Top Vlogging Lights and Setups for Clear and Refined Visuals

Perfect lighting in vlogs can make a significant difference, taking your videos from average to professional. Whether you're new to vlogging or an experienced content creator, having the right lighting setup is essential for creating clear and polished visuals that capture your audience's attention.

In this article, we will discuss the top vlogging lights and setups that can improve the quality of your videos. Additionally, we'll provide practical tips on how to set up your lights for the best results.

What is a vlogging light: Definition and types

A vlogging light is any light used to illuminate your vlog videos, enhancing visibility and video quality. These lights are usually portable, especially for outdoor vlogging. Vlogging lights can be categorized into two main types based on the recording equipment used: lights for camera vlogging and lights for phone vlogging.



• Lights for camera vlogging
• For those using digital cameras for vlogging, an LED light can be a great addition. These lights are ideal for direct-to-camera talks or interviews, highlighting your face while providing a soft, diffused light for a polished look. Additionally, ring lights and softbox lights are perfect for vlog studios. They offer flexibility in how light is cast and shaped, allowing for more creative control over your video’s lighting setup.
• Lights for phone vlogging
• Phone vlogging lights are designed to be compact and compatible with smartphones. They attach to your phone in two primary ways: clipping onto the phone or attaching via magnetic back or extension wings. Clip-on lights are ideal for selfie vlogs, attaching to the top of the phone to directly illuminate your face. Magnetic or winged attachments provide versatility depending on your vlogging needs, whether for front or back-facing recording.

How to choose the best lighting for vlogging

Consider the following factors when choosing lighting for vlogging:

1. Brightness and dimmability
2. Choose lighting with adjustable brightness to suit different filming conditions. Dimmability allows you to control the light intensity, ensuring your videos are neither too bright nor too dark.
3. Color temperature and adjustability
4. Opt for lights with adjustable color temperature to match various environments. This helps you achieve the perfect warm or cool lighting to enhance the look of your videos.
5. Portability and size
6. Consider compact and lightweight lighting options if you vlog on the go. Portable lights are easier to carry and set up in different locations.
7. Power options
8. Select lighting based on your power needs. Battery-powered lights offer flexibility and mobility, while plug-in lights provide consistent power for longer filming sessions.
9. Mounting options and flexibility
10. Look for lights with versatile mounting options like tripods or clamps. Flexible mounting allows you to position the lights at the best angle for optimal lighting.
11. Additional features

Check for extra features, such as a remote control, for convenient adjustments. Color filters and diffusers can help you achieve creative effects and softer lighting.

Top 3 LED lights for vlogging

1. VILTROX L116T RA CRI95 Super Slim LED Light Panel

The VILTROX L116T RA CRI95 is an excellent choice for vloggers looking for a compact and versatile LED light for vlogging. This light panel can be mounted directly onto the top of a DSLR camera's hot shoe, making it incredibly portable and easy to use on the go. It offers impressive brightness for its size and operates on a battery.

Key features:

• Color temperature range: 3300K-5600K.
• Battery-powered (battery included).
• White diffuser.
• DSLR mountable.




2. Dazzne D50 Desk Mount Video Light with C-Clamp

For those seeking a budget-friendly and highly portable lighting option, the Dazzne D50 is a great pick. This desk-mountable LED light is perfect for smaller spaces and can be easily attached to a desk with its C-clamp. It offers a wide color temperature range and comes with dimmable settings, allowing you to customize the lighting to your preference.

Key features:

• Color temperature range: 3000K-8000K.
• AC powered (battery option available but not included).
• White diffuser.
• C-clamp for desk mounting.
• 

  

3. Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED

The Neewer 2 Packs Dimmable Bi-Color 480 LED is a top pick among vloggers on Amazon, known for its quality and affordability. This kit includes two LED lights with adjustable color temperatures, white diffusers, and light stands, making it suitable for both amateur and professional use. The portability and comprehensive features make it a fantastic all-in-one solution for improving your video lighting.

Key features:

• 2 LED lights with adjustable color temperatures.
• White diffusers.
• AC powered.
• Includes light stands and carrying case.
• 

  

Top 3 ring lights for vlogging

1. UBeesize 10″ Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand & Cell Phone Holder

The UBeesize 10″ Selfie Ring Light is an excellent choice for vloggers seeking affordable and versatile ring light for vlogging. It can be mounted on a desk or dresser and features a swivel-mounted ring light and phone holder. The light is dimmable and comes with a Bluetooth remote, making it easy to control with smartphones.

Key features:

• 10″ LED ring light.
• Mobile phone mount.
• AC powered.
• Bluetooth remote control for mobiles and DSLRs.
• 

  

2. 10″ Selfie Ring Light with 50″ Extendable Tripod Stand

This 10″ Selfie Ring Light offers a middle-of-the-road option for vloggers. It includes a 10″ ring light and an extendable tripod stand, making it ideal for different shooting environments. The vlog lighting kit also features a swivel phone mount and a Bluetooth remote, ensuring convenience and flexibility.

Key features:

• 10″ LED ring light.
• Swivel mobile phone mount.
• AC powered.
• Tripod stand.
• 

  

3. Neewer Ring Light Kit: 18″/48cm Outer 55W 5500K Dimmable LED Ring Light

The Neewer 18″ Ring Light Kit is considered the best vlogging light for creators using DSLR cameras, offering a large light spread and superior lighting quality. This comprehensive kit includes everything you need, such as mounts for both mobile phones and DSLRs, white and orange filters, and a carrying case.

Key features:

• 18″ LED ring light.
• Mobile phone mount and DSLR mountable.
• White and orange filters.
• Bluetooth remote control for mobiles and DSLRs.
• 

  

Top 3 softbox lights for vlogging

1. HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit Professional Studio

The HPUSN Softbox Lighting Kit is a professional-grade option for vloggers, featuring daylight-balanced 800W incandescent bulbs. This kit includes adjustable softboxes and sturdy light stands, making it ideal for creating a consistent lighting setup in any studio environment.

Key features:

• Light stands.
• AC powered.
• Adjustable softboxes.
• Daylight color-balanced 800W bulbs.
• 

  

2. PHOPIK Softbox Lighting Kit 2X20X28 inch Professional Continuous Studio

The PHOPIK Softbox Lighting Kit offers dimmable LED bulbs with a range of color temperatures, providing flexibility for various shooting conditions. The kit includes remote controls, light stands, and a carrying case, making it a portable and versatile choice for vloggers.

Key features:

• Remote controls.
• Light stands.
• Dimmable LED bulbs (3000K to 6500K).
• Carrying case.
• 

  

3. Neewer 2-Pack 2.4G LED Softbox Lighting Kit with Color Filter

The Neewer LED Softbox Lighting Kit is lightweight and portable, featuring an LED system that eliminates the need for fragile bulbs. This kit includes light stands, color filters for creative lighting effects, and a remote control, making it a robust option for any vlogging setup.

Key features:

• Light stands.
• AC powered.
• Red, yellow, and blue filters.
• One remote control.
• 

  

3 best vlogging light setups

After exploring some of the best lighting options for vlogging, it's essential to understand how to set them up effectively. Here are three common and effective lighting setups to enhance your vlogging visuals.

1. One-light setup
2. A ring light is perfect for a one-light setup, providing even illumination and appealing catchlights. Alternatively, a single softbox light or LED panel can offer more flexibility in positioning, allowing you to experiment with different angles and placements.
3. Two-light setup
4. In a two-light setup, you will use a key light and a fill light. Position the light at a 45-degree angle to the subject to create depth, and place the fill light on the opposite side to soften shadows. This setup is ideal if you don't have a third light for a more professional setup.
5. Three-point lighting

The three-point lighting setup is a staple for professional vlogging. It includes a key light to provide primary illumination, a fill light to reduce shadows, and a backlight to separate the subject from the background. This setup ensures a balanced and professional look for your vlog studio.

4 vlog lighting tips to make your vlogs stand out

1. Use natural light
2. Positioning: Film near windows or outdoors during the day. Natural light is flattering and makes your video look professional.
3. Time of Day: Golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) provides soft, warm light that enhances skin tones.
4. Invest in a ring light
5. Balanced lighting: A ring light provides even, diffused light, minimizing shadows and creating a pleasing, professional look.
6. Placement: Position the ring light around your camera for a consistent, well-lit appearance.
7. Adjust white balance
8. Consistency: Ensure your camera’s white balance is set correctly to match your light sources. This prevents unnatural color casts.
9. Manual settings: Use manual white balance settings for more control over your video's appearance.
10. Use softboxes or diffusers

Soft lighting: Softboxes or diffusers spread light more evenly, reducing harsh shadows and giving a more flattering light.

DIY options: If you’re on a budget, you can use materials like white bedsheets or shower curtains to diffuse light.

Refine vlog lighting post-production with the CapCut desktop

After recording the vlog, you can use the CapCut desktop video editor to refine it. This powerful software offers advanced editing features designed for vloggers to enhance the video's visual quality during post-production. You can adjust brightness, contrast, and color balance to achieve a polished and professional final product.



How to relight video with CapCut

For refinement of your videos, first download and install the CapCut desktop video editor by clicking the button below and running the installer.

Step
1. Import video
2. To begin, open the CapCut desktop video editor and create a new project. Import the video you wish to relight by clicking the import button. Once uploaded, drag it to the timeline.
3. 

   

Step
4. Relight the video
5. To refine the lighting of your video, navigate to the right-side toolbar, and in the "video" section, opt for the "Relight" feature. It will auto-adjust all the lighting needs of the video. You can also manually adjust various settings like saturation, temperature, exposure, and contrast to achieve the desired effect and improve the overall visual quality of your video. In addition, you can change video speed or convert long videos into short videos to make them concise for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, etc.
6. 

   

Step
7. Export and share

Once your video is finalized, proceed to the export settings. Adjust the resolution, format, codec, and bitrate as needed, then export your final video. You can now share it directly from CapCut to platforms like YouTube and TikTok.



Key features

• AI-powered light enhancements
• Utilizes AI technology to intelligently relight video scenes, especially useful in low-light conditions or unevenly lit environments.
• One-click lighting adjustment
• With one-click lighting adjustment, you can easily optimize brightness, contrast, and exposure for perfect lighting conditions.
• Environmental light matching
• Matches the lighting effects on the environment, making the added lighting look natural and consistent with the scene.
• Improved focus on the subject
• Combined with flicker remover, the relight feature ensures that the vlogger (or the main subject of the video) is always well-lit and stands out against the background, drawing viewers' attention.
• Precise color correction
• Enhances color accuracy and balance, ensuring the video looks natural and visually appealing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having the right vlogging light setup is crucial for achieving clear and refined visuals in your vlogs. Whether you opt for a simple one-light setup, a balanced two-light arrangement, or professional three-point lighting, each approach can significantly enhance the quality of your content. For the final touch, refine your vlog’s lighting in post-production with the CapCut desktop video editor. Its advanced editing features allow for light customization to ensure your vlog looks polished and professional.

FAQs

1. What is the best background light for vlogs?
2. The best background light for vlogs typically includes LED panels or softbox lights that provide even, diffused lighting to enhance the overall scene without overshadowing the subject. For post-production refinement and advanced light adjustment, use the CapCut desktop video editor, which offers extensive customization features.
3. How to get the perfect lighting for vlogging?
4. You can achieve perfect lighting for vlogs by combining key lights, fill lights, and background lights to create a balanced and professional look. Experiment with different placements and angles to find the best setup for your space. You can further enhance your lighting with the CapCut desktop video editor’s advanced tools, like relight, for a polished finish.
5. How to set up lighting for product vlogs?
6. To set up lighting for product vlogs, use a combination of key lights and fill lights to highlight the product and reduce shadows. Position lights at 45-degree angles for optimal coverage and use softbox or ring lights for even illumination. For final adjustments and professional enhancements, utilize the CapCut desktop video editor’s diverse features for light refinement.