Lighting Hacks: Never Join Another Zoom Meeting Without These Products and Tips

Key Points

• Using natural light is the best lighting hack for Zoom meetings.
• Avoid backlighting to ensure your face is well-lit.
• Bounce indirect lighting off a white wall to eliminate shadows and glare from glasses.
• Fluorescent and incandescent lights should be turned off or replaced for better video quality.
• Position yourself facing a soft white artificial light source for optimal appearance on screen.
• Consider adding a circle light or LED light panel for improved lighting setups.

While Zoom is easy to use and most computers and laptops have a basic camera that allows some quality adjustments for live video, just sitting in front of a webcam without using some helpful lighting hacks has some disadvantages. Notably, the wrong lighting setup can make you look ridiculous. Too much light highlights every imperfection on your face while too many shadows make you look like Grandpa Sam on The Munsters.

Although introduced before the pandemic, Zoom hit its stride and rose to the forefront of personal and business life due to the worldwide shutdowns. Everyone scrambled to find a way to connect, from homeschooling to business to visiting with family. Zoom had the simple answer — the now-immensely-popular video conference. All of a sudden, we learned how tricky it can be to look good on video.

Everyone wants to look their best in social situations, and using Zoom for a preplanned video conference allows you to make prior arrangements that enhance how you appear on-screen. Do you have an important online meeting coming up soon? Never join another Zoom meeting without these lighting hacks.

Lighting Hacks Can Make a Better Impression

Why is lighting important for your Zoom video meeting? Of course, being seen is the main idea behind setting up a video meeting instead of a phone call. Seeing who you are talking with adds a much higher level of personalization and enhances communication. How many times have you misunderstood an email, text message, or even a comment over the phone? Video allows you to pick up on body language, facial expressions, and more that add immeasurably to the conversation.

How you appear on screen, then, is critically important. A shadowy figure implies you have something to hide or you don’t care about making a good impression. Background elements that either poorly reflect light or absorb it can take away from the overall viewing and meeting experience. Too much light from the wrong direction can make viewing difficult for your meeting participants and detract from good communication.

You can incorporate a few simple lighting hacks to create a clear, well-lit, and non-reflective setting that places you at the center of attention for the meeting. Zoom participants can easily focus on the business at hand, and you come across as neat, professional, and personable. Simply put, good lighting is vital to good communication.

Lighting Hacks for Zoom Video Meetings

How do you create the best lighting setup for Zoom video meetings? There are many lighting hacks and options to create the best-lit scenario for your next video conference, and most you can do without breaking the bank. Maximize your current environment and take advantage of lighting options in your chosen meeting space. Then seek ways you can add upgrades to create the perfect setting that enhances your appearance. Here are some popular lighting hacks for Zoom video meetings.

Learn How Types of Light Appear on Video

Light colorization is expressed in temperatures. Different forms of artificial light have different color temperatures and appear differently on screen.

• Natural light – Color temperature varies throughout the day but is best just after sunrise or before sunset. Even a cloudy day can provide significant light for video.
• Fluorescent – Ever wonder why photographers despise fluorescent lights? They generally cause a green tint in pictures and videos.
• Incandescent lights – These popular bulbs cause a yellow hue on live video.
• LED – These modern lights cast a blue hue that is less noticeable on video but still makes a difference.

Zoom video from most computer cameras can be unforgiving when these types of lighting are dominant. We advise turning off fluorescent and incandescent lights when possible. You may also want to replace yellowing light bulbs with these DAYBETTER Smart Light Bulbs. They are dimmable and adjustable to create the perfect lighting for any situation.

Create the Perfect Lighting

DAYBETTER Smart Light Bulbs

$14.99 ($3.75 / Count)

• Bluetooth light bulbs can be controlled with the app
• LED color-changing bulbs with 16 million colors to choose from
• Synchronize the lights to music
• 120V 9W 800 lumens
• Dimmable with a range from 2700 - 6500K

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12/03/2023 04:26 pm GMT

Use Natural Light Where Possible

Natural light is the number one lighting hack. Nature provides the best light source for almost everything, and that includes Zoom video meetings; however, you must take care how you use it. Too much light, too little light, or light in the wrong place can create problems. For example, sitting in front of a window with the sun beaming through leaves your face in shadows. If your outdoor garden behind you is more viewable than you are, you need to adjust your setting.

Avoid backlighting with any source of light. Position how you sit before the camera so the main light source hits your face. Arranging your meeting time so you get the best light is preferable but not always possible. You can hang sheer curtains like these from MYSTIC-HOME over a window facing the sun to diffuse brighter light and create a softer look.

Remember that as the seasons change, you will have to work with variable levels of natural light, so positioning is key.

Allows Natural Light Without Compromising Privacy

MYSTIC-HOME Sheer White Curtains

$8.55

• Rod pocket voile drapes
• Semi-sheer
• 52 inches wide and 63 inches in length
• Also available in 45-inch, 63-inch, 84-inch, 95-inch panels
• Available in 12 colors

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12/03/2023 05:21 pm GMT

Bounce Indirect Lighting

“Bouncing” light to create an indirect lighting source for video is a simple lighting hack you can do in almost any space. The goal is to bounce light across your face to chase away any shadows. This is a good idea if you wear glasses. Eyeglasses tend to catch and reflect lighting poorly and create a glare. Place a dimmable white light source off to the side and angle it toward a white wall so the light hits your face. Play with the angle until your eyes are seen clearly through your glasses on camera, and there is no glare.

You can also hang a piece or two of these white foam boards from Evadow on the wall out of sight to bounce the light. It becomes a diffuser that softens the light.

Bounce Light with These Foam Boards

20Pack Foam Core Board

$18.99

• 11" x 15" and 3/16-inch thick
• Polystyrene foam core covered with 2 sheets of matte plastic on both sides
• Smooth surfaces
• Easy to cut
• Lightweight but strong

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12/03/2023 05:21 pm GMT

Add Circle Lighting

Ring or circle lights provide excellent lighting for Zoom video meetings. The ring provides a full 360 degrees of white light that can be angled precisely where you need it. Ring lights create even lighting that eliminates shadows in the hollows of your face when placed in front of you. Or they can be used for softer lighting when bounced onto your face from the side.

Ring lights come in all sizes and with multiple features according to your budget. Consider your setting for Zoom meetings:

Do you travel or work from multiple locations? This small, portable clip-on Video Conference Lighting Kit from Selfila is perfect to slip into a travel case or computer bag.

Great Lighting Solution for Travel

Video Conference Lighting Kit Clip-On Ring Lights

$23.98

• 3200k-6500K dimmable LED ring light
• Clips on to laptop or monitor, 1.35-inch max clip width
• 5 brightness levels
• Connect via USB

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12/03/2023 06:21 pm GMT

Do you only occasionally participate in Zoom meetings from home? Yarrashop’s portable USB-powered Desktop Ring Light with a stand is a good option.

Perfect Lighting for Your Desktop

Desktop Ring Light for Zoom Meetings

$33.98

• 10.5-inch right light with stand and phone holder
• 120 LED bulbs with 3 color modes
• USB-powered
• Stand adjusts from 22-inches to 29-inches
• Phone holder fits smartphones up to 3.35 inches

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12/03/2023 06:21 pm GMT

Are you frequently hosting Zoom video conferences from the same location? More expensive models have tripods, height adjustments, dimmable lights, and other customization options that may better fit your setting. We recommend this large standup Computer Ring Light by Yarrashop for permanent video conferencing setups.

Sturdy Lighting for Home or Office

Desktop Computer Ring Light

$29.74

• 8-inch ring light rotates 360° for the perfect angle
• Includes stand and universal holder
• Stand is adjustable from 18 inches to 24 inches
• 3 color temperature lighting modes and 10 brightness levels
• USB-powered

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12/03/2023 06:25 pm GMT

Professional bloggers, YouTubers, and online conference leaders may want to go all out and invest in this 18-inch Ring Light Kit from NEEWER. It provides dimmable LED lighting on a tripod stand, a carry case, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Excellent Lighting Kit for Professionals

NEEWER 18-Inch Ring Light Kit

$88.99

• 240 LED lights, 55W
• White and orange filter sets
• Dimmable with a range from 1%-100% up to 5600K
• 61-inch light stand
• Hot shoe adapter for phones and cameras
• Includes charger with US/EU plug and carrying bag

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12/03/2023 06:25 pm GMT

Add LED Panel Lighting

LED panel lights are a portable light source when you need extra ambient lighting for Zoom video meetings in a darker setting. Cheaper versions simply provide steady white LED light and can be moved around to discover the best effect.

More versatile models feature adjustable brightness and colors, and some are Wi-Fi-compatible for quick adjustments with your smartphone. LED panel lights can be battery-powered or plugged into a nearby outlet and can range in size from small to larger stand-mounted sets.

This dimmable and adjustable 2-Pack LED Video Light Kit from NiceVeedi has everything you need to create the ultimate Zoom video meeting space in your home or office.

Add Additional Ambient Lighting

NiceVeedi 2-Pack LED Studio Light Kit

$54.99

• Dimmable with a range of 2800-6500K
• Light panels rotate 180°
• 3 color temperatures
• Adjustable tripod stand for each light panel, 28 inches and 60 inches
• USB and USB Type-C adapters

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12/03/2023 06:25 pm GMT

Lighting Hacks You Should Know for a Better Zoom Meeting

Summary Table

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