If you work from home, chances are you’ve attended plenty of video conference calls. As remote work continues to rise in popularity, virtual meetings are here to stay. In fact, you probably have some scheduled on your calendar for the coming days ahead.
Although you no longer need to “dress to impress” in the boardroom, you still want to look your best when attending virtual meetings with your colleagues, coworkers, bosses and clients. Proper lighting in your home office can help you present yourself in a good light (see what we did there?) while making it easier for your fellow meeting attendees to see you.
Figuring out the best lighting for video conferences can be time-consuming and overwhelming. We’ve compiled a list of the best video conference lighting options below to take out the guesswork and save you time.
Best Video Conference Lighting Options
Whether you’re on a tight budget or have been given the go-ahead from your organization’s purchasing department to go “all-out” with your home office equipment, you’re sure to find what you need with one of these video conference lighting solutions:
Anker B600 All-in-One Video Bar
With its sleek, simple design, the Anker B600 keeps video conferencing lighting simple and user-friendly. The all-in-one video bar includes everything you need for a successful video conference: a high-resolution 2K webcam, flip-up light bar and dual speakers for crystal clear audio.
The compact design makes it an excellent choice for those who have a small workspace, want to cut down on cable clutter, or pack in a carry-on when traveling. Artificial intelligence technology known as “MagicSight” helps balance the brightness and color temperature of your video stream. Another unique feature is the movement tracking camera, which helps you stay in focus when you’re speaking or giving a presentation during the video conference.
Pros:
- Compact all-in-one design
- Excellent for remote work and travel
- Artificial intelligence features for video and lighting enhancements
Cons:
- Lighting isn’t as dynamic compared to stand-alone lighting options
Price: $219.99 USD
Neewer Table Top 10-inch USB LED Ring Light
We’re all familiar with how ring lights can upgrade your selfies, but did you know some models can enhance lighting for video conferences too? Neewer’s 10-inch tabletop LED ring light is an integrated light stand with a built-in smartphone holder, so you can attend your video conferences on your mobile device while on the go. It’s compact enough to fit on your desktop too without taking up too much space.
The stand can fold forward by 90 degrees, making it easy to show flat lay documents while videoconferencing. Three adjustable color modes make it easy to find your best lighting. This ring light is powered by USB, so you can plug it into a power-bank or your laptop for quick and easy startup.
Pros:
- Compact design fits on small table-tops
- Three color modes to choose from
- Phone mount for joining meetings on-the-go
Cons:
- Stand is not height adjustable
Price: $31.99 USD
CYUREAY Video Conference Lighting
If you need better lighting while attending virtual meetings from your laptop or phone but don’t want a bulky, complicated setup, this may be the lighting solution you’re looking for. Both portable and versatile, you can install the CYUREAY video conference lighting on your smartphone’s front or rear camera, mount it to a laptop or desktop, or use it as a standalone light by attaching it to a tripod.
With over 60 LED bulbs and adjustable lighting settings, this simple set-up makes it easy to adjust the brightness until your lighting is just right. There are also three color balance lighting modes: white light, warm white light and mixed light, which you can easily switch, even mid-meeting.
Charging is convenient and easy, as this lighting solution is equipped with both type-C and micro-USB charging ports.
Pros:
- User-friendly and compatible with most devices
- Integrated battery for use on-the-go
- Versatile with multiple mounting options and lighting settings
Cons:
- Limited battery life; needs frequent recharging
Price: $29.99 USD
HumanCentric Video Conference Lighting
This low-profile lighting strip is easily mounted to your desktop or laptop — using a webcam-style mount — for easy set-up and removal. The HumanCentric video conference lighting solution is stationary, so it’s generally not compatible for use with smartphones.
Position your camera (or screen), mount the light strip, and adjust the settings to look your best. Both the brightness level and color temperature (cool to warm) are adjustable so you can get ideal lighting for the room you’re in. You can daisy chain up to four of these light strips if you have a larger monitor or are joining a virtual meeting from a dark room.
Powered by USB-C (comes with an adaptor for USB-A), this low-profile light strip must be plugged in in order to power on and function.
Pros:
- Easy set-up and removal
- Low profile
- Saves space; mounts to your desktop or laptop computer
Cons:
- May need two strips if you have a large desktop or laptop or are in a dimly lit room
MSRP Price: $54.99 USD
Manfrotto Lumimuse 8 LED
Tiny but mighty (and bright), the Manfrotto Lumimuse 8 LED is perfect for those with limited space or who travel frequently and need a portable lighting solution. Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, this compact and lightweight LED light easily brightens your virtual meetings.
Prop it up on your desk or use the threaded mounting hole (compatible with many mounting options) for improved lighting during your next video conference. With built-in Bluetooth, you have the ability to control the brightness settings via a downloadable app (compatible with iOS only). You can also adjust the lighting with the push of a button on the side of the device. Snap-on color balance filters allow you to choose color temperatures from warm to cool.
Pros:
- Tiny and portable
- Built-in Bluetooth for iOS devices
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Cons:
- Snap on color balance filters may be inconvenient
MSRP Price: $120.79
Lume Cube Video Conferencing Kit
Everything you need for ideal video conference lighting is included with the Lume Cube — a powerful light with adjustable color temperature and brightness settings, white diffuser, and a built-in frosted lens. The suction cup allows you to mount your light almost anywhere — laptop, desktop monitor, the wall, or even furniture.
With outstanding light quality and a range of color temperature and brightness options, this is one of the most versatile lighting solutions available. The built-in battery has a long life that lasts for hours. For longer meetings, you can use the included USB-C to USB-A cable to connect the light panel to your computer to keep it powered so you don’t need to worry about going dark mid-way through your virtual meeting.
Pros:
- Long battery life
- Suction cup mount
- Wide variety of light/color adjustments
Cons:
No angle adjustments are possible once it is mounted
Price: $69.99 USD
Improve Video Conferences with 3-Point Lighting
Before you invest in a video conference lighting solution, you may want to take a tip from the pros and buy at least 2 light sources to ensure you have ample lighting — this is especially important if you’re frequently on video conference calls or your home office has little natural light.
One of the best ways to elevate your home office lighting for video conferencing is to use a three-point lighting setup — you’ll look both prepared and professional. The “gold standard” for video and photo production, consists of three light elements:
- Key light: placed on the right or left side of your face, this is the primary source of light
- Fill light: placed on the other side of your face, this light is to fill in any shadows cast by the key light
- Backlight: placed behind you to separate your face (what you want folks to be looking at) from the background.
This triangle-like setup is one of the most tried and true lighting techniques that will help improve your video conference experience.
