Have you ever considered why you and your content are not looking good enough in your YouTube videos?
Usually, people think that they need to buy a brand new camera with a better and more expensive lens, but most of the time, it’s not enough.
Well, most of the time, it depends on the lighting. Due to this, we created a perfect guide and ultimate list of best lighting for YouTube videos.
The lighting is one of the main things you need to think about if you want to have a high-quality YouTube video! Let’s analyze how to get good lighting for YouTube videos and make a perfect vlog.
We are sharing with you an extremely well-prepared review of lighting kits for YouTube videos and a Buyer’s Guide.
Importance of Lighting for YouTube Videos
First of all, a good YouTube lighting setup is the main factor that you need to know if you want good quality content.
It doesn’t depend only on the camera and lenses because, with good lighting, you can shoot a decent video or picture even from a smartphone.
Besides, you need good lighting for your YouTube videos because it is an important quality factor, especially if you want your videos to look high-quality, gain many subscribers, and even monetize YouTube videos.
It could be hard for beginners to choose the lighting, but we will try to provide you with essential information in this article.
Best Lighting Equipment for YouTube Videos
| Name | Quick Information | Check |
|---|---|---|
Neewer Ring Light Kit - Editor's Choice | Professional Lighting Equipment | Price |
Neewer 160 LED - Editor's Choice | Best for On-The-Go Vlogging | Price |
| Best Portable Background Light for YouTubers | Price | |
| Best for Indoor Photography, Videography | Price | |
| Best Budget On Camera Light | Price | |
| Best Lighting Equipment for Fashion and Beauty Videos | Price | |
| Budget-Friendly Lighting Equipment for Live Streaming on YouTube | Price | |
| Recommended YouTube Video Lighting Kit for Semi-Professionals | Price |
1. Neewer Ring Light Kit: 18″/48cm – Best YouTube Lighting Kit for All Type of Videos
This Neewer kit includes LED ring-type light, light stand, soft tube, white and orange color filter, an adapter, and carrying bag.
This ring light is very comfortable, lightweight and portable; therefore, you can bring it everywhere with you.
This LED light kit includes an adapter that is suitable for most DSLR cameras and cell phones. Also, the stand of this ring light is made from an alloy that provides strength in standing.
Besides, in the kit, you will find some warm yellow and white filters to change the light color of the ring light if it’s needed.
So if you are looking for a portable and good quality ring light that makes amazing lighting for all types of vlogs, this is an affordable and the best choice. Moreover, it is easy to set up and very easy to use.
Needless to say, that ring lights are one of the most popular lighting equipment for creating YouTube videos.
2. Neewer 160 LED – Best Portable Vlogging Light
Portable Neewer 160 Led lighting creates an even and diffused light by eliminating all the shadows to make a perfect picture or YouTube video.
It gets better:
This kit can be attached to almost every DSLR camera. If your camera doesn’t have a holder, it fits on every tripod as well. As a result, you can carry this lighting kit wherever you go.
Moreover, it has 160 super-bright LED lights that can be adjusted according to our needs while vlogging.
The color temperature is 5600K (3200K w/ filter), including the spotlight and diffuse effect.
The best thing is the price – which is super affordable for every vlogger!
3. UBeesize LED Video Light Kit – Best Portable Background Light for YouTubers
What is your ideal lighting kit – one which would stay put for like forever, or one which you could carry around even though it includes all essentials and is as good as an ideal lighting kit?
Well, if you’ decide to go with the second option, UbeeSize has the perfect lighting kit for you.
With UbeeSize LED Light Kit, you don’t have to compromise on mobility, quality, professionalism, etc. Yes, this lighting kit is an incredible value for the price.
If you are a fan of aesthetics and want to be creative and versatile with your content, you’re going to love the five color filters that it comes with. It allows you to change the lighting color by changing the filter depending on the situation and mood. Particularly for game streamers, they are ideal.
Ubeesize LED light Kit also includes 2 durable, metallic yet lightweight, retractable tripods which may be used for multiple purposes, e.g. general lighting, vlogging, and video shooting.
Additionally, the little ball head on each tripod enables you to effortlessly focus light at any angle following your shooting direction.
Also, the 3000 mAh battery offers a good power backup of 2-3 hours at the highest light power. Battery life increases as you reduce the light intensity.
But hold on, the light flooding might not be ideal for someone looking for details and perfection. It can look a bit artificial at high intensities, but it’s still much better quality than anticipated at this price, and a beginner wouldn’t even notice it.
In a nutshell, Ubeesize LED video light kit might be your best bet if your budget is tight, but not the perfect lighting kit if you have more bucks to invest.
4. Fovitec – 3x 20″x28″ Softbox – Perfect Lighting Kit for Indoor Studio Vlogging or Photography
First of all, this lighting kit is perfectly suitable for beginners and professionals at the same time.
It includes two square softboxes that are easily adjustable. Simply push the center of the light, and the softbox will take its best shape and lock it into place safely.
This Fovitec Softbox Lighting kit will deliver a soft and well-balanced light for your YouTube videos. The light bulbs are economical, so it will reduce your electrical cost, sounds good, right?
Almost all reliable lighting kits maximize your energy bills because the light bulbs are solid and powerful with the same function as these.
If you are looking for affordable lighting for your photo and personal vlogging studio, this Fovitec Softbox Lighting Kit is perfect for you.
Even if you are a beginner, this is one of the best softbox lighting kits for YouTube videos.
5. VL-81 Led Light – Best Budget On Camera Light
Small size, high intensity, and affordability – it sums up VL-81 LED Light.
If you travel a lot, don’t have a formal workplace, or need to switch your workplace every now and then, VL-81 LED is a must-have for you, no matter as your primary lighting kit or a secondary lighting kit.
Arguably the best portable light on the market, smaller than the size of your hand and lightweight, it isn’t less than a savior in certain situations.
Interestingly, it produces a light quality that is almost flawless, thanks to its excellent softbox, giving the light a more natural touch. In this price, we couldn’t find a better option with considering the light flooding!
In case you decide to purchase extra lights, it comes with a triple cold shoe mount which allows you to mount 3 LED lights, and an additional light using a clip or a microphone on it.
In fact, if you want a long-term solution to your lighting problems, it’s actually recommended to get a trio of these lights and mount them on the triple cold shoe mount, it does wonders!
You can also position the light above your camera, giving you more control over the video and lighting quality simultaneously.
The plus point is, you no longer need a studio or a formal setup with this VL-81, unlike the traditional lighting kits. It works everywhere – outdoors, indoors, in the bedroom, and definitely, in your studio. You can simply carry it wherever you want, just like a DSLR camera!
In short, VL-81 is perhaps the best portable lon camera lighting for YouTube videos, coming with good light intensity yet a short size. The only shortcoming is its size, since it’s not designed to be used with tripods or a professional setup. However, if not as primary lighting, it can still be your go-to secondary lighting.
6. Bicolor Dimmable LED Lights – Best Affordable Lighting Kit for a Professional Makeup Vlogger
Light up your beauty!
Admit the fact that the “halo” looking eyes are looking beautiful in the pictures and YouTube videos.
Ever wonder how it is made? Yes, you are right. With a ring light!
This lighting kit is an excellent option if you are filming makeup YouTube videos or just taking simple selfies.
This ring light reduces skin imperfections, also makes makeup colors pop, and gives the face a fresh, clean look. Controlling the light in this kit is easy.
You can set up the brightness from 0% to 100% according to your needs. You can also put this ring light everywhere you want because it comes with a table stand, 2 meters long power line – everything is under your control.
Besides, this kit is easy to set up, so you do not need to be a professional photographer to know how to use your lighting kit. This Bicolor Dimmable LED Ring Light Kit is suitable for most DSLR cameras and 55-75 mm smartphones.
The Kit comes with a ring light, light stand, tabletop stand, smartphone holder, 100v-240v AC power adapter, ¼ inch screw thread tip adapter, portable bag, and 2-year warranty.
Don’t overthink that you need a professional lighting kit if you want to create high-quality pictures or videos; a simple ring light kit might be a perfect option at the beginning or even for a professional.
7. Selfie Ring Light with Phone Holder – Recommended Lighting Equipment for Live Streaming on YouTube
This Ring Light is multi-usable because you can take it everywhere with you and make a good picture or, as we thought, do streaming sessions on your phone.
You will also be able to take a beautiful picture or a good video shot at night or in dark areas.
This ring light is flexible because it comes 24 inches long and has a strong, adjustable arm that can bend to any shape.
Apart from this, the ring light has 3 light colors – white, warm yellow, and warm white and 10 levels of brightness so you can easily adjust the right light for your photos and videos.
Also, the light is easy to use and control, no battery is needed as it is USB powered and works well with most of the devices – phones, laptops, and power banks. This Selfie Ring Light Kit is adjustable to almost all smartphones and has a non-slip rubber backing clip.
Selfie Ring Light is a great option if you do not want to have big lighting kits and want to have great pictures or videos on the go. This is a small ring light with the same high-quality lighting for the best quality of YouTube videos and photos.
8. Full Neewer Background Support System and Lighting Kit – Recommended YouTube Video Lighting Kit for Semi-Professionals
If you already have a vlogging studio, making daily vlogs and facing a lack of good lighting – this kit might be the best option for you.
Neewer Lighting Kit comes with a 79” light stand, single headlight holder, 45W daylight bulb, 33” white umbrella light, 24×24” softbox light, 10×20 feet Muslin Backdrop, 6 backdrop clamps, 8.5x 10 feet backdrop support system, carrying bag for a background support system, carrying bag for lighting kit, with a 1-year warranty.
It is full lighting equipment for you, which will be required to create amazing content on YouTube!
Most of my colleagues already have this kit in their studio, and it is worth every penny.
This kit is safe to use, easy to adjust, and you do not need to be a professional. Just follow up on the instructions, and you will build your very first photo studio.
The backdrops are made from 100% muslin – it is a cotton fabric of plain weave. The backdrop can be machine washable, and it is made of lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabric. You can also adjust the backdrop to the height of a person or an item that you are shooting or making a video of.
The kit includes a white umbrella light with light bulbs to make soft-looking photos or YouTube videos. 5500K fluorescent spiral bulb generates a close match to natural lighting to create high-quality photos, videos without any shadows.
No matter if you are starting your vlog studio for filming YouTube videos in the home, basement, or garage, or you already have a studio this full lighting kit is a perfect way to increase the quality of your vlogs. If you are unsure you can handle everything yourself, follow the instructions. Really – one of the best home-type lighting kits for YouTubers.
Types of Lighting for YouTube Videos
When you learn about types of lighting for your videos, you will never again face any video quality issues and will know what exactly to look for in your channel.
Softbox Lights
These lights come in different shapes, but usually, they have the shape of square or rectangular.
The softbox lights are the same as it is named – a soft and reflective box surrounds a light bulb. These lights are most suitable for indoor YouTube videos.
It can be used for review-type videos, room vlogging, or podcasts.
Softbox lighting features:
- Uses diffusion light panels to create natural light;
- Wide, flat coverage;
- It comes in many shapes and sizes;
- Inside it is silver or a white surface to reflect the light;
- Requires a basic but easy setup;
- This Softbox light is the best if you want to shoot a home-type vlog, also if you like to do a product review on your YouTube channel.
Umbrella Lights
These lights are almost the most popular lighting for YouTube videos, and they are suitable for any subject.
Umbrella lights come in two types: reflective type and shoot-through type.
Umbrella lighting features:
- It is like an umbrella with a shoot-through function;
- If your umbrella light is more curved – it can produce better lighting;
- It comes in various sizes and can be bendable like a standard umbrella;
- The reflective surface comes in gold, silver, or white;
- These lights are an affordable and easy option for beginners;
- Best for indoor vlogging.
Ring Lights
Ring lights are the most popular lights for beginners or makeup artists.
These lights create the most smooth lighting and are very affordable for many YouTube content creators.
These lights also create a “halo” catchlight in the eyes, and it looks really nice in the YouTube videos.
The lights are straightforward to set up – just put in the power socket and place it in front of yourself or the object that you want to film.
Ring lighting features:
- Uses ring-type bulb;
- Eliminates most of the shadow that appears in the videos;
- Creates “halo” catchlights for the eyes in the videos;
- It comes in various sizes;
- Very easy to set up;
- Best for beauty, makeup videos.
We even looked at the best ring lights individually here.
LED On-Camera Lights
LED on-camera lights come in different shapes and sizes. The most popular forms of on-camera lights are square and rectangular.
They are usually being mounted on the top of the camera or placed somewhere near. They can be perfectly used for on-the-go type vlogs or standard daily vlogging.
This type of light is usually more affordable than softboxes, umbrellas, and ring lights. The price often depends on the power of the lights.
LED on-camera lights features:
- Uses many small LED bulbs;
- Creates even and direct lighting;
- It comes in different shapes, sizes;
- Customizable power and color temperature;
- Portable and battery-operated;
- Best for vlogging on-the-go.
How to Use a Lighting Kit?
Moving on from the list of the best lighting kits, let’s talk about how to use it on your vlogs?
First of all, ask yourself a few questions before setting up the lighting kit:
- Where will you be taking photos or videos?
- What will you be shooting?
These two questions and the answers to them are the two main factors that you need to consider before setting up your lighting kit.
7 Tips on How to Use and Setup a Lighting Kit Perfectly
1. Measure Your Needs
If you want to have a high-quality YouTube video or a good photo, you need to consider how many and what kind of lights you need. Think about how you want to light your subject and its background.
- One-light setup is the most suitable for beginners, and it provides a shadowy background.
- A two-light setup is a good starting point because one light will be like a key/main light, and the second one will be a filling light.
- Three-light and four-light setups are more for advanced photographers when they know how to make a good video or picture.
About the types of lighting we already discussed in the first paragraph.
2. Tripod or C-stand
The key light must be behind the object or person you are taking the photo or video of.
The key light must be off the camera, or if it is on its own, you must have a tripod stand or a c-stand. The tripod stand is made from aluminum and is lightweight. C-stands are more durable, but it is not suitable for outdoor shooting because of their weight.
Also, you can add a boom arm that can be used as a hair light holder. The leading light adds a highlight to the subject.
3. Background
Don’t forget to add the fill light to the background.
The fill light’s purpose is to fill in some shadows without blocking the main object. Set this fill light directly in front of the subject and make sure that the light is standing lower than the key light.
If you want more shadows, then you can place the fill light slightly lower than the key light.
4. Backlighting
Take care of backlighting – you need to set up the hair light.
It separates the background from the main subject of which you are taking the photo or video. If you want to have specific background lighting in your picture or video, then don’t use the hair light.
Also, you can adjust the hair light according to the effect that you want to get. Besides, you can use reflectors, which reflect the light from the object or eliminate the shadows made from the key/main lights. They can be in yellow, silver, or white colors.
5. Movement
Once you have all the lighting setup, start to move them back and forward, up and down, to get that perfect lighting for your photos or YouTube videos.
6. Power of Lights
Play with the power of the lights and decide what type of lighting you want to use. Maybe you do not need the full power of your lighting, and the minimum will be enough. It is up to you.
7. Distance
Also, playing with the angles and distance with your umbrella and softbox lights is important. When you find out how to use your lighting kit, then you can get high-quality YouTube videos.
Do not worry; everything comes with practice.
- Simply play with the lights, learn their features, and you will be able to get that perfect angle and make good content for your YouTube channel.
- Do research on the internet, which can tell you which lights are a good kit when they are together.
- Also, if you want to buy a lighting kit, consider if you will have a space to put them because maybe they are adjustable, but a few lights will take some space.
Recommendation
In conclusion, it is advisable to shop around the deals and don’t buy a lighting kit that is not suitable for you and is expensive.
I guess that at the starting point for you, it will be enough of just one simple ring light or attached portable lighting.
Then you can build up your kit and after a while, when you have more experience in shooting YouTube videos, taking pictures, etc.
Glen Beker
I am Glen and I’m a 100% tech-addicted guy, Blogger, Video Editor and Entrepreneur. I spent a lot of my time learning how to properly edit videos, I've tested a lot of vlogging equipment and now with my team, I share all these tips with you.
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