Lighting affects the video a lot, and if you're a vlogger wanting to grow your followers, the goal is to maintain it professional-looking and consistent. Vlogging LED light is a good choice. It gives you more control over the vlog lighting and is portable for outdoor use. In this article, we will focus on its benefits, how to choose the best one, and how to set it up for good visuals.
What are the benefits of using LED light for vlogging?
Using LED light for vlogging brings the following benefits:
LEDs are versatile and give more control over vlogging lighting.
LED lights are adjustable at color temperature and brightness level, giving vloggers lots of versatility. They enable vloggers to simply accomplish their desired lighting effects, whether it's mimicking natural daylight, producing a warm and inviting environment, or striking a scary tone. Dimmable LEDs provide vloggers great control over lighting intensity, allowing them to achieve the ideal combination of highlights and shadows.
Vlogging LED light is portable for outdoor recording.
LED lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them extremely portable and adaptable. LED lights are simple to move to numerous filming sites, whether it's an inside set or an outdoor scenario in a distant area. This adaptability allows vloggers to experiment and modify their lighting setup to meet the specific needs of each scenario, resulting in visually appealing shots.
It is energy efficient and eco-friendly.
LED lights are well-known for their energy efficiency, requiring far less electricity than other lighting solutions. This lower power use saves vloggers money on electricity bills and reduces their carbon impact. Vloggers may illuminate their filming locations with LED lights without worrying about excessive energy or heat buildup.
How to choose the best vlogging LED light: Four factors to consider
You need to consider the color temperature, power output, size, portability, and features when choosing vlogging LED light.
Color temperature: This is the Kelvin (K) scale used to indicate the how cool and warm the light is. The color temperature range of the majority of LED lights is 3000K to 6000K, which spans the range from warm yellow to cool blue. Additionally, there is RGB LED light offering RGB (red, green, and blue) modes that let you adjust the light's color to any desired effect. The mood and tone of your vlogs is influenced by the color temperature, so you need to select the one that can create your target effect.
Power output: This refers to the brightness level, measured in lux or lumens. The higher the power output, the more light it offers. However, increased output equals more power consumption and heat creation, which might reduce battery life and light durability. You should select a light with sufficient brightness to illuminate your subject and scene, but not so much that it creates overexposure or glare.
Size and portability: This indicates how big and heavy the light is, as well as how simple it is to transport and put up. The size and mobility of the light are determined by its design and characteristics, such as its shape, battery supply, mount, and accessories. You should select portable LED lights for vlogging that are compatible with your camera and vlogging setup and that you can easily move and use in a variety of locales and scenarios.
Features and functions: This implies how adaptable and user-friendly the light is, as well as the additional options and controls it provides. Dimming, diffusion, filters, remote control, wireless connectivity, lighting effects, and memory settings are some functions and features to look for in an LED light. These might assist you in adjusting and customizing the light to meet your vlogging requirements and preferences.
How to set it up: Three common setups for good illumination
Here are three common setups that you can choose from according to the number of light sources you want to use.
If you use one vlogging LED light
An LED ring light for vlogging is a good choice if you want to use only one fixture for the content creation. It illuminates the subject and the scene with even lighting spread, avoids ugly shadows, and creates appealing catchlights in the subjects’ eyes. It is also affordable and simple to use. Position it around the camera, set it at eye level, select the suitable color temperature and brightness, and you can start your vlog recording.
If you use two LED lights for vlogging
There are several ways to get a two-light setup for vlogging, depending on your desired effect and mood.
Using key and fill lights is the most common setup. The key light is the primary light source to illuminate your face and the subject of your vlogs. It is placed at a 45-degree angle from the camera and is a little above the eye level. The fill light works to reduce the shadows. It is positioned at the opposite side, at a lower height than key light with softer illumination.
Another choice is to use backlight and fill light. The backlight is a light that glows behind you, separating you from the backdrop and providing a halo look. The fill light shines in front of you, keeping your face from being too dark. You can place the backlight behind or to the side of the subject and set it at different colors and brightness to achieve various effects.
If you want a three-light setup for professional look in vlogs
This is a common technique to create a professional and cinematic look for your vlogs. It involves using a key light, a fill light, and a backlight. Here are some steps to follow:
As aforementioned, The key light is the primary light source to illuminate your face and the subject of your vlogs. This vlogging LED light is placed at a 45-degree angle from the camera and is a little above the eye level. You can use a softbox or a ring light to soften the light and prevent sharp shadows.
The fill light can reduce the shadows and contrast caused by the key one. It is placed on the other side of the camera, at the same height and angle as the key. It should be at half of the intensity. You can use an actual fixture or a reflector to do this work.
The backlight sits on the same side of the camera as the key one. However, it is behind the vlogger and points towards the camera.