You may have been in situations where your lighting was less than ideal, while on a video call. Even if you are quite happy about your lighting setup while on video calls and meetings, there are a few tricks you can try to make it better. The best lighting for video conferences depends on your objectives. As your video is almost always turned-on during meetings, it is worth taking the time to look professional. In this article, TickTockTech will walk you through lighting tips for your video conferences and the best lights for video calls and chats.
Best Lighting Tips for Video Conferences
Here are a few lighting tips that will improve your video conferences:
Face a light source when sitting
Sitting behind a bright light or an open window can negatively affect the quality of your video call. It is always better to sit facing the window in front of a desk lamp or some other light source. This makes your face very visible.
Make the best use of natural light
Natural light produces pleasing, accurate skin tones and colors on camera. Setting up your conference call in a room with a lot of natural light is a great source for generating a well-lit and professional atmosphere.
Make use of soft lighting
During your video conference room lighting, always avoid using bare bulbs. A lampshade or diffuser would be better at softening the lighting in the room. Bring a lamp closer to you if it is too harsh. This may also help increase the camera’s exposure to your face. To create a pleasing ambiance in the room, balance natural lighting with properly placed soft white lamps.
Select bright wall colors
Use white or light-colored walls in your meeting spaces to brighten the room with reflected light. Light is reflected by white surfaces when absorbed by black surfaces. By bouncing light around, using a lot of bright surfaces and walls while on a conference call will brighten up the space.
Use of a specialized video conferencing camera system
Video conferencing camera systems are designed specifically for the challenges of capturing high-quality video on a conference call. Ultra-high definition video conferencing cameras have a much larger sensor than a standard webcam and can produce a much larger image in low-light situations. With the highest resolutions and best quality image in the industry, a great video conference lighting solution allows you to present your absolute best self.
Best Lights for Video Conference Calls
As discussed above, you can use the light sources at home by rearranging their positions. But you may discover that you need more lights. Below is a list of the best lights for conference calls in 2022:
Razer Ring Light
Most social media influencers and content creators typically use a ring light, which produces constant brightness, and sculpts the face in a flattering way. If you want to go down that route for your conference calls, the Razer Ring Light is an excellent choice. The light quality is excellent and softly diffused to portray your face most pleasantly. The tripod that comes with it is sturdy and sizable. With one hand, you can adjust the brightness and cycle between three color temperatures using the wired remote. That makes it easy to make changes to your video conference calls.
Lume Cube 18-inch Wireless Light
The Lube Cube Wireless ring light is packed with high-end features if you’re looking for a ring light for Zoom and are willing to stretch your budget. While it is significantly more expensive than the Razer Ring Light, it is much larger, measuring 18 inches in diameter. The light is extremely bright, and the two included batteries are rated for up to 1.5 hours of runtime at full brightness. The built-in color temperature range of 3200-5600K and high levels of brightness minimize shadows and reduce facial imperfections for the most appealing appearance. For settings, there is an LED readout. It also includes a carry case, 6.5-foot stand, and mounts for iPhones, mobile devices, digital cameras, and action cameras weighing up to 10lbs.
Neewer Dimmable Bi-colour LED
This Neewer LED panel is an appealing tool for those who require a good light for conference calls. It requires some flexibility when it comes to lighting for videos or photos. Its slim profile and sturdy metal finish make it portable and easy to use anywhere. It is dimmable and capable of matching color temperatures ranging from 3200 to 5600K, allowing it to accurately render skin tones. The 1/4″ universal thread is mounted directly to light stands, and the U-mount bracket allows for a full lateral rotation. A diffusion panel is also included for softer and more favorable light.
Manfrotto Lumimuse 8 LED
When you do not have enough desk space or need more light while in a virtual meeting on the road, the Lumimuse 8, a lithium-ion powered LED light, is an excellent choice for adding more light to your video call. It’s incredibly bright for its small size and light-weighted for mobility. For flexible positioning, prop it up on a desk or attach it to one of your accessories. The only drawbacks are a limited stepped brightness control and filters for adjusting color balance. For most users, the Manfrotto LED is an excellent value LED panel for adding a splash of light.
Neewer Table-Top 10-inch USB LED Ring Light
This 10-inch table-top LED ring light includes an adjustable smartphone holder that is ideal for conference calls. An appealing integrated light stand can be folded forward 90 degrees for table-top compositions displaying documents or other types of flat lays. Unfortunately, the stand is not height adjustable. It can easily match interior lighting for more realistic color and skin tones with three color modes to choose from, though a dimmable slider option would just be better for those that require a precise balance. It is powered by USB and can be plugged directly into a laptop or power bank to start up.
Conclusion
Good lighting for video conferences and calls is an important factor in achieving a professional appearance. Lighting enhances high-quality video by assisting in the rendering of crystal clear images, making you feel as if you’re in the same room as the person you’re speaking with. If you found this article interesting, check out the best smart light bulbs in 2022.
