates the shadows that create depth and dimension.
In professional photos, you will always see some shadows, perhaps under the eyes or nose, because this adds contrast and a more professional look to the image.
The Professional Way to Use a Ring Light
The key to achieving a professional look is to detach the light from the camera.
To do this, I need a separate tripod with a phone holder.
Do not worry, as these accessories are extremely affordable and can be found on Amazon, or you can opt for more professional ones.
It all depends on your commitment to improving your photography.
While this extra step is not necessary, you will see a big difference in the results.
If you have ever watched videos about professional photography or seen how YouTubers set up their studios, you may have noticed that the main light is never positioned flat and level with the face.
Instead, it is typically placed higher, at a 45-degree angle, pointing down toward the subject.
This positioning creates flattering shadows, adding depth to the face.
I am going to do the exact same thing using only my ring light.
Instead of having it flat, I will position it slightly higher and tilt it down toward me at a 45-degree angle.
How to Position Your Ring Light
Depending on how you position the ring light from left to right, you will create more or less contrast.
A position more to the side will produce a more dramatic look, while a position more directly in front will be less dramatic and more even.
It is acceptable to have the light in front of you, but it must be positioned higher than your eye line.
You want to avoid having it perfectly flat with your face.
Even if the light is higher and in front, you will still create a flattering shadow under your chin, which is what you want for a professional result.
For example, my key light in my YouTube studio is positioned off to the side.
As a result, one side of my face is very bright, while the other is darker.
The same principle applies to the ring light.
How to Shoot a Portrait with a Ring Light
I will now show you how to take an amazing portrait.
I have positioned my camera in front of me and have my ring light detached from it.
I have also linked my camera to my phone so I can see and make adjustments.
The key concept is to avoid placing the ring light directly in front of me.
I will place it 45 degrees higher than my eye line.
While most people would place it directly in front, the professional method is to raise it higher and angle it down at 45 degrees.
One of the key concepts of lighting is that the closer the light source, the stronger it will be.
To take very cool portraits, we want the light as close as possible to the subject.
Even if the light enters the frame, it is fine as long as it does not physically touch your face.
The optimal position is for the ring light to be extremely close to your face.
If it appears in the shot, I will be able to remove it later using an editing application like Snapseed.
With my phone, I can control my camera settings.
Because the ring light is extremely close and bright, I need to adjust my shutter speed or aperture to correctly expose my face.
In this case, I will probably use a shutter speed of 1/250.
Depending on the direction of your face—whether it is toward the light or away from it—you will achieve a more or less dramatic effect.
Portrait Examples
- Looking Straight: First, I will look straight into the camera to see the result.
- Face Towards Light: When I turn my face toward the ring light and direct my eyes toward the camera, my face will be lit more brightly than before.
- Face Away From Light: If I do the opposite and move my face away from the ring light, I will create a more dramatic effect with deeper shadows.
- Split Lighting: If I move the light far to the side and turn my shoulders toward the camera, I can create a very dramatic effect called split lighting. With split lighting, one side of the face is brightly lit, and the other is almost completely in shadow.
You can have fun experimenting by moving the ring light left, right, higher, or lower.
Just try to avoid having it directly in front of your face to prevent a flat look.
Using a Ring Light for Videos
The same principle applies to video.
If I am making a video, the standard setup is acceptable, but I can make it better.
By simply moving the ring light a little to the left, increasing its height, and pointing it down at a 45-degree angle, the lighting becomes more cinematic.
You will notice more shadows under the chin and around the nose, adding depth.
You can, of course, change the brightness of the ring light to see what looks best.
When making videos with just a ring light, I try to keep the brightness near its maximum, but that choice is up to you and depends on your environment.
As a general rule, always use the white light setting, as it simulates sunlight, which is the highest quality light we have.
Avoid using the yellow light, as it can look strange.
To take a portrait with your phone, I recommend using the back camera if you have someone to help you.
However, you can still get great results with the front camera.
In your camera application, get the light as close as possible, just as I did with the camera.
Tap and hold on your face to lock the focus and exposure, then drag the sun icon down until the background becomes dark.
When you are happy with the exposure, you can take the photo.
How to Edit Your Ring Light Portrait
The result from the phone is already quite good, and I can edit it using Snapseed.
I will now show you how to remove the ring light from your photo using Snapseed, a free application from Google.
- Open the portrait you just took in the application and rotate it if needed.
- Select the “Healing” tool.
- Simply drag your finger over the ring light in the image, and the application will analyze the picture and make it disappear by filling the area with black.
- Next, I might decrease the “Structure” a bit, as I do not like too much texture in portraits.
- In the “Tune Image” tool, I will bring down the brightness slightly, as the iPhone’s artificial intelligence made it a little brighter than I wanted.
- I will increase the contrast by about 3, then decrease the highlights and shadows a little to make the background even blacker.
- You can also adjust the “Warmth” to make the image warmer or cooler, depending on your preference.
- Finally, I will give it a quick crop to ensure my eyes are on the top line of the grid, respecting the rule of thirds.
With those steps, the professional-looking portrait from my phone is complete.
More Tips for Great Lighting
You now know how to take professional photos using just your ring light.
There are, however, a few other things you should learn about lighting that can make a huge difference in your photos, especially when it comes to portraits.
I hope you enjoyed my guide.