Are ring lights good for headshots? When used correctly, a ring flash can make an evenly illuminated, highly detailed headshot with minimal strain on the photographer’s arms or camera.
Of course, there’s more to utilizing a ring flash than simply turning it on. One needs to know how to position it, and more importantly, understand how to use it properly.
This article will give you the information you need to master the technique of using this amazing flash.
There are many situations where using ring lights are appropriate. For example, they can be utilized when you are photographing groups of people for promotional purposes.
You could also position it to spotlight a child’s face or even an animal. As you’ll see below, there are many other situations when this versatile light will be useful.
Are headshots really important?
Lighting a headshot has become one of the most critical elements of a professional photographer’s portfolio. Professional photo buyers are looking for photos that are of high quality, which is why they are so interested in photographer’s work.
Many amateur photographers don’t take the time to focus properly on their headshots, which is evident by the fact that so many amateur photos are poorly lit.
With so many people competing against each other to produce the best images, there is a large demand for clear and highly detailed headshots, which is why professional photographers are constantly purchasing new camera models with better lighting systems to satisfy this demand.
In order to create a flattering effect when using ring lights, you want to use one strong light with a long cord, while positioning the other few rods as far away from your face as possible. The idea is to have maximum light intensity, yet keep your subject in complete privacy.
When photographing an infant or small child, it is important to ensure the child’s pose is completely in focus.
This means that you should not place a light over the shoulder, behind the child, or above the head because these areas will become over-exposed. When selecting the angle, keep all four corners of the frame in mind so that the focus remains on the child and the surrounding area.
Don’t shine lights directly onto the subject
Another good thing to remember about positioning your lights is to never shine them directly onto the subject. While shining lights are generally not a good idea, you can use them to illuminate certain parts of the frame that may otherwise be hard to get a good photo of.
If you want to capture a child swinging, place the bracket a foot away from the front door so that you can more easily get a good shot of the motion. This is just another way to position the lights so that they make a huge difference in the outcome of the photo.
Find out how to take advantage of dimmer switches on your camera. Then you can take advantage of lighting settings to reduce the amount of light so that your subject looks as natural as possible.
How to take headshots with a ring light
Are you trying to decide on how to take headshots with a ring light? There are several different options available, but not all of them are the best.
You can actually use just the ring light in general or you can use one lens or the other. Here are some tips on how to take headshots with a ring light:
The location of your picture
One of the first things you will want to think about is where you are going to be taking the photo. It’s important that you consider where you stand so that the subject will be lit up properly in the photo.
Standing too close will make the photo dark and blurry. At the same time, standing too far away will also cause the photo to be dark and blurry. You should have a good idea as to where the photo is going to be taken before you pick up your camera.
Focus
After you’ve chosen where you are going to take the photo, you will also need to focus. This is done by turning the camera toward your target and focusing the lens.
This is similar to when you are taking a still life with normal lighting, only it is with a flash. This is important because it allows you to control the depth of field.
When you turn the camera toward your target, you will want to focus on just one area. For instance, if you are taking a close up of a flower, you will want to get as close as you possibly can to the flower and then focus on that area. Make sure that the flower is highlighted in the photo, even if it is small.
To get a photo of a wide object, you can angle the camera so that you are looking straight at the target.
This is done by turning the lens slightly to the right. You’ll want to do this for a wider target such as a picture of someone. In order to get a nice shot of the entire subject, however, you will want to turn the light to be about forty-five degrees to the right.
Getting a good photo of yourself with a ring light is not difficult. All that you have to do is follow these simple steps. You’ll be amazed at how good you can look. Once you start getting use to it, you’ll realize that there is no easier way to take headshots.
Are ring lights good for photography?
Yes, ring lights are good for achieving high-quality pictures and videos, especially when you know how to properly place it towards the subject. Most digital cameras have an option to turn the flash on when you use one of these gadgets.
That is a great feature, but not everyone wants to be bothered with that setting. For those that do, there are two good ways to use one of these ring lights on your camera.
First, you can have one handy and ready to flash as you are taking a photo and then change it to the other side when you’re done.
The second method requires that you have the ring light standing behind you, as if you are sitting in front of it, and pointing the lens at it. You have to be very close to this second method, of course, as you have to be able to use it effectively.
Illuminating the subject with ring lights
The best use of one of these ring lights for macro photography is when you are using the flash to illuminate a subject that you are not intending to light in the first place.
For instance, if you are taking a picture of a leafy tree, you want the tree to be in the center of the image, with the leaves on the sides. When you turn on the ring light, all of the leaves will be illuminated, making the tree appear larger and brighter.
This effect can be used on anything from a sunny beach to an exploding volcano. It’s perfect for both macro photography and black and white photos, because you can illuminate the subject without blowing out everything.
Another reason why it’s a good idea to use one of these ring lights for macro photography is because they make it much easier to see your work. You are able to focus much more clearly because of the ring of light surrounding your subject.
This makes it much easier for you to compose a photo without having to make hard corrections afterwards.
It also makes it easier to take an image of something that you may not be able to get a clear shot of otherwise. As long as your make-up is consistent with the color of the lighting you are using, you should be fine.
Do I need to purchase special equipment to get them working?
The answer is no. As long as you have a standard light or a plug adaptor, you can attach ring lights to any camera.
They even work great for off-camera ring flash because you can place them on whatever you are shooting without worrying about reflections or shadows.
There is really no reason to use anything other than standard plug adaptors for this kind of make-up on your camera.
Are ring flashes good for photography? While there aren’t many good reasons to use a built-in ring flash other than their convenience, some cameras have an on-camera ring light built into the camera itself.
In other words, you don’t have to purchase another light to attach to the camera. This is a good thing if you plan on using the LED ring light feature since it won’t interfere with shooting in any way.
If you like taking videos and know that you want to keep the make-up simple, you might want to try a basic softbox instead of getting a fancier model with more features.
You will still get plenty of lighting control from it and the ability to adjust white balance, so the quality of the video will always be high.
Summary
Another good thing about softboxes is that they have tons of other uses other than lighting up your face while you’re recording.
You can place them around or under water to make dramatic videos, and they can also be used for interviews, which makes it perfect for videography.
If you aren’t a professional at videography and just want to do something fun with your favorite subjects for fun and learning, then these types of softbox models will serve your purposes perfectly!
