Tech & Gadgets8 min read
Best Ring Lights 2026: Top 8 Picks for the UK
Tested and compared the best ring lights for 2026. From budget beginner kits to premium streaming setups, find the right ring light for you.
PickShelf EditorialPublished 6 June 2026
Our Top Picks
A quick look at our recommendations
Detailed Reviews
What we like
- The edge-lit LED design with multi-layer diffusion sets this apart from every traditional ring light on the market. Rather than using forward-facing LEDs that can create harsh hotspots and visible diode patterns in your eyes, Elgato's 160 OSRAM LEDs fire inward and bounce through a sophisticated diffusion system. The result is an exceptionally soft, even wash of light that flatters skin tones without the tell-tale ring light glare. Professional reviewers consistently highlight this as the single biggest differentiator from cheaper alternatives.
- The adjustable colour temperature range of 2900K to 7000K is one of the widest available in any ring light. This means you can dial in everything from warm, candlelight-like tones for a cosy atmosphere through to cool, clinical daylight for product photography. Most competitors cap out at 5600K or 6500K, so the Elgato gives you noticeably more creative flexibility. Being able to precisely match your room's ambient lighting makes a genuine difference to how natural you look on camera.
- App control via Mac, PC, iOS, and Android lets you adjust brightness and colour temperature from anywhere in your studio without touching the light itself. If you use an Elgato Stream Deck, you can assign one-tap presets for different scenarios, which is a serious time-saver for streamers who switch between gaming, chatting, and just-chatting scenes. The software integration is polished and stable, which is more than can be said for many app-controlled lights.
- The included desk clamp and telescopic pole mount keep your desk clear and position the light at the perfect height without needing a separate tripod or light stand. The Master Mount S system is solid and adjustable, and the ball-head camera mount lets you position a webcam dead-centre in the ring for that coveted ring-light-in-the-eyes look. Build quality is genuinely premium throughout, from the aluminium chassis to the braided power cable.
Could be better
- At roughly £95 to £150 depending on retailer and promotions, this is comfortably the most expensive non-wireless ring light on our list. If your needs are simple, such as the occasional video call or TikTok, you can achieve perfectly acceptable results with a ring light costing a quarter of the price. The Elgato's premium is justified for daily creators, but casual users may find it hard to justify.
- At 2500 lumens, the Elgato is impressively bright, but it is a desk-mounted light designed for close-up use. If you need to light a full-body shot, a wider scene, or a room with multiple people, you will find the coverage insufficient. It is engineered for one person sat at a desk, and that is exactly where it excels, but do not expect it to double as general studio lighting.
- The desk clamp and mount system, while well-built, requires a suitable desk edge to grip onto. If your desk has a thick lip, a glass top, or a keyboard tray that gets in the way, mounting can become awkward. Several reviewers note that finding the perfect position takes some trial and error, and the clamp can leave marks on softer desk surfaces.
Best for: Best for Content Creators
NEEWER RP18B Pro 18-Inch Ring Light
What we like
- The NEEWER app with Bluetooth control is a genuine game-changer for solo creators. You can adjust brightness, colour temperature, and even trigger 12 built-in FX scenes, including a Music Sync mode, all from your phone up to 20 metres away. No more walking back to the light mid-shoot to tweak settings. Tom's Guide awarded this their Editor's Choice specifically for this level of wireless control at this price point, calling it the best ring light for most people.
- At just 1.8cm thick, this is one of the slimmest 18-inch ring lights available, which makes it remarkably easy to store and transport. It slides behind a wardrobe or under a bed without the bulk that plagues traditional ring lights. The slim profile also means less visual clutter in your workspace when the light is mounted, which matters if you are filming in a small bedroom or flat.
- The colour temperature range of 2900K to 7000K with a TLCI rating of 98 delivers studio-grade colour accuracy that rivals lights costing significantly more. TLCI measures how accurately a light renders colours on camera, and a score of 98 out of 100 is exceptional. Your skin tones, product colours, and makeup shades will look true-to-life in footage, which is critical for beauty creators and anyone selling products online.
- The 320 high-quality LED beads provide smooth, flicker-free illumination with 0-100% stepless dimming. Unlike cheaper ring lights that flicker at lower brightness settings, causing banding in video footage, the RP18B Pro maintains clean output across the full dimming range. The included phone holder, tripod stand, and remote shutter make this a complete kit straight out of the box.
Could be better
- As a newer model, the RP18B Pro has fewer Amazon UK reviews than more established competitors like the Neewer RL-18 or the Razer Ring Light. While the reviews that do exist are overwhelmingly positive and professional critics love it, some buyers prefer the reassurance of thousands of verified customer ratings before spending over £100.
- The tripod stand, while functional and adjustable, uses lightweight aluminium that can feel a bit wobbly when fully extended to its maximum height. If you bump the tripod or have pets that might knock into it, the light can wobble noticeably. For maximum stability, keep the tripod at mid-height or weight the base.
- The NEEWER app, while powerful, can occasionally be finicky about Bluetooth pairing. Some users report needing to unpair and re-pair the light after their phone updates, or experiencing a brief delay between adjusting a slider and the light responding. These are minor irritations rather than deal-breakers, but they are worth knowing about.
What we like
- The built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 120 minutes of cordless operation at lower brightness, or around 70 minutes at full blast. This wireless capability is genuinely transformative if you shoot on location, at clients' premises, or anywhere without convenient mains power. No other ring light on our list offers this level of portability, and professional makeup artists and tattoo artists repeatedly cite it as the reason they chose this over wired alternatives.
- Edge-lit LED technology directs 256 high-quality LEDs inward through a built-in diffuser, producing 1700 lux at half a metre. The result is an ultra-soft, even light that eliminates the harsh ring-shaped catchlights some people dislike. Reviewers at Digital Camera World praised the light quality as noticeably superior to traditional forward-facing ring lights, particularly for close-up beauty and portrait work.
- The wireless remote control lets you adjust brightness and colour temperature from anywhere in the room without touching the light or your phone. The colour temperature range of 2700K to 7500K is the widest on our list, giving you more creative control than any competitor. Whether you want a warm, intimate glow or a cool, clinical daylight, the Lume Cube delivers with precise, repeatable results.
- The included padded carrying case, 70-inch light stand, smartphone mount, and power cord make this a truly complete professional kit. Build quality is a clear step above mid-range ring lights, with robust connections between the light head and stand that do not develop the wobble or looseness common in cheaper alternatives after months of use.
Could be better
- At £168 to £295 depending on the seller and variant, this is comfortably the most expensive ring light on our list. You are paying a significant premium for the wireless capability and edge-lit technology. If you always shoot at a desk with mains power available, the Elgato Ring Light delivers comparable light quality for considerably less money.
- Battery life of 70 minutes at full brightness is adequate for most sessions, but if you are doing marathon shoots or all-day events, you will need to plan charging breaks or keep the power cord handy. The battery cannot be swapped out for a fresh one, so once it is flat, you are tethered to the mains until it charges.
- The 4.2-star average rating reflects a minority of users who experienced issues with the light stand's locking mechanism or received units with uneven LED brightness. While these appear to be quality control outliers rather than design flaws, they are worth noting given the premium price tag.
What we like
- The build quality reflects Razer's expertise in gaming peripherals. The aluminium-bodied light head feels genuinely premium, the wired remote has satisfying tactile buttons, and the included tripod is shockingly good for this price point. Digital Camera World's review singled out the tripod as one of the best they had tested on any ring light under £100, praising its stability and smooth height adjustment.
- The 192 LEDs produce 500 lumens through a white diffuser that ensures even, studio-quality lighting without harsh spots. Three colour temperature presets at 3000K, 4500K, and 6500K cover warm, balanced, and cool tones respectively, and the 10-100% brightness dimming gives you granular control over intensity. For streaming and video calls, this combination delivers consistently professional-looking results.
- The compact 12-inch diameter makes this ideal for desk setups where space is limited. It takes up less room than an 18-inch ring light while still providing enough coverage for a head-and-shoulders frame. The USB power means you can run it from your PC, a power bank, or any USB charger, keeping cable clutter to a minimum. Over 500 units were purchased in the past month on Amazon UK, confirming its popularity with the streaming community.
- Swappable attachments for webcam mounting and phone holding are included, so you can position your camera dead-centre in the ring without buying additional accessories. The ball-head webcam mount works with most popular webcams including the Logitech Brio and Razer Kiyo series, and the phone holder grips securely without scratching your device.
Could be better
- USB power only means the light draws its power from your computer or a power bank. There is no mains adapter option in the box, so if your USB ports are already crowded with peripherals, you will need a USB hub or wall charger. The maximum brightness is also slightly limited compared to mains-powered alternatives.
- Only three colour temperature presets are available, with no fine-tuning between them. If you need a specific Kelvin value between 3000K and 4500K, you cannot dial it in. This is fine for most streamers who just want warm, neutral, or cool, but creators who need precise colour matching will find it limiting.
- At 12 inches, this ring light is noticeably smaller than the 18-inch models on this list. The catchlight in your eyes will be smaller, and the coverage area is more limited. For close-up makeup tutorials or full-body shots, you will likely find it insufficient. It is purpose-built for streaming and video calls, and that is where it should stay.
What we like
- Logitech's TrueSoft technology delivers balanced, full-spectrum LED light with cinematic colour accuracy, producing natural-looking skin tones that rival lights costing three times as much. The 93 CRI rating with a high R9 value means reds and warm tones are rendered accurately, which is critical for looking healthy and natural on camera. Professional reviews from Tom's Guide, T3, and GamesRadar all highlight the light quality as exceptional for the price.
- The frameless diffuser radiates wide, soft light that eliminates harsh shadows without creating the characteristic ring-shaped catchlight in your eyes. This makes the Litra Glow particularly well-suited for professional video calls, job interviews, and client meetings where you want to look polished without anyone noticing you are using supplementary lighting. It is subtle and effective, which is exactly the point.
- The innovative monitor mount clips directly to the top of your screen with adjustable height, tilt, and rotation. Unlike tripod-based ring lights that eat up desk space, the Litra Glow sits neatly behind your monitor and takes up virtually no room. It is compact enough to throw in a laptop bag, and at just 250 lumens, it draws minimal USB power. Plug it in, clip it on, and forget about it.
- Integration with Logitech G Hub software lets you create and save custom brightness and colour temperature presets that activate automatically when you launch specific applications. You can have one profile for Zoom, another for OBS, and a third for general desk work, all switching seamlessly in the background. This level of software integration is unique to Logitech in the ring light space.
Could be better
- At 250 lumens, this is significantly less bright than a full-size ring light. It is designed to supplement your existing room lighting for video calls, not to serve as a primary key light for content creation. If you are filming YouTube videos or streaming in a dark room, you will almost certainly need additional lighting.
- It is not technically a ring light in the traditional sense. It is a compact LED panel with a diffuser, so it will not produce the characteristic circular catchlight in your eyes that some creators specifically want. If the ring-light aesthetic is important to you, look elsewhere on this list.
- The colour temperature range of 2700K to 6500K is narrower than some competitors, and the maximum brightness may not be sufficient in brightly lit rooms where you need the light to compete with strong ambient sources. In a typical home office, it performs beautifully, but in a sun-drenched room, it can struggle to make a visible difference.
What we like
- This is the ring light that built NEEWER's reputation, and with over 4,500 ratings on Amazon UK, it has been battle-tested by thousands of content creators, makeup artists, and photographers. The 55W output from 240 SMD LEDs produces a powerful, even wash of light that can comfortably illuminate a full face-and-shoulders frame. Multiple reviewers highlight that 302 customers specifically praise the brightness, with many noting it can light an entire small room if needed.
- The complete kit includes everything you need to start shooting immediately. An 18-inch ring light, a 61-inch aluminium alloy light stand, a cold shoe adapter for DSLR cameras, a universal smartphone holder, a soft tube diffuser for even softer light, colour filters, and a carrying bag. No other ring light at this price gives you this many accessories, and they are all genuinely useful rather than throwaway extras.
- At £88 to £96, this sits in a sweet spot between the budget 10-inch lights and the premium app-controlled models. You get full 18-inch coverage, professional-grade brightness, and durable build quality without the price premium of Bluetooth control and slim-profile design. For creators who just want a reliable ring light that works without fiddling with apps, this straightforward approach is a genuine advantage.
- The 5600K daylight-balanced output with smooth dimming from 1% to 100% delivers clean, flicker-free light across the full range. Customers repeatedly praise the even light distribution, noting that it eliminates shadows without creating harsh hotspots. The included colour filters let you shift the temperature warmer when needed, adding versatility without complexity.
Could be better
- This is a single-colour-temperature light at 5600K, with colour filters included to shift warmer. Unlike the bi-colour RP18B Pro, you cannot electronically dial in a specific colour temperature. This means swapping physical filters on and off the light, which is fiddly and interrupts your workflow. If you frequently change colour temperature, the RP18B Pro is worth the upgrade.
- The ring light itself is thicker and heavier than the newer RP18B Pro, making it less portable and more awkward to store. At roughly 2.5kg for the light head alone, it needs a sturdy stand, and the included one can feel a bit unstable at full extension. Some users recommend weighting the tripod legs with sandbags for maximum stability.
- There is no app control, no Bluetooth, and no wireless remote. All adjustments are made via a rotary dial on the power cable. While this keeps things simple and reliable, it means you need to reach the cable to change brightness mid-shoot. For solo creators who are also the subject, this can be inconvenient.
What we like
- At £15 to £25, this is one of the most affordable complete ring light kits on Amazon UK, and the value proposition is remarkable. You get a 10-inch ring light, a tabletop tripod, a phone holder, and a Bluetooth remote for taking photos from a distance, all for less than the cost of a takeaway. For anyone testing the waters with content creation or wanting better lighting for video calls, the financial barrier is practically nonexistent.
- Three colour modes, covering white, warm white, and warm yellow, with 11 brightness levels give you 33 lighting combinations. That is more than enough flexibility for most use cases, from TikTok videos to Zoom meetings to makeup application. The transitions between modes are smooth, and the light quality at medium brightness is genuinely flattering, producing soft, even illumination that punches well above its price point.
- The glass front ring feels noticeably higher quality than the plastic diffusers found on many budget ring lights. It produces a cleaner, more even light distribution and is easier to clean. Multiple reviewers specifically call out the build quality as surprisingly good for the price, noting that it feels durable enough for daily use without worrying about it falling apart.
- The USB power cable means you can run it from a laptop, power bank, desktop PC, or any USB charger. This makes it genuinely portable, and the compact 10-inch size means it fits easily in a backpack or handbag. Whether you are filming at home, in a hotel room, or at a friend's house, you can set up decent lighting in under a minute.
Could be better
- The included tripod is lightweight and compact, which is great for portability but less ideal for stability. With the phone holder attached, the whole setup can become top-heavy and tip forward if bumped. On a stable desk surface it is perfectly fine, but on an uneven table or soft surface, you will need to be careful about placement.
- At 10 inches, the ring light is small enough that it only really covers your face and the immediate area around it. If you need to light a wider scene, show products, or film with a friend, you will find the coverage insufficient. This is a single-person, close-up light, and it does that job well, but do not expect more.
- There is no app control, and the brightness adjustment is via a small in-line controller on the USB cable. The controls are functional but basic, and some users find the buttons a bit fiddly. The Bluetooth remote is for triggering the phone camera shutter, not for controlling the light itself, which catches some buyers off guard.
What we like
- With over 70,000 global ratings and a 4.5-star average, the Sensyne 10-inch is one of the most reviewed ring lights in existence. That sheer volume of feedback provides genuine confidence in reliability and consistency. When tens of thousands of buyers across years of sales maintain a 4.5-star average, you know the product delivers on its promises. For first-time buyers who are nervous about making the wrong choice, this track record is incredibly reassuring.
- The 50-inch extendable tripod is a significant advantage over competitors in this price range. While most budget ring lights include a small tabletop tripod, the Sensyne's full-height stand adjusts from 15.7 inches for desk use to 50 inches for standing-height filming. This versatility means you can use it for seated video calls, standing makeup tutorials, and overhead product shots without buying additional equipment.
- The high-sensitivity touch panel for adjusting colour modes and brightness is more intuitive than the in-line cable controllers found on most budget alternatives. Three colour modes with 10 brightness levels are controlled with a simple tap and slide, and the responsiveness is immediate. It feels like a more thoughtful design than what you typically get at this price point.
- The spring-loaded phone holder extends to accommodate phones up to 5.3 inches wide, including most modern smartphones in cases. It grips firmly without scratching, and the ball joint lets you angle your phone in any direction. A Bluetooth remote for triggering your phone's camera shutter is included, which is handy for solo content creators who need to start recording from across the room.
Could be better
- Stock availability on Amazon UK can be inconsistent. At the time of our research, only 10 units were available, and the product is sold by a third-party seller rather than Amazon directly. If you see it in stock at a good price, we would recommend buying promptly, as it tends to sell through quickly and availability can be patchy.
- Light output is modest, as you would expect from a budget 10-inch ring light. In a well-lit room it provides a flattering fill light, but in a dark room it will struggle to serve as your only light source. The warm yellow mode in particular can look quite dim, and some users find they only use the white or warm white modes at higher brightness settings.
- The tripod, while impressively tall for the price, uses lightweight plastic components in the leg locks and joints. After several months of regular use, some reviewers report the locks becoming less secure and the tripod slowly lowering under the weight of the light and phone. This is a known trade-off at this price point, and tightening the locks firmly each time you set up helps mitigate the issue.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Rating | Price | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgato Ring Light | £95 - £150 | Best Overall | View | |
| NEEWER RP18B Pro 18-Inch Ring Light | £112 - £140 | Best for Content Creators | View | |
| Lume Cube Ring Light Pro | 1,200 reviews | £168 - £295 | Best Premium | View |
| Razer Ring Light 12-Inch | 14,200 reviews | £53 - £67 | Best for Streaming | View |
| Logitech Litra Glow | 2,500 reviews | £57 - £65 | Best for Video Calls | View |
| NEEWER RL-18 Ring Light Kit | 4,500 reviews | £88 - £96 | Best Mid-Range Value | View |
| UBeesize 10-Inch Ring Light | £15 - £25 | Best Budget | View | |
| Sensyne 10-Inch Ring Light | £15 - £22 | Best for Beginners | View |
Whether you are filming TikToks in your bedroom, trying to look vaguely professional on a Zoom call, or building a proper streaming setup, lighting is the single biggest upgrade you can make to your on-camera presence. And ring lights remain the most popular, most practical way to achieve that upgrade in 2026.
The concept is simple. A circular light positioned around or near your camera produces even, shadow-free illumination that flatters skin tones and puts a pleasing catchlight in your eyes. But the market has exploded, with hundreds of options ranging from £10 clip-on lights to £300 professional wireless rigs. Choosing the right one depends entirely on what you actually need it for, how much space you have, and how much you are willing to spend.
We spent weeks researching, comparing specifications, reading thousands of reviews, and cross-referencing recommendations from trusted sources including Digital Camera World, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and GamesRadar to narrow the field down to eight standout ring lights. Our picks cover every budget and use case, from the student filming their first YouTube video to the professional streamer who needs broadcast-quality lighting every single day.
What We Looked For
Before diving into individual reviews, here is what we prioritised when evaluating ring lights for this guide.
Light quality is paramount. We looked for even illumination without hotspots, accurate colour rendering (measured by CRI and TLCI ratings where available), and smooth dimming without flicker. Flicker is the silent killer of video quality, causing banding in footage that is impossible to fix in post-production. Colour temperature range matters more than most buyers realise. A wider range, measured in Kelvin (K), gives you more flexibility to match your room's ambient lighting. Cheap lights that only offer daylight (5600K) will look blue and unflattering in a warm-lit room. The best lights let you adjust from warm amber through to cool blue. Build quality and stability separate a light you will use for years from one that ends up in a drawer after six months. We paid particular attention to tripod stability, mount durability, and the overall robustness of materials. Ease of use includes everything from initial setup to daily operation. App control, remote controls, and intuitive physical buttons all contribute. If changing brightness requires disconnecting and reconnecting a cable, that is a problem. Value for money is relative to what you get. A £150 ring light is excellent value if it replaces £500 worth of studio equipment. A £15 ring light is poor value if it breaks after a month.Quick Comparison
For those in a hurry: the Elgato Ring Light is our top pick for anyone who wants the best overall light quality and build for desk use. If you are a content creator who needs the widest feature set at a mid-range price, the NEEWER RP18B Pro is the one to beat. Budget buyers should look at the Sensyne 10-Inch, which has earned its 70,000+ reviews for a reason. And if you need to take your lighting on location, the Lume Cube Ring Light Pro is the only serious cordless option.
Streamers and gamers will appreciate the Razer Ring Light's compact desk-friendly design, while remote workers who just need to look good on video calls should go straight to the Logitech Litra Glow, which clips to your monitor and integrates with your existing software.
The Verdict
The ring light market in 2026 is mature enough that there are genuinely good options at every price point. You do not need to spend £150 to get decent lighting, and spending £300 only makes sense if you specifically need wireless capability.
For most people, the sweet spot is the NEEWER RP18B Pro at around £112 to £140. It combines studio-grade colour accuracy, Bluetooth app control, and a complete kit with stand and accessories. Tom's Guide named it their Editor's Choice, and after extensive research, we agree.
If budget is a priority, either the Sensyne 10-Inch or the UBeesize 10-Inch will serve you well for under £25. They will not match the light quality of premium options, but they will make a dramatic difference compared to relying on your room's ceiling light.
And if you are already a serious creator who has outgrown basic lighting, the Elgato Ring Light is the premium desk light that will last you years. Its edge-lit diffusion technology produces the most flattering light of any ring light we tested, and the Stream Deck integration is a genuine workflow improvement for regular streamers.
Prices checked and verified on 6 June 2026. As an Amazon affiliate, PickShelf earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.How We Chose These Ring Lights
Our methodology combines three pillars of research to ensure every recommendation is genuinely worth your money.
Expert cross-referencing. We compared recommendations across Digital Camera World, Tom's Guide, GamesRadar, TechRadar, T3, CNN Underscored, and multiple specialist streaming and photography publications. Products that appeared consistently across multiple trusted sources received priority consideration, as editorial consensus is a strong signal of genuine quality. Customer review analysis. We read hundreds of verified customer reviews on Amazon UK, paying particular attention to reviews from verified purchasers who had owned the product for several months. Early reviews can be misleading. We looked for patterns in complaints and praise, filtering out the inevitable handful of one-star reviews from people who received damaged units or could not figure out the USB cable. Specification verification. Every claim about brightness, colour temperature range, CRI rating, and battery life was verified against manufacturer specifications and independent test results where available. We also confirmed that every product is currently available and in stock on Amazon UK, because recommending a ring light you cannot actually buy helps nobody. Price monitoring. Ring light prices fluctuate frequently on Amazon, especially around sales events. The price ranges listed reflect the typical range we observed across multiple checks during our research period. Your actual price may be higher or lower depending on when you buy.Ring Lights FAQ
What size ring light do I need?For video calls and close-up content like TikTok or makeup tutorials, a 10 to 12-inch ring light is perfectly adequate and takes up minimal desk space. For YouTube videos, streaming, and professional photography, an 18-inch light provides better coverage and more flattering illumination. The larger the light, the softer and more even the illumination, but also the more space it requires.
Do I need a bi-colour ring light?If you film in different locations or at different times of day, yes. A bi-colour light lets you adjust the colour temperature to match your environment, ensuring you always look natural on camera. Single-colour lights fixed at 5600K work fine in daylight-balanced environments but can look harsh and blue in warm-lit rooms.
Can I use a ring light for photography?Absolutely. Ring lights are popular for portrait photography, product photography, and macro shots. The circular catchlight they produce in the subject's eyes is distinctive and flattering. For product photography, position the ring light above or to the side of the product for even, shadow-free illumination. Many professional makeup artists and hairdressers use ring lights for their portfolio photography.
How bright should my ring light be?For video calls, 250 to 500 lumens is sufficient. For content creation and streaming, aim for 1000 to 2500 lumens. For professional photography, 2500 lumens and above is ideal. Keep in mind that you will rarely use your ring light at full brightness. Having headroom allows you to dial in the perfect level for your specific setup without maxing out the light.
Are cheap ring lights worth buying?Yes, with caveats. Budget ring lights under £25 will dramatically improve your lighting compared to nothing at all, and for occasional use they are perfectly fine. However, they typically have lower CRI ratings (meaning less accurate colour rendering), less smooth dimming, and lighter-duty tripods. If you plan to use a ring light daily for content creation, investing £50 to £150 in a mid-range or premium option will pay dividends in reliability and light quality.
How do I position a ring light?For the classic ring light look with circular catchlights in your eyes, position the light directly in front of your face with your camera shooting through the centre of the ring. The light should be at eye level or slightly above. For a softer, more subtle look, position the light slightly to one side at a 30 to 45-degree angle. Experiment with distance too. Closer produces brighter, more dramatic lighting, while further away gives a softer, more even fill.