How to set up lighting for video conferencing

Are you the person on a video call who looks darker than others? Well, it might be time to tweak the lighting for video conferencing. The rise of remote work and demand for virtual meetings, online presentations, and countless video conferences have led to having the right lighting at home.

Poor lighting often leads to shadowy, washed-out images that look unprofessional. The solution is good lighting and here’s how to set up lighting for video conferencing.

Light for video calls: How to get the best setup

Many people eventually realise how terrible the webcam on their laptop is for video conferencing. While a dedicated webcam can improve your appearance on video calls, using the best lighting setup for video conferencing will make you look crisp, clear, and professional. Here’s how to appear in the best light during your next video call:

Use natural light

One of the easiest ways to improve how you look on video calls is to use natural light. Even when there is plenty of natural light, people often make the mistake of not positioning it correctly. To get the best setup for video conferencing, face a window so that natural light illuminates your face evenly. 

ALSO READ: How to turn your smartphone into a webcam

To make sure that you don’t look dark or hard to see, avoid sitting with your back to a window as it will create a silhouette effect. If the natural light is too harsh, use a curtain or blinds to diffuse it and create a softer look.

Use artificial lighting

If you don’t have consistent natural light, you can use artificial lighting to brighten your look during video conferencing. Here’s how:

• LED Ring Lights: The most popular method to add artificial lighting to your video conferencing setup is to use LED ring lights. They provide soft, even lighting and can reduce shadows.
• Softbox lights: A more professional solution is softbox lights, which are perfect for professional video calls and provide natural-looking light.
• Desk lamps: You can also opt for desk lamps with warm white bulbs for better lighting but make sure that you position them at eye level or slightly above for a crisper look.

Adjust colour temperature

For a natural appearance, use warm white or daylight-balanced bulbs with colour temperature between 5000K to 6500K. You should avoid using lights that are too yellow or too blue since they can make your skin tone look unnatural.

Use three-point lighting

For the best lighting setup for video conferencing, choose a three-point lighting system. Here’s how it works:

• Key Light: This is your main light and must be positioned in front of you.
• Fill Light: This is a softer light that needs to be placed to the side to reduce harsh shadows.
• Back Light: This is the light behind you that creates depth and separation from the background.

ALSO READ: How to use your iPhone as a webcam: A step-by-step guide

While the above lighting system is the easiest way for a great lighting setup for video conferencing, you need to avoid overhead lights and shadows for the best result. If you wear glasses, position your lights at an angle to avoid reflections and reduce screen brightness to reduce glare from your computer screen. 

From small tweaks to using professional lighting, you can completely change your appearance on video conferencing or virtual meetings.