A ring light is a circular LED lamp that provides even, shadow-free illumination - one of the most popular lighting tools in photography, video and streaming. Its circular shape produces even, shadow-free light and the distinctive round catchlight in the eyes - which is why the LED ring light has become standard kit for influencers, makeup artists and product photographers. But does it genuinely work for everything?
You can find ring lights on the UK market from around 6 GBP to over 190 GBP - varying in size, power, colour temperature and build quality. In this guide we explain how a ring light works, what it is suited to (and what it is not), which size to choose, and whether it is worth buying one instead of a softbox. All from the perspective of a product photography studio that tests lighting equipment every day.
What is a ring light and how does it work
An LED ring light is a light source shaped like a circle, made up of dozens or hundreds of LED diodes arranged evenly around its circumference. Because of this, light falls on the subject from all directions simultaneously, which minimises shadows and delivers soft, even lighting for photography.
The key feature of a ring light is the circular catchlight - a ring-shaped specular highlight visible in the eyes of a photographed person or on shiny product surfaces. This effect is instantly recognisable and associated with professional beauty and portrait photography.
How ring lighting works
You place your camera or phone in the central opening of the light - the lens "looks" through the middle of the ring. This means light falls evenly from every direction around the lens, eliminating shadows under the chin, nose and around the product. That is the fundamental difference compared with a side-mounted lamp, which always casts a shadow on the opposite side.
Adjustable colour temperature and brightness
Most modern LED ring lights let you adjust:
- Colour temperature - from warm (~3200K, yellowish) to cool (~5600K, white daylight). For ring light for product photography, 5000-5600K is ideal
- Brightness (dimmer) - from 10% to 100%. Lets you match intensity to the distance from the subject
- Colour modes - some models offer RGB modes for creative effects
What is a ring light good for
Beauty photography and makeup
This is the ring light's natural habitat. Even lighting for photography of the face eliminates under-eye shadows, evens out skin tone and highlights makeup. The circular catchlight in the eyes adds sparkle and life to portraits. That is why every makeup artist and beauty influencer has a ring light for makeup as their primary tool.
Video calls and streaming
Smaller LED ring lights (10-12 inches) mounted on a desk or clipped onto a monitor are standard for remote work. They even out facial lighting on camera, eliminate dark shadows from ceiling lights and make you look professional on Zoom, Teams or Google Meet. A ring light for laptop costs around 8-15 GBP.
TikTok, Instagram, vlogging
A selfie ring light is most commonly a 10-14 inch ring light with a phone holder on a tripod. It gives clean, flattering light on the face and is compact enough to sit on a desk. For recording vertical video (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) a ring light for phone is perfect - provided you are filming yourself, not products.
Product photography - small items
A ring light for product photography works well with small, reflective items: jewellery, watches, cosmetics, electronics. The even light from the ring does not create harsh reflections on metal and glass. But it has limitations - more on those in the section below.
Ring light vs softbox - which to choose for product photography
This is the most common question when choosing lighting. The answer depends on what you are photographing:
| Criterion | Ring light | Softbox |
|---|---|---|
| Type of light | Frontal, shadow-free, flat | Directional, with controlled shadow |
| Best for | Faces, beauty, jewellery, selfie | Clothing, furniture, large products, packshot |
| Catchlight | Circular ring in the eyes | Rectangular or square |
| Depth / modelling | Minimal - image appears flat | Good - emphasises shape and texture |
| Coverage area | Small to medium (faces, small products) | Large (from shoes to furniture) |
| Price (entry-level) | 10-28 GBP | 19-57 GBP (with lamp) |
| Portability | Light, easy to transport | Larger, requires a stand |
Verdict: For serious product photography, the softbox wins. It gives you control over shadow and modelling, which highlights the shape and texture of your product. A ring light works as a supplementary fill light or as the sole source for small items and selfies. For more lighting techniques, see our guide to natural light photography.
How to choose the best ring light - buyer's guide
Size - 10, 14 or 18 inches?
- 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) - desktop, ring light for laptop, video calls, selfie. Compact and portable. From 6 GBP
- 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) - versatile. TikTok, YouTube, beauty photography, small products. The optimal choice. From 15 GBP
- 18 inches (45 cm) - professional. Wide light coverage, beauty studios, portrait sessions. From 38 GBP
What to look for when buying a ring light
- CRI (Colour Rendering Index) - minimum 95+. Low CRI distorts colours - a disaster for product photography
- Colour temperature adjustment - look for a range of 3200-5600K with a smooth dimmer. Without this you cannot adapt to conditions
- Tripod / stand - check whether it is included. A separate ring light with tripod stand costs 8-19 GBP. Some kits come with a tripod and phone holder
- Power supply - mains (stable, more powerful) vs USB (portable, weaker). For studio work - mains. For mobile sessions - USB or battery
- Output (watts/lumens) - more = brighter. For product photography, a minimum of 40W / 4,000 lumens for a 14-inch light
Pro tip: Do not buy the cheapest lights at 4-6 GBP from AliExpress - they have low CRI (~80), flicker on video and break within months. Better to invest 19-28 GBP in a branded model with CRI 95+.
Ring light for product photography - how to use it
If you decide on a ring light for photography of products, here is how to get the most out of it:
Frontal setup (classic)
Place the product on your backdrop and position the ring light directly in front of it - with your camera or phone in the centre opening. This delivers perfectly even, shadow-free illumination. Best for: jewellery, watches, small electronics, cosmetics on a white background.
Side setup (fill light)
Use the ring light as a supplement to your main light (softbox or window). Set it at a 45-degree angle to fill the shadows on the dark side of the product. In this role an LED ring light is excellent - it provides soft fill without creating its own shadows.
Overhead setup
For flat lay shots, mount the ring light on a boom arm or stand above your products, with the phone in the centre opening. This gives clean, shadow-free top-down illumination. Works brilliantly for flat lay photography of cosmetics, food and accessories.
Limitations of a ring light - when NOT to use one
- Large products - furniture, clothing on a mannequin, bicycles. A ring light is too small to illuminate a large subject evenly. You need 2-3 softboxes
- Products that need modelling - shoes, bags, objects with complex shapes. The shadow-free light from a ring light "flattens" the image and the product loses depth
- Packshot sessions on white background - for professional packshots you need control over shadows. A ring light does not give you that
- Matte textures - fabrics, wood, paper. Shadow-free light does not highlight the texture of the material - the product looks flat and dull
Best ring light 2026 - what is worth buying
| Model | Size | CRI | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neewer 10" USB | 10 inches | 95+ | ~11 GBP | Video calls, selfie, TikTok |
| Neewer 14" Pro | 14 inches | 97+ | ~28 GBP | YouTube, beauty, small products |
| Godox LR150 | 14 inches | 96+ | ~47 GBP | Professional beauty, studio |
| Neewer 18" Advanced | 18 inches | 97+ | ~57 GBP | Studio beauty, portrait sessions |
| Elgato Ring Light | 11 inches | 96+ | ~85 GBP | Streaming, premium desktop |
For product photography, the optimal choice is a 14-inch ring light in the 19-38 GBP range with CRI 95+ and adjustable colour temperature. 10-inch models are too weak for products, while 18-inch units are overkill unless you shoot beauty sessions.
FAQ
What is a ring light?
A ring light is a circular LED light that provides even, shadow-free illumination. The camera or phone is placed in the centre of the ring, so light falls on the subject from all sides simultaneously.
Is a ring light good for product photography?
Ring lights work well for small, reflective products like jewellery, watches and cosmetics. They are not ideal for larger products or professional packshots that need directional lighting - a softbox is better for those.
What size ring light should I get?
For video calls and selfies, 10 inches is sufficient (from 6 GBP). The versatile choice is 14 inches (15-38 GBP). Professional 18-inch models (from 38 GBP) are best for beauty studios.
Ring light vs softbox - which is better?
Ring lights give flat, shadow-free light ideal for faces and small items. Softboxes give directional light with controlled shadows, better for products, clothing and packshots.
Summary
A ring light is a brilliant tool - but not for everything. Here is when it is worth it and when it is not:
- Ideal for: beauty, makeup, selfie, TikTok, video calls, jewellery, small electronics
- Not the best for: large products, clothing, professional packshots, matte-textured products
- Size: 14 inches is the universal sweet spot. 10 inches for a desk, 18 inches for a studio
- CRI minimum 95+ - below this threshold, colours in your photos will be inaccurate
- Ring light vs softbox: ring light for faces and small items, softbox for products and packshots
If you are looking for professional lighting for product photography, check our pricing - at marszalstudio every session is delivered with professional studio lighting matched to the product category.
Need professional product photos with perfect lighting? Get in touch with marszalstudio - we deliver packshot and lifestyle sessions for e-commerce.
