What are the target users of ring lights?

In the field of portrait photography, there is a very popular type of equipment, it is the ring light.

The usage is very simple: put the light in front of the subject and the camera in the center of the light circle to shoot. In this way, the photos taken are often evenly exposed and have few shadows, which are very popular among photographers.

In addition, the ring light can also create a special shape of circular eye catch light – this will undoubtedly make the eyes more energetic, especially when shooting portraits and close-ups of the face.

However, the use of ring lights does not stop there. Compared with ordinary photography lights, these special size and shape lights have many “other uses”- although they may not be designed for their purposes, they are just as easy to use.

1. As the “ordinary” main light source

Although the ring light can be placed directly in front of the subject to provide “uniform and no dead-angle” lighting, it can also be placed in other locations and used as a “normal” photography light-and the effect is not bad.

Because of its “hollow”, you have to place it a little further away, increase the brightness, and tilt the lamp panel toward the main body. You can also use other objects to block the lamp body to control its lighting area or add shadow effects.

The special structure of the ring light makes it a light source with a “self-contained soft box”. Maybe it requires you to do more parameter adjustments (brightness, position, angle, etc.) when using it, but its lighting effect is better than that of “normal” photography lights.

2. As a fill light source

In addition to acting as the “ordinary” main light, the ring light can also be used as a filling light source, mixed with other studio light sources such as photography lights and flashes.

The ring light is used as a filling light source, and the fill light effect is also very good

Compared with the “normal” filled light source, the fill light effect of the ring light will be softer-similar to the effect of a normal light source equipped with a large soft box.

It is worth mentioning that the power of the ring light is often inferior to that of the flash, and you need to adjust the power of the flash.

In addition, when you need to change the color temperature of the fill light, the ring light is often weak-ordinary color filters cannot meet the huge ring light, and there are fewer ring lights with their own color temperature adjustment function.

3. As a prop

Most of the LED ring lights do not become hot when the power is turned on. You can use them as props for portrait photography to make your photos more lively and interesting.

Let your model have a fun with the ring light and take some interesting photos. This will not only harvest a few special photos, but also help to invigorate the atmosphere, reduce the tension of the model during shooting, and be more helpful for the subsequent shooting.

4. As a composition tool

When the ring light is working, it is a bright ring. It has a high degree of attention and is not ugly. It can be used as a “material” for framed composition.

You can also put it behind the model to form a circular halo. Believe me, the photos taken this way will be eye-catching and interesting.